Credit cards are a way to earn high cashback and discounts on domestic and international spending. You can enjoy a luxurious yet affordable lifestyle strategically with them. Using these cards allows you to get benefits on traveling, access hundreds of airport lounges free, discounts on fuel & shopping, entertainment, and much more.
But you know what? Not every card is right for you. To get the right credit card, you must read this fact-based comparison that examines the 10 popular credit cards in Dubai on specific parameters. Apart from benefits, Delights Dubai also describe the annual fee, interest rate, minimum requirements for applying for this card, installment plans, and Shariah-compliant features for each card.
Stay with this article to find your ideal credit card.
10 Most Popular Credit Cards In Dubai
We’ve made a comparison between hundreds of credit card services in Dubai, UAE. After that, we found these cards amazing and a reliable choice compared to the rest. And yes, we are further making a comparison between these cards to find the best one for you.
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Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | Up to 100,000 skyward miles |
| Annual Fee | Joining Fee: AED 3,148.95
From 2nd Year Onwards: AED 1,575 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.25%
Annually: 39% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 30,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | No direct cashback rewards |
| Travel Benefits | Access to over 1000 airport lounges via LoungeKey, 4 airport transfers per year |
| Airport Lounge Access | Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide |
| Balance Transfer | Available with a 1-3% fee |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Up to 30% over 2,000+ restaurants |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.99% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available with 3-month easy EPP |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | No specific discounts |
| Cinema Offers | Buy 1 get 1 ticket at Reel Cinemas |
| Fraud Protection | Extended warranty and purchase protection benefits |
| Supplementary Cards | Available |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | No |
Overview: The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card is the best choice for travelers because it offers certain discounts and cashback rewards on spending domestically and internationally. You can access 1000+ airport lounges and enjoy luxury meals and business-class traveling.
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Mashreq Cashback Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | For New Customers: AED 500 cashback (Upon spending AED 5,000 within the first 2 months)
For Existing Customers: AED 100 cashback for the same period |
| Annual Fee | No annual fee |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.85%
Yearly: 46.2% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | Per Month: AED 5,000
Yearly: AED 60,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | 5% on dining, 2% on international spending, 1% on local spending, 0.33% on government payments, fuel, utility, rents, and education spending |
| Travel Benefits | Under DragonPass Fly & Dine Programme, access to airport dining at over 200+ locations |
| Airport Lounge Access | Not specified |
| Balance Transfer | Available with a 1.39% fee |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Up to 30% discount at over 2,000 restaurants in the UAE through the Mashreq Flavours Program |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.79% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | 0% Easy Payment Plan for purchases of AED 1,000 or more |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | 0.33% |
| Cinema Offers | Not specified |
| Fraud Protection | Extended warranty and purchase protection |
| Supplementary Cards | Free for life with 0% annual fee |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | No |
Overview: Mashreq Cashback Credit Card is one of the cards that offers supplementary cards with 0% annual fee. You have options for balance transfers, easy payment plans, and more. You get a considerable welcome bonus, cashback rewards, and discounts on fuel and utilities. Lastly, the minimum salary requirements are also lower.
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ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Platinum Card
| Welcome Bonus | 50,000 Etihad Guest Miles. |
| Annual Fee | AED 2,000 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.75%
Annually: 45% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 10,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | No traditional cashback rewards |
| Travel Benefits | Free Companion Ticket available when spending AED 150,000 in one year. |
| Airport Lounge Access | Costless airport lounge access via LoungeKey + 4 free visits yearly |
| Balance Transfer | Confirm personally with their support system |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Yes – They’re available in many dining and shopping centres |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 1.8% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available on large purchases |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | You earn Eithad miles on fuel & utility bills |
| Cinema Offers | Depends upon ongoing deals |
| Fraud Protection | Advanced security with chip & PIN + contactless technology system |
| Supplementary Cards | 4 cards are issued free of cost, while you are charged AED 2,000 for the 5th card onwards |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | Yes, it does not charge riba but works on a profit basis |
Overview: There’s no card except the ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Platinum Card that offers such an extensive welcome bonus of 50,000 Etihad Guest Miles. It offers a free companion ticket if you spend over AED 150,000 in a year. You can access various airport lounges, get cashback rewards, and get discounts on dining and shopping.
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Citi Cashback Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | AED 150 on meeting the spending requirements |
| Annual Fee | No fee in the first year, while AED 300 from the second year onwards |
| Interest Rate (APR) | 37.20% – 42% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 8000 |
| Cashback Rewards | 5% cashback on utility & telephone bills and movie tickets + 0.5% on all other spends |
| Travel Records | Access to over 1,100+ airport lounges |
| Airport Lounge Access | Via the MasterCard Travel Pass App, you can access 1,000+ airport lounges |
| Balance Transfer | Options are available, however, terms and conditions may vary |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | 15% |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.99% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available for large purchases with competitive interest rates |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | 5% on utility bills, while 0.5% on fuel |
| Cinema Offers | 5% cashback on movie tickets |
| Fraud Protection | Chip and PIN dual protection |
| Supplementary Cards | You can request for family members with no additional costs |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | This card is not specified as shariah compliant |
Overview: It’s one of the best credit cards popular in Dubai that a person with even an average salary can apply for. There’s no need to go for extensive form-filling or anything else like that. You can simply apply for the card if you’re fulfilling their requirements. It offers two complimentary airport transfers every year and certain cashback rewards with a lower annual fee.
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FAB Platinum Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | 10,000 bonus SHARE points upon card activation |
| Annual Fee | AED 1,000 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.25%
Annually: 39% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 10,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | 7% at Carrefour, 2.25% on online shopping, 6.25% on mall experiences, and 4.25% on shopping at City Centre Mall & Mall of the Emirates |
| Travel Records | Unlimited 2-for-1 offers through the xperience with the ENTERTAINER mobile app |
| Airport Lounge Access | Access to 25 airport lounges in Levant regions and the Middle East |
| Balance Transfer | Complimentary 0% balance transfer for the first 12 months |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | 15% on participating restraunts |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 1.95% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available on large online purchases |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | You only earn reward points & no discounts |
| Cinema Offers | You can get 4 movie tickets per month at AED 20 on weekends and AED 15 on weekdays at Oscar, Reel, Cine Royal, and VOX cinemas |
| Fraud Protection | Smart chip integration that utilizes 3D secure for online shopping |
| Supplementary Cards | You can receive up to four free supplementary cards |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | Yes, it’s a Shariah-compliant card |
Overview: Our top picks also include the FAB Platinum credit card that offers exclusive lifestyle benefits. You can get up to 5% cashback on shopping, dining, and other spendings. The best thing about the card is that you have 0% interest rates on payment plans, access to certain airport lounges worldwide, and options to order supplementary cards for family with no additional costs.
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HSBC Black Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | AED 150,000 air miles upon card activation and AED 75,000 air miles upon annual renewal |
| Annual Fee | AED 1,500 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.25%
Annually: 39% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 25,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | No direct rewards, but you earn cash points |
| Travel Records | You can redeem air miles for hotel stays, flights, and other travel expenses |
| Airport Lounge Access | 1,200 air lounges access worldwide |
| Balance Transfer | Options are available, but terms & conditions may vary |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | 11,000 buy 1 get 1 free offers on restaurant dining, spa treatments, and food deliveries |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.99% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available upon large purchases |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | You earn only reward points, but no direct cashback |
| Cinema Offers | HSBC’s promotions are available on ongoing deals |
| Fraud Protection | Zero liability protection for unauthorized transactions, chip & PIN technology |
| Supplementary Cards | You can apply for these cards for family at no additional costs |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | This card is not Shariah compliant |
Overview: It’s the only card that offers Air Miles earning on all types of expenditures. You get welcome and annual bonuses and are offered premium travel experiences to maintain a luxury lifestyle. Interestingly, you get access to more than 11,000 items through the HSBC ENTERTAINER app, where a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” sale is always live.
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Standard Chartered Platinum Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | Not highlighted |
| Annual Fee | AED 525 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.45%
Annually: 41.4% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 8,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | Earn 1% on domestic spending, while 2% on international spending |
| Travel Records | Access up to 1,000 global airport lounges |
| Airport Lounge Access | 1,000+ airport lounge access worldwide |
| Balance Transfer | 0% interest with a 2% processing fee |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Via “The Good Life” program, you can get discounts on dining and retail |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.99% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | For spending up to AED 5,000 |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | Complimentary access to DragonPass lounges worldwide, with 2 free visits per year |
| Cinema Offers | Buy 1 get 1 free ticket at VOX cinemas |
| Fraud Protection | 3D secure OTP verification system |
| Supplementary Cards | You can order two free supplementary cards, while a fee of AED 157.50 applies from the third card onward |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | This card is not Shariah compliant |
Overview: Here’s another popular credit card in Dubai with lower annual fee and interest rates. You can get cashback and discounts on dining & shopping using this card. This card is for you if you’re an indoor or outdoor cinema enthusiast. It offers buy 1 get 1 free ticket at VOX cinemas, so you can enjoy watching movies.
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RAKBANK Titanium Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | No welcome bonuses but cashback rewards |
| Annual Fee | Lifetime free and no annual membership |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.45%
Annually: 41.4% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 8,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | 50% cashback on video streaming & cinema purchases, 5% on dining & supermarket spending, 1% on other retail spending below AED 14,999, and 2% on spending above AED 15,000 |
| Travel Records | 10% cashback on hotel bookings across 200+ countries, and 15% discount at IHG hotels and Resorts in the Maldives, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and India |
| Airport Lounge Access | For 10 airports across UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia |
| Balance Transfer | Options are available, but terms & conditions may vary |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | For selected restaurants and shopping malls |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | 2.2% |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | For school fee payments at 0% processing fee |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | No direct discounts; however, 1% cashback |
| Cinema Offers | 50% cashback on cinema expenses (AED 70 maximum monthly limit) |
| Fraud Protection | 24/7 fraud monitoring and zero liability protection |
| Supplementary Cards | You can apply for these cards for your family free of cost |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | This card is not Shariah compliant |
Overview: Think of a lifetime free credit card with no annual fee. Doesn’t it sound amazing? RAKBANK Titanium credit card exhibits this feature and gives 50% bumper cashback on cinema expenses monthly. Although the card is not Shariah-compliant, the interest rate is quite low, which is 2.2%.
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Emirates Islamic Flex Elite Credit Card
| Welcome Bonus | 175,000 EI SmartMiles equivalent to AED 1,750 |
| Annual Fee | AED 700 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | Monthly: 3.45%
Annually: 41.4% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | AED 8,000 |
| Cashback Rewards | No direct cashback rewards, but EI SmartMiles points |
| Travel Records | Considerable travel insurance |
| Airport Lounge Access | Access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide |
| Balance Transfer | Options are available |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Through the “Mazaya Offers” program, you can get discounts from various dining and shopping points. |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | May vary or not specified |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Available with 0% processing if you do shopping from partner outlets |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | No direct discount, but you earn 1 EI SmartMiles point on spending every AED 1 |
| Cinema Offers | Buy 1 get 1 movie ticket three times a month |
| Fraud Protection | PIN & Chip system is introduced for protection |
| Supplementary Cards | You can apply for up to 4 cards with no additional fee |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | Fully compliant card with Shariah principles |
Overview: Get a huge AED 1,750 welcome bonus with this fully Shariah-compliant credit card and enjoy a 0% processing fee when buying from partner outlets. The minimum salary requirement is 8,000 AED, and you can apply for the four supplementary cards with no additional fee.
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Dubai First Royale Mastercard
| Welcome Bonus | Welcome bonuses are not publicly disclosed |
| Annual Fee | Approx. AED 6,997 |
| Interest Rate (APR) | 2.59% |
| Minimum Salary Requirement | No minimum salary requirements are disclosed; the card is only issued by invitation only |
| Cashback Rewards | Significant & selected cashback rewards |
| Travel Records | Personalized services to complement luxury travel |
| Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited airport lounge access worldwide |
| Balance Transfer | Yes |
| Dining & Shopping Discounts | Available for selecting malls and restaurants |
| Foreign Exchange Fees | May vary |
| Easy Payment Plans (EPP) | Not specified |
| Fuel & Utility Bill Discounts | Yes |
| Cinema Offers | Available on ongoing deals |
| Fraud Protection | Detailed fraud protection system |
| Supplementary Cards | You can invite family and friends |
| Shariah-Compliant Option | Information is not disclosed publicaly |
Overview: This card is designed for wealthy and high-class personalities. That’s because most of its information is confidential. However, you can access unlimited airport lounges worldwide. Its interest rate is 2.59%, and the annual fee is AED 6,997. Because of its exclusive standard, it can only be obtained by invitation, and you cannot directly apply for it.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, we have shared the 10 best credit cards in Dubai here. We described the welcome bonuses, annual fees, discounts on spendings, shariah principles, supplementary cards applications, foreign exchange rates, cinema offers, minimum salary requirements for applying, and more.
You can get any of these cards, considering what aligns with your situation best. Meanwhile, if you travel, the card that primarily focuses on traveling benefits might be suitable for you, or vice versa. Now, leave your comments about which card is ideal for you below.
