CBD Smiles Visa Platinum
5x Smiles points on etisalat — almost free to hold
at CBD's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"Think of it as a Smiles membership that happens to be a credit card. The fee waiver bar is so low — 1,000 a month — that the card is effectively free, and 5x on etisalat bills is honest value. Just know that your supermarket and petrol runs earn almost nothing, and there isn't a single travel perk on it."
Earning and redeeming Smiles points
Earning mirrors the Smiles Signature at half strength: 5 points per 1 on etisalat channels, the Smiles app and elGrocer (capped at 10,000 points a month), up to 2x international and up to 1.5x domestic. The trap is the LIMCC list — supermarkets, government services, fuel, education, automobile, rental and insurance all drop to 0.5 points per 1. A 7,500-point quarterly bonus rewards 27,500 of quarterly spend, a noticeably higher bar than the Signature's.
Points are etisalat by e& Smiles points — the same currency as the Smiles app and ADIB's Smiles cards. Redeem them in-app against etisalat bills, recharges, food delivery, groceries, pharmacies, smartphones and vouchers. CBD notes the point's value varies by redemption type and sits outside the bank's control, so redeem regularly rather than hoarding.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 0 first year, then 208.95 (VAT inclusive) — waived automatically each year you spend 12,000
- Interest rate
- 3.85% per month (46.20% p.a.) on purchases and cash withdrawals
- Minimum salary
- 5,000 per month
- Foreign transaction fee
- 3.5% — also applies to -denominated transactions processed abroad, plus the card scheme's own processing fee
- Cash withdrawal fee
- Flat 204.75 per withdrawal
- Late payment fee
- 241.50
- Overlimit fee
- 304.50 per instance
- Supplementary cards
- Up to 5, free for life
- Card network
- Visa Platinum
Fees verified against CBD's Key Facts Statements and credit-card Schedule of Charges (17 December 2025), VAT inclusive. Always confirm on cbd.ae before applying.
Card benefits
5x on etisalat & Smiles
5 Smiles points per 1 on etisalat channels, the Smiles app and elGrocer, up to 10,000 points a month.
Quarterly points bonus
7,500 Smiles points at the start of each quarter when you spend 27,500 in the previous one.
200 Unravel hotel credit
200 off hotel bookings with Unravel in your first 90 days, delivered as a voucher in the Smiles app.
Emaar attractions & Play DXB
20% off KidZania, Dubai Aquarium experiences, The Storm Coaster, Dubai Ice Rink and Zabeel Sports District, plus Play DXB bonus credits.
Purchase protection & warranty
Visa purchase protection and extended warranty on eligible purchases, plus optional CBD Credit Shield at 1% of the outstanding balance.
500+ app offers
Discounts on more than 500 lifestyle offers through the CBD Mobile app.
Pros and cons
- Very cheap to hold — first year free, then 208.95 waived at only 12,000 annual spend
- 5 points per 1 on etisalat channels, Smiles app and elGrocer
- 5,000 minimum salary and up to 5 free supplementary cards
- 200 Unravel hotel voucher and 20% off Emaar attractions
- Recurring 7,500-point quarterly bonus (needs 27,500 quarterly spend)
- No lounge access or travel insurance — those live on the Smiles Signature
- LIMCC penalty: supermarkets, fuel, government, education, insurance and car categories earn only 0.5 points per 1
- The 5x etisalat rate is capped at 10,000 points a month
- High 3.5% foreign-currency fee, also charged on -priced international transactions
- Smiles point value varies by redemption and the bank has no control over it
- Steep 3.85% monthly interest (46.20% p.a.) if you carry a balance
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- Your etisalat bills and Smiles app orders are steady and you want them to pay you back.
- You spend at least 1,000 a month on the card so the fee never actually bites.
- You want a first card at 5,000 salary with free supplementary cards for family.
Consider skipping it if
- Your spending is mostly supermarkets, fuel or school fees — those earn a token 0.5x here.
- You want lounge access or travel insurance — step up to the Smiles Signature instead.
- You spend abroad often: the 3.5% forex fee wipes out any points value.
Alternatives to consider
Double the etisalat earn rate (10x), 8 lounge visits and USD 500,000 travel insurance — for a 525 fee waived at 24,000 annual spend.
The same etisalat Smiles currency from ADIB in a Sharia-compliant structure — worth comparing if you already bank there.
noon One's cashback on noon, minutes and food orders is the stronger play if your app spending isn't etisalat-centric.
Best online shopping 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 CBD Smiles Visa Platinum card?+
The first year is free. From year two the fee is AED 199 + 5% VAT (AED 208.95), waived automatically each year you make AED 12,000 of retail spend on the card.
What is the minimum salary for the CBD Smiles Platinum card?+
AED 5,000 per month for salaried applicants. Self-employed applicants need a valid trade licence.
How many Smiles points does the card earn?+
5 points per AED 1 on all etisalat channels, Smiles app and elGrocer spend (capped at 10,000 points a month), up to 2 points per AED 1 internationally and up to 1.5 points per AED 1 domestically — but low-margin categories such as supermarkets, government, fuel, education, automobile, rental and insurance earn only 0.5 points per AED 1.
What is the quarterly bonus on the Smiles Platinum card?+
7,500 Smiles points at the start of each calendar quarter when you spend a cumulative AED 27,500 in the previous quarter.
Does the Smiles Platinum card include airport lounge access?+
No. Lounge visits and multi-trip travel insurance are features of the Smiles Visa Signature; the Platinum's Visa benefits are purchase protection and extended warranty.
Where can I spend Smiles points?+
In the etisalat Smiles app: etisalat bill payments, prepaid recharges, food delivery, smartphones, groceries and pharmacies, and shopping vouchers. Redemption values vary by option and are governed by Smiles terms.
What interest rate does the card charge?+
3.85% per month (46.20% p.a.) on purchases and cash withdrawals per CBD's December 2025 KFS. Pay the full statement balance by the due date to avoid interest.
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.