Emirates NBD U by Emaar Family
5% back at Emaar with no annual fee, ever
at Emirates NBD's secure site
See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"Free is free: if Dubai Mall is part of your family's routine, there is no reason not to hold this card for the 5% and the cinema BOGO. Just don't fuel the car or buy the week's groceries with it — those earn almost nothing — and never, ever revolve at 3.69% a month."
Earning and redeeming Upoints
The card earns a 1% base rate as Upoints, multiplied by five at Emaar merchants for 5% back at Emaar malls, hotels and restaurants. Below the base sit two penalty buckets: groceries and supermarkets at 25% of base (0.25%), and fuel, government services and telecom at 10% of base (0.1%). Earning is capped at 100,000 Upoints a year in equal monthly instalments.
Redemption is instant and in-store: pay with the card at 1,500+ participating Emaar outlets and points become usable within 24 hours of posting, tracked on ubyemaar.com or the ENBD app. The trade-off is total lock-in — Upoints have no cash value, no airline transfers and no life outside the Emaar ecosystem.
Rates and fees
- Joining fee
- Free — no joining fee
- Annual fee
- Free for life — confirmed in the KFS and price guide
- Welcome bonus
- None currently advertised
- Interest rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.) per the KFS — the page still shows 3.49%; UAE Nationals pay 3.25%
- Interest-free period
- Up to 55 days when the full balance is paid
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1.99% currency conversion, plus roughly 1.15% Visa processing
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95)
- Late payment fee
- 241.50 per month
- Over-limit fee
- 292.95 per month
- Minimum salary
- 5,000 per month
Figures from the Emirates NBD Key Facts Statement (08/2026) and Credit Card Services and Price Guide (December 2025); all fees include 5% VAT. The card page still lists 3.49% monthly interest — the KFS figure of 3.69% is shown here. Verify on the bank's site before applying.
Card benefits
Reel Cinemas buy 1 get 1
Free ticket with every ticket at Reel Cinemas when you pay with the card.
Up to 30% off Emaar attractions
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania and Dubai Ice Rink at up to 30% off.
10% off Emaar hotel dining & spas
Up to 10% off F&B and spas at Emaar Hospitality Group, including Atmosphere and Thiptara.
U by Emaar Silver status
Automatic Silver tier in Emaar's loyalty programme (listed on the bank's Arabic page).
Instant point redemption
Upoints spend at the till at 1,500+ Emaar stores within 24 hours of earning.
0% instalment plans
Split purchases at participating merchants over 3, 6, 12 or 24 months at 0% interest.
Pros and cons
- Free for life — no joining fee, no annual fee, ever
- 5% back at Emaar malls, hotels and restaurants is strong for a no-fee card
- 5,000 salary requirement opens the Emaar ecosystem to most earners
- Reel Cinemas BOGO, 30% off Emaar attractions and 10% off hotel dining and spas at zero cost
- Points redeem instantly at the till at 1,500+ Emaar stores
- Punitive penalty buckets: 0.25% at groceries and supermarkets, 0.1% on fuel, government and telecom
- 3.69% monthly interest (44.28% p.a.) per the KFS — the page's 3.49% is outdated
- Rewards are locked to Emaar — Upoints have no cash value and no airline or cash conversion
- No lounge access, no welcome bonus and a 100,000-Upoint annual earning cap
- 1% base earn outside Emaar is ordinary
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- Dubai Mall, Reel Cinemas or KidZania are part of your family's routine
- You earn 5,000+ and want a no-fee card that pays for the outings
- You'll pair it with a proper card for groceries, fuel and bills
Consider skipping it if
- You want one card for everything — the 0.25% and 0.1% buckets punish daily essentials
- You ever carry a balance — 3.69% a month compounds brutally
- You want lounge access or rewards you can cash out — this card has neither
Alternatives to consider
262.50 a year lifts the Emaar rate to 6.25% and adds lounge access at 1,000+ airports.
This card's 0.25% grocery bucket is its weakest spot — a LuLu co-brand pays up to 7% on the weekly shop.
See the LuLu 247 Platinum →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 are the fees on the Emirates NBD U by Emaar Family card?+
None — the card is free for life with no joining fee and no annual fee, confirmed by the bank page, the KFS and the December 2025 price guide.
What is the minimum salary required?+
AED 5,000 per month — the lowest bar in the U by Emaar family.
How much do I earn on spending?+
1% back as Upoints on general spend and 5% on Emaar spend (malls, hotels, restaurants). Groceries and supermarkets earn 25% of the base rate (0.25%), and fuel, government services and telecom payments earn 10% of the base rate (0.1%).
What interest rate applies?+
The Key Facts Statement (08/2026) and the December 2025 price guide put the U by Emaar Family at 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.); the card page still shows an outdated 3.49%. UAE Nationals get 3.25% on all ENBD cards.
Where can I redeem Upoints?+
Instantly at over 1,500 stores in the Emaar ecosystem by paying with the card at participating outlets. Points become redeemable within 24 hours of posting. Upoints have no cash value and cannot be converted to cash or airline miles.
Does the card include airport lounge access?+
No — lounge access starts at the U by Emaar Signature tier. This card's perks are the Reel Cinemas buy-1-get-1, up to 30% off Emaar Entertainment and 10% off dining and spas at Emaar hotels.
Is there a cap on how many Upoints I can earn?+
Yes. The U by Emaar programme terms cap the Family card at 100,000 Upoints per year, divided into equal monthly caps.
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.