Citi Cash Back Credit Card
300 statement credit after 6,000 in 60 days
at Citibank UAE's secure site
New Citi credit card customers only, applying directly through the Citi website. See rates & fees.
Cashback rate
No minimum spend, no monthly cap, no excluded categories and no reduced-rate buckets — this is the most straightforward card Citi sells here. Just discount the headline 3% on foreign spend, because Citi's 2.99% currency margin takes almost all of it back.
How the cashback works
The rates are 3% on non- spend, 2% on groceries and supermarkets, and 1% on everything else, credited to your statement automatically. What matters as much as the numbers is what is missing: Citi's Key Facts Statement records no spend-category restrictions for this card, so the reduced-rate buckets that cut utilities, telecom, government services, education, insurance, real estate and transport on the Ultima, Prestige, Premier and Rewards cards do not apply here. There is no minimum spend and no monthly cap — the only limit is that spend above your credit limit in a statement cycle does not earn.
The one thing to discount is the 3% abroad. Citi applies a 2.99% processing margin to international and foreign-currency transactions, so the foreign cashback and the currency fee very nearly cancel each other out. Judge the card on 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else, uncapped, on a product that costs nothing to hold if you put 9,000 a year through it. Utility bills paid inside Citibank Online or the Citi Mobile app earn nothing.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 0 in year one. From year two it stays free if you spend 9,000 in the year; otherwise 300 plus 5% VAT applies.
- Interest rate
- 3.69% a month (44.28% APR) on retail and cash. Citi's footnote says 42% APR applies until 01 October 2026.
- Interest-free period
- Up to 52 days on purchases if you clear the statement in full; minimum 21 days. Cash advances, instalment plans and balance transfers accrue interest from day one.
- Foreign currency fee
- 2.99% processing margin — worth reading next to the 3% foreign cashback.
- Cash advance fee
- 3% of the amount or 99, whichever is higher, capped at 250.
- Late payment fee
- 230.
- Over limit fee
- 249, or the highest over-limit amount assessed daily during the statement period, whichever is lower.
- Minimum payment
- The higher of 100 or 2.74% of the statement balance, plus fees, finance charges and instalment amounts.
- Supplementary cards
- Free.
Rates taken from Citibank UAE's Credit Cards Key Facts Statement and the July 2026 Fees & Charges schedule. VAT of 5% applies over and above every fee listed.
Card benefits
3% / 2% / 1%, uncapped
3% on foreign spend, 2% on groceries and supermarkets, 1% on everything else — no minimum spend, no monthly cap and no excluded retail categories.
No annual fee
Free in year one, and free from year two as long as you put 9,000 a year through the card.
No penalty categories
Unlike Citi's points cards, the Key Facts Statement lists no reduced-rate buckets for utilities, rent, school fees or government charges on this card.
8 lounge visits a year
Around 1,200 lounges via Mastercard Travel Pass, shared with supplementary cardholders. One visit a year without international spend; guests cost USD 32 each.
One Careem airport ride a year
One complimentary airport transfer a year through the Careem app with code MAUAE2, capped at 84.
Talabat and Carrefour credits
20% off one Talabat order a month up to 14, and 40 off one Carrefour app order a month.
Pros and cons
- 3% on all non- spend is one of the highest uncapped foreign-currency cashback rates in the UAE
- No minimum spend to earn, no excluded retail categories and no monthly cap — only your credit limit
- Citi's Key Facts Statement records no reduced-rate categories for this card, unlike every Citi points card
- Cashback is credited automatically to the statement, with nothing to claim
- Effectively free: no fee in year one and no fee from year two on 9,000 of annual spend
- 8,000 minimum salary and 8 lounge visits a year on a card that can cost nothing
- The 2.99% foreign-currency margin eats most of the 3% foreign cashback — the net gain abroad is closer to 0.01%
- 1% on ordinary local spend is average for the UAE market
- No free lounge guest — every guest costs USD 32 and children over one count as guests
- Only 1 lounge visit a year without a non- transaction to unlock access
- 300 plus VAT applies from year two if annual spend falls short of 9,000
- Utility bills paid through Citibank Online, Citi Mobile or CitiPhone earn no cashback
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You want cashback with no minimum spend, no cap and no category exclusions
- Supermarkets are a big line on your statement
- You want a card that costs nothing to hold at an 8,000 salary
- You pay rent, school fees or government charges on a card and want them to earn at the normal rate
Consider skipping it if
- You are buying it for the 3% foreign rate — the 2.99% currency margin takes almost all of it
- You want lounge access with a free guest, which this card does not include
- You would get more from 3 points per USD on dining, fuel and groceries with the Citi Premier
- You spend under 9,000 a year, which triggers the 300 fee from year two
Alternatives to consider
750 buys 3 ThankYou Points per USD on dining, fuel and groceries, plus 14 lounge visits with a free guest.
Best dining and delivery cards →
Worth comparing on monthly caps and minimum spend, which is where most UAE cashback cards claw value back.
Best cashback cards →
No annual fee with no spend requirement, and no late, cash advance or over-limit fees — but no rewards either.
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
What is the annual fee for the Citi Cash Back Card?+
AED 300, waived entirely in year one. From year two it is waived again as long as you spend at least AED 9,000 in the year; otherwise AED 300 plus 5% VAT applies.
How much cashback does the Citi Cash Back Card pay?+
3% on non-AED spend, 2% on grocery and supermarket spend, and 1% on everything else.
Is there a minimum spend or a cap on the cashback?+
No. Citi states there is no minimum spend, no excluded retail purchases and no cap other than your credit limit. Cashback is not earned on spend above the credit limit within a statement cycle.
How do I redeem the cashback?+
You do not have to. Cashback accrues and is credited to the card account automatically.
What is the minimum salary for the Citi Cash Back Card?+
AED 8,000 a month, according to Citi's Key Facts Statement.
Is the 3% foreign cashback actually worth it?+
Not as much as it looks. Citi applies a 2.99% processing margin to international and foreign-currency transactions, so the 3% cashback and the currency margin very nearly cancel out. The value in this card sits in the uncapped 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else.
Does the Citi Cash Back Card include lounge access?+
Yes — 8 visits a calendar year across about 1,200 lounges via the Mastercard Travel Pass app, shared with your supplementary cardholders. Only one visit a year is available without a non-AED transaction to unlock access, and there is no free guest: every guest costs USD 32.
What is the welcome offer on the Citi Cash Back Card?+
AED 300 as a statement credit after spending AED 6,000 within 60 days. It is limited to new Citi credit card customers applying directly through the Citi website and runs until 31 January 2027.
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.