Emirates NBD U by Emaar Signature
6.25% back at Emaar for 262.50 a year
at Emirates NBD's secure site
See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"This is the U by Emaar card most people should actually get. You give up 1.25 points of Emaar earn versus the Infinite and keep 1,300 a year in fees — and you still board through the lounge. Just treat the 3.69% monthly interest as a hard rule to pay in full."
Earning and redeeming Upoints
The card earns a 1.25% base rate as Upoints, multiplied by five at Emaar merchants for 6.25% back — retail outlets inside The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall, Emaar Hospitality Group hotels and restaurants, Emaar Entertainment attractions and Emaar Communities. Earning is capped at 200,000 Upoints a year, split into equal monthly caps, and utility payments through bank channels, cash advances and fees earn nothing.
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
- 525 incl. VAT, one-off
- Annual fee
- 262.50 incl. VAT, every year
- Welcome bonus
- None currently advertised
- Interest rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.) per the KFS — the page still shows 3.25%; 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
- 12,000 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 3.25% monthly interest — the KFS figure of 3.69% is shown here. Verify on the bank's site before applying.
Card benefits
1,000+ airport lounges
Complimentary lounge access worldwide via the Visa Airport Companion app — rare at this fee level.
U by Emaar Gold status
Automatic Gold tier: room upgrades on Emaar hotel stays and 15% off dining and spas at Emaar Hospitality Group.
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.
The Entertainer & agoda via Visa
Buy-one-get-one-free Entertainer offers, agoda hotel discounts, Avis rentals and BookingBash deals.
Visa assistance services
Medical & travel assistance, emergency medical and legal referral, and global customer assistance.
Pros and cons
- 6.25% back at Emaar for an 262.50 annual fee — the best value-per- in the U by Emaar family
- Lounge access at 1,000+ airports is rare at a 12,000-salary card
- Gold status brings room upgrades and 15% off dining and spas at Emaar hotels
- Points redeem instantly at the till at 2,500+ Emaar stores, no transfer step
- Reel Cinemas BOGO plus The Entertainer offers via Visa
- 3.69% monthly interest (44.28% p.a.) — among the highest tiers ENBD charges, despite the page still showing 3.25%
- No welcome bonus is currently advertised
- Rewards are locked to Emaar — Upoints have no cash value and no airline or cash conversion
- Non-Emaar spend earns a modest 1.25%
- Earning is capped at 200,000 Upoints a year with monthly sub-caps — a fifth of the Infinite's cap
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You shop, dine or take the kids to Emaar venues most months — 4,200 a year there covers the fee
- You want lounge access without a premium card's salary bar or fees
- You always pay your balance in full
Consider skipping it if
- You ever carry a balance — 3.69% a month compounds brutally
- Your spending rarely touches Emaar — 1.25% elsewhere is beatable
- You want a welcome bonus or rewards you can cash out — this card has neither
Alternatives to consider
The free-for-life U by Emaar Family keeps 5% at Emaar with a 5,000 salary bar — no lounge, no fee.
See the U by Emaar Family →
Mall of the Emirates and Carrefour regulars get the mirror-image card: 6% back as SHARE Points, free for life.
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 Signature?+
A joining fee of AED 525 and an annual fee of AED 262.50, both inclusive of VAT, per the bank's card page, the KFS and the December 2025 price guide.
What is the minimum salary required?+
AED 12,000 per month.
How much do I earn on Emaar spend?+
6.25% back as Upoints on all Emaar spend — that's the 1.25% base rate times five at Emaar merchants including The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and Emaar Communities. All other spend earns 1.25%.
What interest rate applies?+
The Key Facts Statement (08/2026) and the December 2025 price guide both put the U by Emaar Signature at 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.), although the card page still shows 3.25%. UAE Nationals get 3.25% on all ENBD cards regardless.
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. That is unusual at this fee level.
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.
Is there a cap on how many Upoints I can earn?+
Yes. The U by Emaar programme terms cap the Signature card at 200,000 Upoints per year, divided into equal monthly caps.
What hotel perks come with the card?+
Automatic U by Emaar Gold status, a complimentary room upgrade on stays at Emaar Hospitality Group hotels, and 15% off food & beverage and spas at those hotels. The Arabic page also lists 10% off hotel stays.
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.