American Express Platinum Credit Card
Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards welcome points
at American Express's secure site
Welcome offer conditions apply — see amex.ae. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
This is the rare UAE card where the fee maths are printed on the tin: spend 10,000 in three months and the 700 comes back; keep spending 4,000 a month and the dining and grocery credits pay you up to 1,500 a year. Just know that every perk is gated behind those spend floors and app enrolment — and that half a point per is a modest earn rate.
Earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points
The Platinum Credit Card earns a flat 2 Membership Rewards points per 4 on everything you buy, with supplementary card spend counting too. There are no bonus categories to chase — and no exclusion list or earning cap either, which is rarer than it sounds in the UAE. Points never expire.
Redemption is where Membership Rewards earns its keep: transfer to frequent-flyer programmes and hotel partners, cover statement transactions with Select & Pay with Points, pay at SafeKey online checkouts, or shop merchandise from leading brands. Transfer values vary by partner, so the same points can be worth much more as miles than as statement credit.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 700 ( 735 incl. VAT). FeeBack: credited back if you spend 10,000 in the first 3 months; renewal waived at 40,000 spend in the prior 12 months.
- Interest rate
- 3.60% per month fixed (43.20% annual). Up to 56 days interest-free on purchases.
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.94% (3.087% incl. VAT) on non- transactions.
- Cash advance
- 3% or 100 (whichever is higher; 3.15%/ 105 incl. VAT). Withdrawals limited to 40% of credit limit.
- Late payment fee
- 230 ( 241.50 incl. VAT).
- Overlimit fee
- 275.50 ( 289.28 incl. VAT).
- Minimum payment
- 5% or 35, whichever is higher.
- Supplementary cards
- Up to 2 free; additional cards (up to 7) at 200 each ( 210 incl. VAT).
Rates from the American Express Schedule of Fees and Charges (05-2025). Fees shown exclude 5% VAT unless noted; VAT-inclusive figures in brackets.
Card benefits
10% dining cashback
10% back on dining at home or abroad, up to 50 a month / 600 a year. Needs 4,000 monthly card spend and enrolment in the Amex MENA app.
900 yearly grocery credit
75 statement credit each month on groceries, in-store or online. Needs 1,000 grocery spend plus 4,000 total monthly spend, and enrolment.
Priority Pass lounge access
12 visits a year for you and 8 for one supplementary cardmember across 1,700+ lounges in 145 countries — guests use up your visits; US$35 per person after that.
Travel insurance to 1.8M
Travel accident cover up to 1,800,000, plus 900 each for flight delay, missed connections and luggage delay, and 5,400 for lost luggage.
Purchase & fraud protection
Items bought on the card are covered against theft or accidental damage for 90 days, up to 5,400 per occurrence. Fraud Protection Guarantee included.
24/7 Global Assist
Round-the-clock emergency help whenever you travel outside the UAE — call the number on the back of the card.
Pros and cons
- FeeBack refunds the annual fee on 10,000 spend in the first 3 months — and waives renewal at 40,000 a year
- Up to 1,500 a year back through dining cashback and grocery credits
- 12 Priority Pass visits for you plus 8 for a supplementary cardmember
- Membership Rewards points never expire and earning is uncapped
- Strong cover: 1.8M travel accident insurance and 90-day purchase protection
- High entry bar — 21,250 minimum monthly income
- Dining and grocery perks need 4,000 monthly spend plus app enrolment, and are capped at 50 and 75 a month
- 2.94% foreign transaction fee (3.087% with VAT) is on the high side
- 43.2% annual interest rate if you carry a balance
- Amex acceptance in the UAE is narrower than Visa or Mastercard
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You reliably spend 4,000+ a month and will enrol for the dining and grocery benefits
- You want lounge access without a top-tier annual fee
- You pay your statement in full and value points that never expire
Consider skipping it if
- Your monthly income is under 21,250
- You spend mostly abroad — the 2.94% FX fee erodes the value
- You want a high flat earn rate rather than capped monthly credits
Alternatives to consider
The Platinum Card is the charge-card flagship: far richer travel benefits and lounge access, at a much higher fee and with no revolving credit.
Best travel cards →
The Gold Credit Card halves the fee and the income bar, keeping 5 Priority Pass visits — but earns at half the rate and charges extra for Membership Rewards.
Best credit cards in the UAE →
Skywards Infinite converts spend straight into Emirates miles with unlimited lounge visits — better for flyers than flexible bank points.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →Not sure which way to go? Put them side by side in our card comparison tool or browse the full ranked list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the annual fee of the Amex Platinum Credit Card?+
AED 700 a year (AED 735 including VAT). With FeeBack, the fee is credited back if you spend AED 10,000 in the first 3 months, and waived at renewal if you spend AED 40,000 in the 12 months before your card anniversary.
What is the minimum salary for the Amex Platinum Credit Card?+
A minimum monthly income of AED 21,250 — that is an annual income of at least AED 255,000 if employed, or AED 275,000 if self-employed. You must be a UAE resident aged 21 or over.
Does the Amex Platinum Credit Card include airport lounge access?+
Yes — Priority Pass access to over 1,700 lounges in 145 countries: 12 complimentary visits a year for the primary cardmember and 8 for one supplementary cardmember, with accompanying guests counted within those visits. Beyond that, US$35 per person applies. You must enrol via the Amex MENA app.
How do I earn Membership Rewards points on this card?+
You earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every AED 4 spent, on everything, including supplementary card purchases. There is no earning cap and points never expire.
Is there a welcome bonus?+
American Express currently advertises 30,000 Membership Rewards welcome points (up from 20,000). The qualifying conditions are set out in the Welcome Offer terms and conditions on amex.ae.
What interest rate does the card charge?+
A fixed 3.60% per month (43.20% annual). You get up to 56 interest-free days on purchases when you pay your statement in full.
How does the 10% dining cashback work?+
You get 10% back on dining — dine-in, delivery, home or abroad — capped at AED 50 a month (AED 600 a year). You must spend at least AED 4,000 on the card that month and enrol for the benefit in the Amex MENA app first.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.