Arab Bank Visa Platinum Credit Card
4,000 Arabi Points at issuance for Elite and Premium customers
at Arab Bank's secure site
Joining bonus requires one purchase on the newly issued card. Terms apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"If Arab Bank waives the fee because you're an Elite or Premium customer, take it — the Visa purchase protection and extended warranty are genuinely useful. Paying 500 in cash is harder to justify: you earn the same points as the free Classic and there is no lounge access at all."
Earning and redeeming Arabi Points
The Visa Platinum earns 1 Arabi Point per 2, the same rate as every other card in Arab Bank's line-up except the Gold. Local and international spend earn identically, and monthly earning is capped at 100,000 points locally and 300,000 internationally. Newly issued primary Platinum cards held by Elite and Arabi Premium customers also receive a 4,000-point joining bonus once you make a purchase.
Points redeem for cash: 60,000 points equals 1,000, taken from an Arab Bank ATM or transferred to your account through Arabi Mobile and Arabi Online, which values the earn rate at roughly 0.83% back. Points expire 24 months after they are earned. Note that the fee buys no earning uplift — it buys Visa purchase protection, extended warranty and hotel and car-rental discounts.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 500 for the primary card, free for life for Elite and Premium programme customers; supplementary cards free
- 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
- 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
Purchase protection for 365 days
Visa cover against theft or accidental damage for a full year from the purchase date on the receipt.
Extended warranty
Additional warranty cover on top of the manufacturer's, provided through Visa International.
Visa Premium Privileges
Guaranteed exclusive deals at selected hotels and car rental agencies worldwide.
Arabi Points
1 point per 2 local or international; 60,000 points redeem for 1,000 in cash.
4,000-point joining bonus
For Elite and Arabi Premium customers on a newly issued primary card, after one purchase.
Balance transfer and easy payment plans
Move balances from other banks' cards, and split purchases into instalments from as low as 1%.
Pros and cons
- Free for life if you bank with Arab Bank on the Elite or Premium programme
- Visa purchase protection covering theft or accidental damage for 365 days from purchase, plus extended warranty on top of the manufacturer's
- Free supplementary cards, unusual at this fee level
- 4,000 Arabi Points at issuance for Elite and Arabi Premium customers after one purchase
- Up to 52 interest-free days, balance transfers and a cash advance limit up to 75% of the credit limit
- No airport lounge access at all — rare for a Platinum-branded card with a 500 fee
- The same 1 point per 2 as the free Visa Classic, so the fee buys no extra earning
- 3.59% per month (about 43.08% a year) on unpaid balances
- Up to 3% on foreign-currency spend, plus the exchange rate
- No travel insurance and no concierge — the Visa privileges here are discount deals, not services
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- Arab Bank's Elite or Premium programme waives the 500 fee for you.
- You buy expensive electronics and appliances and want 365-day purchase protection and extended warranty.
- You want free supplementary cards on a mid-tier card.
Consider skipping it if
- You want airport lounge access — this card has none.
- You are paying the fee in cash: the free Visa Classic earns exactly the same points.
- You travel often — no travel insurance, no concierge, and up to 3% on foreign spend.
Alternatives to consider
Free for life and earns exactly the same 1 point per 2 — you only give up purchase protection.
Best no-annual-fee cards →
The Mastercard sibling adds Mastercard Travel Pass lounge access at up to 1,200 airports and purchase protection for 180 days.
Best cards for lounge access →
0% cross-border commission in seven major currencies instead of up to 3% — the single biggest saving Arab Bank offers travellers.
Best travel 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 on the Arab Bank Visa Platinum?+
AED 500 for the primary card, and Arab Bank waives it for life for customers on its Elite and Premium programmes. Supplementary Visa Platinum cards are free. Fees are quoted excluding 5% VAT.
Does the Visa Platinum include airport lounge access?+
No. Neither the product page nor the Key Facts Statement lists lounge access for this card. The Visa Premium Privileges benefits Arab Bank details are hotel and car-rental deals, purchase protection and extended warranty. For lounges, look at the Visa Signature, the Platinum Mastercard or the World Elite Mastercard.
How many Arabi Points does it earn?+
One point per AED 2 of spend, local or international — the same rate as the free Visa Classic. With 60,000 points redeeming for AED 1,000, that is roughly 0.83% back, capped at 100,000 points a month locally and 300,000 internationally.
Is there a welcome bonus?+
Arab Bank's Arabi Points page lists a 4,000-point credit card joining bonus on newly issued primary Platinum cards for customers on the Elite and Arabi Premium programmes. One purchase transaction must be made on the card to receive it.
What purchase protection do I get?+
Free Purchase Protection Cover through Visa insures purchases made with the card against theft or accidental damage occurring within 365 days of the purchase date shown on the receipt, and Free Extended Warranty Cover adds cover on top of the manufacturer's warranty. Visa's insurance terms apply.
What does the card charge on foreign spend?+
Up to 3% cross-border and foreign-exchange commission on the transaction value, plus the exchange rate applied. If foreign spend is your main use case, Arab Bank's Visa Travel Mate charges 0% on transactions in USD, EUR, GBP, JOD, SAR, CAD and TRY.
What documents does the application need?+
A valid national ID or a passport with a valid residence visa, proof of residency address, your latest salary, income or employment verification document, and six months of bank statements.
What is the interest-free period?+
Up to 52 days on retail purchases when the full statement balance is repaid by the payment due date.
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.