Citi Premier Credit Card
750 statement credit after 10,000 in 60 days
at Citibank UAE's secure site
New Citi credit card customers only, applying directly through the Citi website. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
This is the Citi card we would actually carry. Three points per dollar on restaurants, petrol and supermarkets is aimed at the categories that fill most UAE statements, and you still get the same 14 lounge visits as the card that costs twice as much. The 1x rate on everything else is the honest limit.
Earning and redeeming ThankYou Points
The Premier's headline is 3 ThankYou Points per USD 1 on dining, fuel and groceries charged in — a rate the 1,500 Prestige does not match on those categories. Non- spend earns 2 per USD 1, other spend earns 1, and European Economic Area currencies also earn 1. The usual Citi penalty bucket in — utilities, telecom, government services, education, insurance, real estate, transit and transport — drops to 0.25 points per USD, and utility bills paid through Citibank Online or the Citi Mobile app earn nothing at all.
Points redeem through Fly with Points against a flight on any airline in one click, by transferring to 11 partner airline and hotel programmes including Qatar, Turkish and British Airways, or as a plain cash rebate. Citi's own published illustration prices 4,500 points at 100, about 0.022 a point — which puts the 3x categories at roughly 1.8% back and everything else at about 0.6%. Unlike the Prestige and Ultima, the Premier pays no anniversary bonus points.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 750 a year, plus 5% VAT. No first-year waiver.
- 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 on international and foreign-currency transactions.
- 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
3x on dining, fuel and groceries
3 ThankYou Points per USD 1 on restaurants, petrol stations and supermarkets in — the categories that dominate most UAE card statements.
14 lounge visits a year
About 1,200 lounges via Mastercard Travel Pass, for you and each supplementary cardholder, plus one free guest each per visit.
Airport transfers and Marhaba
4 Careem airport rides a year up to 84 each, one Marhaba Bronze meet and greet at Dubai airport, and 3 security fast-track passes.
Golf once a month
One complimentary round a month at leading UAE courses.
Cinema and grocery discounts
Flat 30% off four VOX Cinemas tickets a month, 60 off a Carrefour app order and 20% off a Talabat order, each once a month.
Travel and purchase cover
Travel accident and medical insurance for delayed flights, lost luggage and emergencies, plus purchase protection up to USD 20,000 a year for 90 days.
Pros and cons
- 3 ThankYou Points per USD on dining, fuel and groceries — triple the rate the Prestige pays on those categories, for half the fee
- 14 lounge visits a year with one free guest each, matching the 1,500 Prestige
- Marhaba Bronze meet and greet at Dubai airport once a year, plus 3 security fast-track passes
- 4 Careem airport rides a year, monthly golf, 30% off four VOX tickets and 60 off Carrefour
- Points redeem on any airline via Fly with Points or transfer to 11 partner programmes
- 15,000 minimum salary puts it within reach of most mid-career professionals
- 750 plus 5% VAT with no first-year waiver
- Plain spend outside dining, fuel and groceries earns only 1 point per USD — around 0.6% back
- spend on utilities, telecom, government, education, insurance, real estate and transport earns 0.25 points per USD, and utility bills paid inside Citi's app earn nothing
- No anniversary bonus points, unlike the Prestige and Ultima
- The lounge benefit needs a non- transaction to stay unlocked — only 2 visits a year come without international spend
- 2.99% foreign-currency margin is higher than several UAE competitors
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- Restaurants, petrol and supermarkets make up a large share of your card spend
- You want real lounge access without paying a four-figure annual fee
- You earn 15,000 or more and want one card to cover travel and everyday spend
- You use cinema, delivery and grocery perks often enough to offset the fee
Consider skipping it if
- Most of your spending is rent, school fees, utilities or government charges, which earn 0.25 points per dollar
- You want a card with no annual fee at all — Citi Cash Back and Citi Simplicity cost nothing to hold
- Nearly all your spend is in foreign currency, where the Prestige earns 3 to this card's 2
- You carry a balance — 44.28% APR wipes out any rewards
Alternatives to consider
3% on foreign spend and 2% on groceries paid straight to your statement, with no annual fee if you spend 9,000 a year.
Best cashback cards →
3 points per USD on all foreign spend and 2 on every , plus valet parking and 10,000 anniversary points.
Best travel credit cards →
A local-bank miles card with its own transfer partners, worth comparing on foreign-currency markup before you decide.
Voyager miles 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 Citi Premier Credit Card?+
AED 750 a year, plus 5% VAT on top. There is no first-year waiver.
What is the minimum salary for the Citi Premier?+
AED 15,000 a month, according to Citi's Key Facts Statement.
How many ThankYou Points does the Citi Premier earn?+
3 points per USD 1 on dining, fuel and groceries in AED; 2 per USD 1 on non-AED spend; and 1 per USD 1 on all other AED spend. European Economic Area currencies earn 1, and AED spend on utilities, telecom, government services, education, insurance, real estate and transport earns 0.25.
Does the Citi Premier include airport lounge access?+
Yes — 14 visits a calendar year across about 1,200 lounges via the Mastercard Travel Pass app, for you and each supplementary cardholder plus one free guest each per visit. Since June 2025 you need a non-AED transaction of at least USD 1 to unlock access for three months.
What is the welcome offer on the Citi Premier?+
AED 750 as a statement credit after spending AED 10,000 within 60 days. It is limited to new Citi credit card customers applying directly through the Citi website and runs until 31 January 2027.
Is the Citi Premier better than the Citi Prestige?+
For most UAE spending patterns, yes. The Premier costs half as much and pays 3 points per dollar on dining, fuel and groceries where the Prestige pays 2. The Prestige only pulls ahead if a large share of your spending is in foreign currency, where it earns 3 to the Premier's 2.
What cinema and dining perks come with the Citi Premier?+
A flat 30% off four VOX Cinemas tickets every month, 20% off one Talabat order a month capped at AED 14, and AED 60 off one Carrefour app order a month.
Does the Citi Premier come with airport transfers?+
Yes — four Careem airport rides a year capped at AED 84 each, plus one Marhaba Bronze meet and greet a year at Dubai International with arrival and departure fast-track.
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.