UAE Credit Card Comparison

Compare 173 credit cards from
leading UAE banks

Explore rewards cards from leading UAE banks and compare annual fee, minimum income requirement and rewards across cashback, travel, dining and everyday spending categories.

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Credit card guide

Everything you need to know about credit cards in the UAE

Plain answers on how cards work, what they cost and how to choose one, before you compare.

At a glance

A credit card gives you an approved spending limit that you repay later, interest free if you clear the full statement balance each month.
UAE cards come in several main types: cashback, rewards, travel, Islamic, dining and low-fee cards.
Most banks ask for a minimum monthly salary of around AED 5,000, and premium cards usually ask for more.
Paying on time every month is one of the simplest ways to build a strong Al Etihad Credit Bureau score.
Gulf Policy Souq lets you compare real UAE credit cards by fee, salary requirement and rewards in one place.

Features and benefits of a credit card

A credit card gives you a spending limit set by your bank, and you pay it back later instead of handing over cash on the spot. Used well, that simple idea comes with real advantages.

Feature	What it means for you
Everyday convenience	One card covers groceries, fuel, bills and online shopping, so you rarely need to carry cash.
Travel value	Many cards include airport lounge visits, air miles or hotel discounts that can outweigh the annual fee if you fly a few times a year.
A stronger credit history	Repaying on time, month after month, is one of the simplest ways to build a healthy Al Etihad Credit Bureau score.
Cashback and rewards	Part of what you already spend comes back as cashback, points or miles.
Purchase protection	Many cards add cover or dispute support if an item is lost, stolen or damaged soon after you buy it.

Types of credit cards available in the UAE

Not every card is built the same way. Pick a type below to jump straight to matching cards in the list.

Cashback cards

Return a percentage of your spend straight to your statement.

Best for: Everyday spenders
Typical benefit: Money back on groceries, fuel and bills

Rewards and points cards

Earn points on spending that you redeem for flights, vouchers or merchandise.

Best for: Shoppers and lifestyle spenders
Typical benefit: Points for flights, hotels and vouchers

Travel and air miles cards

Built for frequent flyers, with miles, lounge access and travel perks. Airline-branded cards, such as Emirates Skywards cards, earn miles directly.

Best for: Frequent flyers
Typical benefit: Air miles and lounge access

Islamic (Shari’ah-compliant) cards

Run on a profit-based structure such as Murabaha instead of interest, so there is no riba involved.

Best for: Customers who want Shari’ah-compliant finance
Typical benefit: Profit-based structure with no interest

Dining cards

Concentrate their best rates on restaurants and food delivery apps.

Best for: People who eat out often
Typical benefit: Cashback and discounts at restaurants

Fuel cards

Pay you back more at the pump, handy if you drive often.

Best for: Daily drivers
Typical benefit: Extra return on fuel spend

Zero annual fee cards

Cost nothing to hold each year, a sensible starting point for a first card.

Best for: First-time cardholders
Typical benefit: No annual cost while you build credit history

Balance transfer cards

Move an outstanding balance from another card at a reduced or 0% rate for an introductory period.

Best for: Paying off debt on another card
Typical benefit: Reduced rate for a promotional period

School fee cards

Treat education as its own reward category, with a higher return than the standard rate on tuition.

Best for: Parents paying UAE school fees
Typical benefit: Higher return on education spend

Cinema and entertainment cards

Often include buy-one-get-one cinema tickets as a standard benefit. Check whether it is worth a premium fee.

Best for: Regular cinema-goers
Typical benefit: Cinema ticket offers

How does a credit card actually work?

Four steps repeat every month, and the last one decides whether the card costs you anything.

Limit is set

When the bank approves you, it sets the most you can spend before repaying.

You spend

Every tap, swipe or online payment is paid by the bank on your behalf.

Statement arrives

At the end of each billing cycle, usually about 30 days, you receive a statement.

You repay

Pay in full by the due date and you generally pay no interest on purchases.

Many UAE banks give an interest-free period of roughly 45 to 55 days on new purchases. If you pay only part of the balance, or just the minimum due, the bank starts charging interest, called the retail rate, on whatever is left.

Two numbers matter most when you compare cards: the interest rate you would pay if you carried a balance, and the annual fee, if there is one. If you always clear your statement in full, the rate barely matters. If you sometimes carry a balance, it matters a great deal.

Typical fees and charges to know before you apply

Exact amounts differ by bank and card, so check each card’s details. These are the charges to look for.

Charge	When it applies
Annual fee	The yearly cost of holding the main card. Some are free for life and others waive it when you meet a spend target.
Supplementary card fee	A smaller yearly charge when you add a card for a family member.
Retail interest	Charged on any balance you do not clear by the due date.
Cash advance fee	Applies when you withdraw cash on the card, usually with a higher rate from day one.
Late payment fee	Charged when the minimum payment misses the due date.
Over-limit fee	Charged when spending goes past your approved limit.
Card replacement fee	Applies when you need a new physical card issued.
Foreign transaction fee	A percentage added to purchases made in a currency other than AED.

The real pros and cons of carrying a credit card

Pros

More purchasing power when you need it
Cashback and rewards on spending you were doing anyway
Easier to track expenses than cash
Builds your credit history over time
Extra purchase protection on eligible items

Cons

Easy to overspend without real discipline
Interest and late fees add up quickly once you miss a payment
Carrying a balance for long can turn into genuine debt
Too many cards can make your spending harder to track

Who can apply, and what you’ll typically need

Every bank sets its own criteria, but most UAE credit cards share a similar baseline: you are usually at least 21 years old, a UAE resident or national, in salaried or self-employed work, and earning a minimum monthly income that varies by card, often starting around AED 5,000.

If you’re salaried

Emirates ID
UAE residence visa (for expats)
Passport copy
Salary certificate or salary transfer letter
Last 3 to 6 months’ bank statements

If you’re self-employed

Emirates ID
UAE residence visa
Passport copy
Trade licence and company documents
6 to 12 months’ bank statements

You do not always need to move your salary to a bank to get a card. Many UAE banks approve applications based on your last 3 to 6 months of statements instead of a salary transfer, which is useful if you would rather keep your main account elsewhere. The trade-off is that you may start with a slightly lower limit, since the bank has less direct visibility into your income.

A few things that genuinely improve your approval odds:

Pay every bill on or before the due date, since missed payments weigh heavily on your credit score. Keep your utilisation low: use well under 30% of your limit. Avoid applying for several cards in a short window, because each application triggers a credit check. And do not close old cards just to tidy up, since older accounts help your credit history.

How to actually choose the right card

Start with your own spending, not the card’s marketing.Look at where your money really goes each month, such as groceries, dining, fuel and travel, and match it to a card’s strongest category.
Weigh the annual fee against what you would realistically earn back.A card with a fee is not automatically worse than a free one if the rewards comfortably outweigh the cost for how you spend.
Read past the welcome bonus.A big sign-up offer looks great on day one, but the everyday earn rate decides whether the card is still worth using in year two.
Check the minimum salary and salary transfer requirement.Do this before you apply so you do not apply for a card you will not qualify for.
Confirm the basics.Make sure the card is accepted where you shop, and that you know your credit limit, how to freeze the card and how to set spend alerts.

When to apply for a credit card

Good timing looks like this: you have a stable salary landing in your UAE bank account for at least three months, your employer is on the bank’s approved list, you comfortably meet the minimum income for the card you want, or you are just starting out and want an entry-level card to begin building credit.

It is usually worth waiting if you are still in your probation period at a new job, since banks want to see a consistent salary history first, or if a previous credit card application was rejected recently. Most banks prefer you wait around 90 days before applying again.

Common mistakes that quietly cost cardholders money

Money mistakes

Carrying a balance instead of paying in full
Only ever paying the minimum due
Missing payment due dates
Maxing out your credit limit
Taking frequent cash advances, which carry their own fee and higher rate

Security and usage mistakes

Ignoring your monthly statement
Entering card details over public Wi-Fi
Throwing away receipts or statements without shredding them
Sharing your PIN or one-time password with anyone
Letting reward points sit unused until they expire

Ready to compare? Use the search and filters to see cards that match your salary and spending.

Cards FAQ

Frequently asked questions about credit cards

Quick, plain-language answers before you apply.

About Gulf Policy Souq and how this page works

Who we are

Gulf Policy Souq is a comparison platform for UAE financial products. This page brings credit card fees, salary requirements and offers together so you can compare side by side instead of visiting a dozen separate bank websites.

How we make money

Comparing cards on Gulf Policy Souq is free. Where you apply through a link on this page, a bank may pay us a referral fee if your application is approved, at no extra cost to you. Card order and details are based on the card information, not on who pays us.

Disclaimer

Gulf Policy Souq is not a bank, lender or licensed financial advisor, and nothing on this page is financial advice. Fee, rate and benefit information comes from banks’ own published materials and other publicly available sources. We do not own this content and do not guarantee it is complete, current or error-free, since banks can change their terms at any time without notice.

Bank names, logos and trademarks shown on this page remain the property of their respective owners and are used only to identify each issuer’s products. Their presence does not imply endorsement of, partnership with or approval of Gulf Policy Souq by that bank.

Always confirm current rates, fees and eligibility directly with the bank or an authorised representative before applying, and treat the figures here as a starting point for comparison, not a guaranteed offer.