NBF Classic Credit Card
No annual fee, from an 5,000 salary
at National Bank of Fujairah's secure site
See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
As a first card this is fine: free to hold, easy to qualify for, and it comes with the same 0% instalment plans and cinema deal as NBF's premium cards. As a rewards card it is not — 1 point per works out at roughly 0.35% back, and the categories you spend most in pay half of that.
Earning and redeeming NBF Rewards points
The Classic earns 1 NBF Rewards point per on everything, with no distinction between UAE and international spending — a small point in its favour, since the card charges the same 2.5% foreign-currency fee as the rest of the range. NBF's special categories pay half that: 0.5 points per at supermarkets, telecom providers, fuel stations, schools, government services, charities, transport, rental firms, insurers and fast-food outlets.
NBF values a point at 0.0035, which puts the headline rate at roughly 0.35% back and the special-category rate nearer 0.18%. For comparison, NBF's own Platinum Exclusive pays 2.5 points per at the same zero annual fee and an 9,000 salary — so if your income clears that bar, there is little reason to hold the Classic.
Redemption runs through the NBF Direct app: digital gift cards, instant cashback credited to the card, or a transfer to Etihad Guest Miles at a ratio NBF does not publish. Earning is capped at 999,999 points a month, transactions made inside NBF Direct or online banking earn nothing, and points expire two years after the month you earn them.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 0 as advertised. The schedule of charges lists 100, waived while you keep the relevant segment eligibility.
- Interest rate
- 2.99% per month on retail balances — the same rate NBF charges on the Platinum Exclusive. Cash advance interest accrues immediately.
- Interest-free period
- Up to 50 days if the statement is paid in full, with payment due 20 days after the statement date.
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.5% on any transaction in a currency other than the . NBF states this is *in addition* to Visa International's own processing charge, and it is quoted before 5% VAT.
- Cash advance fee
- 4% of the amount or 50, whichever is higher, on up to 40% of your limit.
- Late payment fee
- 230.
- Over-limit fee
- 125.
- Minimum payment
- 5% of the statement balance or 100, whichever is higher.
- Supplementary cards
- 2 free, then 100 each from the third card onwards.
- Credit limit
- 3,000 to 60,000, or 90% of a fixed deposit of at least 60,000.
Rates are taken from NBF's April 2025 Key Facts Statement and May 2025 Schedule of Charges and are indicative — your offer letter governs. All NBF fees are quoted before tax; the bank adds 5% VAT where applicable.
Card benefits
Two-for-one cinema tickets
Buy one get one free at VOX and Reel Cinemas, up to four free tickets a month — the same deal NBF gives its premium cardholders.
0% Easy Payment Plans
Convert purchases over 500 into instalments of 3 to 12 months at 0% interest, within 45 days of the transaction. Early settlement costs 50 per plan.
Balance transfer from 0%
Move up to 90% of your limit from another bank's card: 0% over three months with a 1% fee, or 0.99% to 1.40% a month with no fee over 6 to 24 months.
CVV Key and 3D Secure
A dynamic CVV that changes with every online payment, OTP-protected checkout, and free SMS alerts on every transaction and due date.
EZ Cash on Call
Draw up to 70% of your available limit into your account, repayable over 3 to 12 months at 0.99% a month plus a 1% processing fee.
Two free supplementary cards
Add family members at no cost, with 100 charged from the third card onwards. Supplementary spending earns into the same points balance.
Pros and cons
- The lowest entry bar at NBF: an 5,000 salary, with no annual fee charged today.
- The same 1 point per whether you spend in Dubai or overseas — no international penalty.
- The same buy-one-get-one-free cinema deal as NBF's pricier cards, up to four free tickets a month.
- 0% Easy Payment Plans, balance transfer over 3 to 24 months and EZ Cash on Call all come standard.
- Two free supplementary cards, so a partner or older child can be added at no cost.
- 1 point per at NBF's own valuation of 0.0035 is about 0.35% back — very weak, even for a free card.
- Special categories halve to 0.5 points per , covering supermarkets, fuel, telecom, schools, government and insurance.
- 2.99% a month, the same rate NBF charges on the Platinum Exclusive despite this being the entry card.
- A 2.5% foreign-currency fee on top of Visa's own charge, before 5% VAT — steep for a starter card.
- NBF still requires a signed undated cheque for 120% of the limit, and the credit limit tops out at 60,000.
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- This is your first UAE credit card and you want to build a credit history without paying for it.
- You earn between 5,000 and 9,000, which puts NBF's better-earning cards out of reach.
- You value the 0% instalment plans and balance-transfer options more than the rewards rate.
- You want a free card for a partner or older child on your own account.
Consider skipping it if
- You earn 9,000 or more — the Platinum Exclusive is also free and earns 2.5 times as much.
- You want real rewards: 0.35% back is well below what free cashback cards in the UAE pay.
- Most of your spend is groceries, fuel, schools or bills, which earn just 0.5 points per .
- You spend heavily abroad and care about the 2.5% foreign-currency fee stacked on Visa's own charge.
Alternatives to consider
Also free, but earns 2.5 points per instead of 1 — the obvious upgrade the moment your salary clears 9,000.
Best no-annual-fee cards →
An entry-level rival that pays cashback you can value in advance, rather than points worth about a third of a percent.
Best cashback cards →
A step up in benefits from another UAE bank, worth comparing before you settle for 1 point per .
Best credit cards overall →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
Is there an annual fee for the NBF Classic Credit Card?+
No annual fee is charged, and the Key Facts Statement describes the card as lifetime free. Note 12 of NBF's schedule of charges adds that the listed annual fee is AED 100, waived for as long as you maintain the relevant segment eligibility.
What is the minimum salary for the NBF Classic Credit Card?+
AED 5,000 a month, the lowest requirement across NBF's three credit cards. The product is not available to anyone paid in cash or on commission only. It can also be issued against a fixed deposit of at least AED 60,000, with 90% of the deposit released as your limit.
Does the NBF Classic Credit Card offer cashback or rewards?+
It earns NBF Rewards points — 1 point per AED spent, in the UAE and internationally, and 0.5 points per AED in NBF's special categories. Points can be redeemed for instant cashback as a statement credit, digital gift cards, or Etihad Guest Miles. The Key Facts Statement separately notes that card cashback is limited to special offers.
How much are NBF Rewards points actually worth?+
NBF's rewards page states that 1 NBF Reward Point is worth 0.0035, without naming a currency — dirhams are implied by the instant-cashback redemption. On that basis 1 point per AED is about 0.35% back, and the 0.5-point special-category rate is about 0.18%.
What is the credit limit on the NBF Classic Credit Card?+
Between AED 3,000 and AED 60,000. You can withdraw cash up to 40% of that limit, and the minimum payment each month is 5% of the statement balance or AED 100, whichever is higher.
Can I set up automatic bill payments on this card?+
Yes. NBF confirms you can set up standing instructions to pay utility, telecom and other bills automatically. Bear in mind that utilities, telecom and government services fall into NBF's special categories, so those payments earn only 0.5 points per AED.
Do NBF Rewards points expire?+
Yes — two years from the last day of the month in which they were earned, under clause 4.4 of the NBF Rewards terms. Unused points are forfeited and cannot be re-credited.
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.