Arab Bank Visa Classic Credit Card
Free for life, with Arabi Points on every purchase
at Arab Bank's secure site
Terms and conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"Free for life is the whole pitch here, and it is a fair one. You earn about 0.83% back in Arabi Points that redeem for straight cash at the ATM, and you pay nothing to hold the card or its supplementaries. Just don't carry a balance — 3.59% a month is punishing — and don't expect a lounge."
Earning and redeeming Arabi Points
The Visa Classic is enrolled in Arabi Points automatically. Every 2 of spend earns 1 point, and the rate does not change between local and international transactions — unusual, since most UAE cards pay more abroad. Earning is capped at 100,000 points a month locally and 300,000 points a month internationally, limits high enough that ordinary spending never reaches them.
Redemption is refreshingly plain: 60,000 points equals 1,000 in cash, taken instantly from an Arab Bank ATM or transferred to your account or card through Arabi Mobile and Arabi Online. That is a rate of about 0.83% back on everything you spend. Points expire 24 months after they are earned, so redeem rather than hoard.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- Free for life — no issuance fee and no annual fee on the primary or supplementary cards
- Interest rate
- 3.59% per month (about 43.08% a year) on the outstanding balance; cash withdrawals accrue interest from the transaction date
- Interest-free period
- Up to 52 days when the full statement balance is paid by the due date
- Foreign transaction fee
- Up to 3% cross-border and foreign-exchange commission, plus the exchange rate applied
- Cash advance fee
- 3% of the amount, minimum 100; cash advance limit up to 75% of the credit limit
- Late payment fee
- 230
- Over-limit fee
- 275
- Minimum payment
- 5% of the statement balance or 100, whichever is higher
- Credit Shield insurance
- Optional, 0.5% of the total outstanding balance — covers 100% of the balance on death or permanent total disability
- Minimum salary
- Not published by Arab Bank
Rates verified against Arab Bank's UAE Credit Cards Key Facts Statement and the Fees and Charges schedule dated 01/01/2025. All figures are quoted exclusive of 5% VAT. Always confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
Arabi Points on everything
1 point per 2, local or international — 60,000 points redeem for 1,000 in cash at the ATM.
Free supplementary cards
Add family members at no issuance or annual cost, with the same Arabi Points earning.
Credit Shield insurance
Optional cover at 0.5% of the outstanding balance, settling 100% of the balance on death or permanent total disability.
Balance transfer
Move outstanding balances from other banks' credit cards onto your Arab Bank Visa card.
Easy payment plans from 1%
Convert purchases with participating merchants into instalments starting from as low as 1%.
Verified by Visa
One-time passwords sent to your registered mobile on every enrolled online purchase.
Pros and cons
- Genuinely free for life: no joining fee, no annual fee, and free supplementary cards
- Arabi Points on every purchase, local or international, redeemable for cash at 1,000 per 60,000 points
- Up to 52 interest-free days when you settle the statement in full
- Balance transfer from other banks' credit cards, and easy payment plans from as low as 1%
- Cash advance limit of up to 75% of the credit limit — high by UAE standards
- 3.59% per month (about 43.08% a year) on unpaid balances — high even for the UAE
- Foreign-currency spend costs up to 3% on top of the exchange rate
- No airport lounge access, travel insurance, purchase protection or extended warranty
- Rewards are thin: roughly 0.83% back, capped at 100,000 points a month domestically
- Arab Bank does not publish a minimum salary, so you cannot check eligibility before applying
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You want a credit card that costs nothing to hold, forever, including supplementary cards.
- You clear your statement in full each month and just want a small, simple cash-style reward.
- You value a high cash advance limit and a balance transfer facility more than travel perks.
Consider skipping it if
- You want airport lounge access, travel insurance or purchase protection — none are included.
- You spend heavily in foreign currency: up to 3% plus the exchange rate is expensive.
- You sometimes revolve a balance — 3.59% a month is about 43% a year.
Alternatives to consider
Same Arabi Points earning, plus Mastercard Travel Pass lounge access at up to 1,200 airports and a long list of Mastercard partner offers.
Best cards for lounge access →
Adds Visa purchase protection and extended warranty for 500 a year — worth it only if you actually claim.
Best credit cards overall →
A comparable conventional-bank card if you want to weigh Arab Bank's free-for-life offer against a rival.
Best no-annual-fee 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
Does the Arab Bank Visa Classic have an annual fee?+
No. Arab Bank's UAE fee schedule and Key Facts Statement both list the primary Visa Classic as free for life, with no issuance and no annual fee. Supplementary Visa Classic cards are free as well.
How many Arabi Points does the Visa Classic earn?+
One Arabi Point for every AED 2 you spend, at the same rate on local and international transactions. Because 60,000 points redeem for AED 1,000, that works out to roughly 0.83% back. Earning is capped at 100,000 points a month on local spend and 300,000 points a month on international spend.
What interest rate does the card charge?+
3.59% per month on the outstanding balance — about 43.08% a year. Cash withdrawals accrue interest from the transaction date, with no grace period.
How long is the interest-free period?+
Up to 52 days on retail purchases, provided you pay the full statement balance by the due date.
What does it cost to spend abroad?+
Arab Bank charges a cross-border and foreign-exchange commission of up to 3% of the transaction value, on top of the exchange rate applied. All fees are quoted excluding 5% VAT.
Does the Visa Classic include airport lounge access?+
No. Lounge access on Arab Bank's UAE line-up is limited to the Visa Signature, the Platinum Mastercard and the World Elite Mastercard.
What documents do I need to apply?+
A valid national ID, or a valid passport with a valid residence visa, plus your latest salary, income or employment verification document. The bank may request additional documents.
Can I move a balance from another bank's card?+
Yes. Arab Bank offers a balance transfer service that lets you move outstanding balances from other banks' credit cards onto your Arab Bank Visa card. The bank does not publish the transfer rate or fee on the card page.
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.