RAKBANK Air Arabia Platinum Credit Card
Start your next trip with 20,000 bonus AirRewards
at RAKBANK's secure site
Joining bonus requires 5,000 retail spend in the first 3 months See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
For an 5,000 salary bar, this card packs a surprising amount of Air Arabia value — the welcome bonus alone covers meaningful redemptions, and the 30,000 spend milestone converts into a real return ticket every year. It's a poor general-spending card, though: base earn rates are thin and the FX fee is high. Get it for the airline, not the points.
Earning and redeeming AirRewards
Earning is quoted per 5: 1.75 AirRewards on airarabia.com and international spend, 1.25 domestically, and a token 0.30 on the usual penalty categories (government, utilities, fuel, education, real estate, telecom and the like). There's no earning cap, but bank-channel payments, cash advances and money transfers earn nothing. On top of points, retail-spend milestones unlock meal vouchers ( 10k), a 10 kg baggage voucher ( 20k) and a free return ticket ( 30k) each card year.
Points sweep into your Air Arabia AirRewards account on every statement date — register with the same email you gave the bank. Redemption happens on airarabia.com against flights, baggage and more, with a 3,000-point minimum for flight/baggage awards; you can top up the balance in cash. Use them within 24 months or they lapse.
Rates and fees
- Joining fee
- 420 (incl. VAT), charged on the first statement — despite the page tile advertising 'no joining fees'; the KFS and price guide are unambiguous.
- Annual fee
- 420 from the second year, waived if you made 20,000 of retail spend the previous year (government, utilities, transfers and cash-type transactions excluded).
- Interest rate
- 3.65% per month (43.8% annually); up to 55 interest-free days when you pay in full.
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.57% of the transaction (foreign-currency and -denominated international alike), plus ~1.15% Mastercard scheme processing charges.
- Cash advance
- 3.15% of the amount, minimum 105 (general price guide shows 3.31%); up to 80% of the card limit.
- Late payment / over-limit
- 241.5 late fee; 299.25 over-limit fee.
- Minimum payment
- 4% of the outstanding balance or 100, whichever is higher.
- Supplementary cards
- Free.
- Minimum salary
- 5,000/month (self-employed: 50,000 average quarterly turnover and 25,000 average quarterly balance).
Figures from RAKBANK's Air Arabia Platinum Key Fact Statement, card FAQ and Service & Price Guide, inclusive of 5% VAT. Rates are indicative and can change with 30–60 days' notice.
Card benefits
Free annual return ticket
Spend 30,000 on retail in your card year and a free Air Arabia return-ticket voucher lands in your inbox — airport taxes on you, family members allowed.
Voucher ladder
Two 50 meal vouchers at 10,000 of yearly spend, plus a 10 kg excess-baggage voucher at 20,000.
Fly now, pay later
0% interest and no processing fee on airarabia.com tickets, repayable over up to 12 months.
Lounge & airport rides
Mastercard lounge programme access plus 2 complimentary Careem airport transfers a year (max 100 per ride).
Insurance built in
Complimentary travel insurance and purchase protection against theft or accidental damage, with optional Credit Shield.
Lifestyle extras
50% off VOX Cinema tickets, hotel discounts and cashback offers, and car rental savings across the region.
Pros and cons
- 5,000 salary requirement makes it one of the most accessible airline cards in the UAE
- Advertised 20,000 AirRewards welcome bonus is a meaningful head start for a low-fee card
- Spend milestones add real extras: meal vouchers at 10k, 10 kg baggage at 20k, a free return ticket at 30k
- 0% interest, no-processing-fee instalments on Air Arabia tickets, plus 2 Careem airport transfers a year
- No cap on AirRewards earning, and supplementary cards are free
- 420 joining fee, and the 420 annual fee only goes away if you spend 20,000 a year — despite the page tile saying 'no joining fees'
- Earn rates are modest: at best 1.75 AirRewards per 5 (airarabia.com/international), and just 1.25 per 5 domestically
- 2.57% foreign transaction fee plus ~1.15% scheme charges undercuts the international earn rate
- Rewards are locked to Air Arabia — no transfer partners, minimum 3,000 points to redeem flights, and points expire after 24 months
- Government, utilities, fuel, education and similar spends earn a token 0.30 per 5
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You fly Air Arabia several times a year, especially from Sharjah
- Your salary is under the bar for most airline cards — this one starts at 5,000
- You can route 20,000–30,000 of yearly spend through the card to unlock the fee waiver and ticket
- You want 0% instalments on Air Arabia fares
Consider skipping it if
- You rarely fly Air Arabia — the points have no other outlet
- You spend heavily abroad — 2.57%+ FX outweighs the international earn rate
- You want strong everyday rewards per (a cashback card pays more)
- You won't clear 20,000 a year, making the 420 fee annual
Alternatives to consider
Emirates NBD's Voyager World earns transferable travel rewards usable across multiple airlines instead of a single low-cost carrier.
Best travel cards →
RAKBANK's World Cashback card pays up to 10% back on travel, groceries and dining — cash you can spend on any airline.
Best cashback cards →
RAKBANK's Titanium card is free for life — a simpler everyday companion if the 420 joining fee puts you off.
Best no-annual-fee 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
Is there a joining or annual fee on the RAKBANK Air Arabia Platinum card?+
Yes — a joining fee of AED 420 (incl. VAT) is charged on your first statement. From the second year an annual fee of AED 420 applies, waived if you made AED 20,000 of retail spend in the previous year (government, utilities, money-transfer and cash-type transactions don't count).
How does the welcome bonus work?+
The page currently advertises 20,000 bonus AirRewards for new cardholders. Per the bank's KFS and FAQ, the joining bonus is credited after you pay the joining fee and make AED 5,000 of retail spend (excluding government and utilities) in your first 3 months.
How many AirRewards do I earn on spending?+
1.75 AirRewards per AED 5 on airarabia.com and on international spend, and 1.25 per AED 5 on domestic spend. Charities, education, fuel, automobiles, government services, bill payments, quasi-cash, real estate, telecom, utilities and transport earn 0.30 per AED 5. There is no cap on earning, but bank-channel payments, cash advances and RAKMoney transfers earn nothing.
How do I redeem AirRewards?+
Points transfer to your Air Arabia AirRewards account on each statement date — register at airarabia.com with the same email you gave RAKBANK. Redeem on airarabia.com for flights, baggage and more; flight and baggage redemptions need a minimum of 3,000 AirRewards, and points can't be used against your card payment. AirRewards expire 24 months after they're earned.
How do I get the free annual return ticket?+
It's a spend-milestone reward: AED 10,000 of retail spend in the card year earns two AED 50 meal vouchers, AED 20,000 adds a 10 kg excess-baggage voucher, and AED 30,000 earns one Air Arabia return-ticket voucher per year (emailed after the following statement; airport taxes are on you; usable for your spouse, parents or children).
What salary do I need to apply?+
A minimum monthly salary of AED 5,000. Self-employed applicants need an average quarterly credit turnover of AED 50,000 and an average quarterly balance of AED 25,000 (last 3 months). You must be 21+, a UAE citizen or resident, and provide a security cheque.
Can I pay for Air Arabia tickets in instalments?+
Yes — the 'fly now, pay later' plan gives 0% interest and no processing fee on tickets bought on the Air Arabia website, repayable over up to 12 months, subject to bank approval.
Does the card include airport transfers and lounge access?+
You get up to 2 complimentary airport pick-ups/drop-offs per year with Careem (max AED 100 per ride) and airport lounge access through the Mastercard lounge programme; RAKBANK doesn't publish the exact lounge count or visit allowance.
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.