Arab Bank World Elite Mastercard
GHA DISCOVERY Titanium status and USD 500,000 travel medical cover
at Arab Bank's secure site
Elite Programme customers only. Terms apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"If the invitation arrives, this is a genuinely loaded premium card: hotel status that pays 7% back, six Careem airport rides, fast track, roaming data and half a million dollars of medical cover. Nail down the annual fee first — the bank prints 1,900 in one document and 1,100 in another."
Earning and redeeming Arabi Points
Do not buy this card for its points. The World Elite earns 1 Arabi Point per 2, exactly what Arab Bank's free Visa Classic earns, capped at 100,000 points a month locally and 300,000 internationally. Redemption is straightforward — 60,000 points for 1,000 in cash at an ATM or through Arabi Mobile and Arabi Online — which puts the return at about 0.83%, with points expiring after 24 months.
The real return sits in the benefits: GHA DISCOVERY Titanium pays 7% back in DISCOVERY Dollars at more than 500 hotels, six Careem rides cover most airport runs for a year, and the insurance package is the strongest Arab Bank offers. Value the card on those, not on the earn rate.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 1,900 primary and 950 supplementary per the Key Facts Statement; the fee schedule still prints 1,100 and 550 — confirm with the bank. Elite Programme only
- Interest rate
- 3.59% per month (about 43.08% a year) on the outstanding balance
- Interest-free period
- Up to 45 days on retail purchases when the full balance is repaid by the due date
- Foreign transaction fee
- Up to 3% cross-border and foreign-exchange commission, plus the exchange rate
- Cash advance fee
- 3% of the amount, minimum 100
- Late payment fee
- 230
- Over-limit fee
- 275
- Minimum payment
- 5% of the statement balance or 100, whichever is higher
- Instalments
- Easy payment plans from 0% — the only Arab Bank card that starts at zero
- Eligibility
- By invitation, Elite Programme customers only; no minimum salary is published
Rates verified against Arab Bank's UAE Credit Cards Key Facts Statement and the Fees and Charges schedule dated 01/01/2025, which disagree on this card's annual fee. All figures are quoted exclusive of 5% VAT. Always confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
GHA DISCOVERY Titanium
Instant status and 7% back in DISCOVERY Dollars at over 500 hotels in 85 countries.
Six Careem airport rides
Complimentary airport transfers on the Careem app with promo code MAUAE6.
USD 500,000 medical cover
Personal accident, evacuation and medical expenses to USD 500,000, plus baggage and trip cancellation cover.
Mastercard Travel Pass lounges
Two complimentary visits, then three-month access windows unlocked by cross-border spend, at up to 1,200 lounges.
Fast track and roaming
Three airport security fast-track passes a year and 1 GB of Flexiroam data three times a year.
Travel & Lifestyle Concierge
24/7 VIP concierge from Mastercard, plus Hertz President's Circle and Avis President's Club status.
Pros and cons
- GHA DISCOVERY Titanium membership giving 7% back in DISCOVERY Dollars at more than 500 hotels in 85 countries
- Six complimentary Careem airport rides a year, plus three airport security fast-track passes across 70-plus airports
- Serious travel insurance: up to USD 500,000 each for personal accident, medical expenses and evacuation, and cover for visiting parents and children
- Top-tier car rental status with Hertz President's Circle and Avis President's Club, plus up to 35% off Avis rentals
- 0% easy payment plans, the only Arab Bank card where instalments start at zero
- 1,900 a year and 950 per supplementary card — and Arab Bank's fee schedule still prints 1,100 and 550, so the price is contradictory
- Invitation only, and restricted to the Elite programme — you cannot simply apply
- 45 interest-free days, shorter than the 52 days on every other Arab Bank card
- Earns the same 1 point per 2 as the bank's free Visa Classic
- Lounge access is capped and conditional after the first two visits, and guests always pay
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You have the invitation and are already an Arab Bank Elite client.
- You stay at GHA DISCOVERY hotels — Titanium status pays 7% back at 500-plus properties.
- You want airport transfers, fast track and serious medical cover bundled into one card.
Consider skipping it if
- You are choosing on rewards — the earn rate is identical to the bank's free Classic card.
- You often carry a balance: the grace period here is 45 days, not 52.
- You cannot get a written confirmation of the annual fee, which the bank's own documents contradict.
Alternatives to consider
Openly available at 1,000, with 1,300+ Visa lounges, family travel insurance and 52 interest-free days.
Best cards for lounge access →
Shares the Mastercard Travel Pass lounges, Talabat, IHG and Booking.com offers without the premium tier's fee.
Best travel cards →
Worth comparing on lounge terms and foreign-exchange markup if an invitation isn't coming.
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
How much does the Arab Bank World Elite Mastercard cost?+
Arab Bank's Credit Cards Key Facts Statement lists AED 1,900 for the primary card and AED 950 for a supplementary, both Elite Programme only. Its Fees and Charges schedule dated 01/01/2025 still lists AED 1,100 and AED 550. We use the newer Key Facts Statement figures, but confirm the current price with the bank. All fees are quoted excluding 5% VAT.
Can I apply for this card?+
Not directly. Arab Bank states the World Elite Mastercard is offered by invitation only, and both fee documents restrict it to the Elite Programme.
What hotel status comes with the card?+
GHA DISCOVERY Titanium membership, which provides instant benefits and 7% back in DISCOVERY Dollars on eligible purchases at more than 500 hotels across 85 countries.
How does lounge access work?+
Through Mastercard Travel Pass, powered by DragonPass, at up to 1,200 lounges. World Elite cardholders receive two complimentary lounge or airport-dining visits, and each cross-border transaction of USD 1 or more unlocks a further three calendar months of complimentary access, subject to a yearly cap based on card tier that the bank does not publish. Guests are charged unless they hold their own card and QR code.
What travel insurance is included?+
Travel medical insurance with personal accident, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation and medical emergency expenses each up to USD 500,000, plus USD 100 a day in-hospital cash. Travel inconvenience cover pays up to USD 3,000 for lost baggage, USD 300 for delayed baggage, USD 7,500 each for trip cancellation and curtailment, and USD 500 each for trip delay and missed connection. Visiting parents up to age 80 and visiting children are covered when the trip is paid for with the card.
What airport services do I get?+
Six complimentary Careem airport rides a year with promo code MAUAE6, three airport security fast-track passes a year across more than 70 airports in 18 countries, and Flexiroam global data roaming of 1 GB three times a year.
How long is the interest-free period?+
Up to 45 days on retail purchases when you repay the full balance by the due date — shorter than the 52 days Arab Bank gives on its Visa cards and Platinum Mastercard.
Does the World Elite earn more Arabi Points?+
No. Arab Bank's Arabi Points table sets the World Elite at 1 point per AED 2, the same rate as the Classic, Platinum and Signature. Only the Gold card earns at a different rate, and it earns less.
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.