Emirates NBD U by Emaar Visa Infinite Emirati
First year free, 15% intro Emaar earn and 10,000 bonus Upoints
at Emirates NBD's secure site
See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"For an Emirati who already lives in the Emaar universe, this is the standard Infinite with its biggest flaw deleted — the 2,625 entry fee. Take the free first year, bank the 15% intro rate and the 10,000-point bonus, then be honest with yourself about whether 1,575 a year is still worth it from year two."
Earning and redeeming Upoints
The card earns 7.5% back as Upoints at every Emaar merchant — retail outlets inside The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall, Emaar Hospitality Group hotels and restaurants, Emaar Entertainment attractions and Emaar Communities — boosted to 15% for the first three months. Everything else earns 1.5%. A spend bonus of 10,000 Upoints lands if retail purchases across the first three billing cycles reach USD 10,000, counting primary and supplementary card spend. Earning is capped at 1,000,000 Upoints a year in equal monthly instalments.
Redemption is instant and in-store: pay with the card at 2,500+ 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 for the Emirati variant
- Annual fee
- First year free, then 1,575 incl. VAT from year two
- Welcome offer
- 15% back on Emaar spend for 3 months + 10,000 Upoints on USD 10,000 spend in the first 3 statements
- Interest rate
- 3.25% per month (39% p.a.) — the uniform UAE Nationals rate
- 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
- Eligibility
- UAE Nationals only, minimum salary 30,000 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 Emirati variant is not separately listed in the fee tables — the bank page's first-year-free terms and the UBE Infinite renewal fee apply. Verify on the bank's site before applying.
Card benefits
U by Emaar Platinum status
Automatic top-tier status: suite upgrades on Emaar hotel stays and 20% off dining and spas at Emaar Hospitality Group.
1,000+ airport lounges
Complimentary lounge access worldwide via the Visa Airport Companion app — register before you travel.
Reel Cinemas buy 1 get 1
Free ticket with every ticket at Reel Cinemas, plus free popcorn and soft drinks on 5,000+ monthly spend.
Up to 30% off Emaar attractions
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania and Dubai Ice Rink at up to 30% off.
Dubai Mall valet parking
Complimentary valet at the Grand Drive and China Town area — activate with an OTP from the U by Emaar app.
Concierge desk
A dedicated team for bookings, arrangements and the errands that eat your time.
Pros and cons
- First year free and no joining fee — the standard U by Emaar Infinite charges 2,625 to join
- 15% back on Emaar spend for the first 3 months, then 7.5% ongoing
- 10,000-Upoint spend bonus on USD 10,000 (about 36,700) in the first 3 statements
- Automatic Platinum status: suite upgrades and 20% off dining and spas at Emaar hotels
- As a UAE National you get the 3.25% monthly rate guaranteed across all ENBD cards
- UAE Nationals only — residents must take the standard Infinite with its 2,625 joining fee
- 1,575 annual fee returns from year two with no published waiver
- Rewards are locked to Emaar — Upoints have no cash value and no airline or cash conversion
- Non-Emaar spend earns an ordinary 1.5%
- 30,000 minimum salary keeps it an affluent-segment card
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You're a UAE National earning 30,000+ whose spending already runs through Emaar
- You'll clear USD 10,000 in the first 3 statements to collect the 10,000-point bonus
- You want the Infinite's Platinum perks without paying 2,625 to find out if they suit you
Consider skipping it if
- You're not a UAE National — this variant won't be offered to you
- Your Emaar spend won't out-earn 1,575 a year from year two
- You want rewards you can cash out or fly with — Upoints never leave Emaar
Alternatives to consider
The same 7.5% Emaar earn and Platinum perks, open to residents — but with an 2,625 joining fee.
Emirates NBD's Darna line is built for Emirati families with rewards that aren't tied to a single developer.
Skywards Miles fly you anywhere Emirates does — points with a life outside a mall ecosystem.
See the Skywards Infinite →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
Who can apply for the U by Emaar Visa Infinite Emirati card?+
UAE Nationals only, with a minimum salary of AED 30,000 per month. Expatriate residents should look at the standard U by Emaar Infinite instead.
What are the fees?+
The first year is free with no joining fee. From the second year the annual fee is AED 1,575 inclusive of VAT — the same renewal fee as the standard U by Emaar Infinite.
What is the welcome offer?+
Three parts: the card is free for the first year, you earn 15% back on Emaar spend for the first 3 months, and you get a 10,000-Upoint spend bonus if retail purchases across the first three billing cycles reach USD 10,000. The bank headlines the package as up to 25,000 Upoints.
How much do I earn on Emaar spend?+
7.5% back as Upoints on all Emaar spend — retail outlets in The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall, Emaar Hospitality Group hotels and restaurants, Emaar Entertainment and Emaar Communities — and 1.5% on everything else. During the first 3 months Emaar spend earns 15%.
Where can I redeem Upoints?+
Instantly at over 2,500 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.
What interest rate applies?+
3.25% per month (39% p.a.). Emirates NBD applies this rate uniformly for UAE Nationals across all its cards.
Does the card include airport lounge access?+
Yes — complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion app, which you need to download and register on.
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.