A handy list of top credit cards for expats in Dubai
With the growth of e-commerce businesses in the region and the need for cashless transactions increasing over the years, credit cards have become necessary for most expats in the UAE. Whether it is for shopping, travelling or managing financial requirements, you will find an appropriate credit card that suits your lifestyle and spending habits in Dubai. Many of these credit cards also offer additional perks, including reward points, exclusive memberships and discounted offers. If you are looking at the benefits of some of the top credit cards in Dubai for expats, take a look at our detailed post.
Best Credit Cards in Dubai for Expats
Having a credit card, without a doubt, makes life a lot easier since online transactions and cashless payments are very much the norm these days. Therefore, banks in the UAE have introduced appropriate cards to cater to different needs.
We understand that choosing the right card can be a daunting task considering that every credit card comes with an exclusive set of key features and benefits. And this is why we have put together a list of the best credit cards for expats in Dubai. Take your pick from the best cashback cards, travel credit cards and credit cards that offer shopping and lifestyle benefits.
BEST CASHBACK CREDIT CARDS
Cashback cards, as the name suggests, would allow you to get a fixed percentage of the transaction in the form of cash. Some banks offer cashback points that can be redeemed for discounts and other offers.
Standard Chartered Platinum X Card
Standard Chartered Bank is one of the leading banks in the world. If you use a credit card regularly, this SC Platinum Card can help you bag useful discounts on many grocery stores, cinema tickets, school fee payments, utility bills and more. You can earn up to AED 1,000 cashback a month. This includes a 10% discount on online payments, international currency spending and payments using mobile wallets.
One can even earn an additional cashback of AED 3,500 when using the card at the launch partners like Deliveroo, Reel Cinemas, Samsung, Careem and Tajawal.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 5,000
- Annual Fee: AED 525
RAKBANK Titanium Credit Card
The second entry on our list of top credit cards for expats in Dubai is the RAKBank Titanium Credit Card. This particular card is preferred for its comprehensive benefits and privileges. In fact, its cashback policy is one of the most generous in the industry.
This RAKBank card gives you a 5% cashback on dining and supermarket purchases and a 50% discount on cinema tickets. In addition, you can earn up to 2% cashback on your international and domestic purchases.
Furthermore, cardholders get access to Cairo, Kuwait, Jordan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi airport lounges.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 8,000
- Annual Fee: No fee
Citi Cashback Credit Card
This entry on our list offers a 2% cashback on grocery shopping and 1% cashback on all other expenses. On purchases made in foreign currency, you can earn a 3% cashback.
Complimentary travel insurance and access to 850 airport lounges across the world are some of the benefits of using a Citi Cashback Credit Card.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 8,000
- Annual Fee: No fee for the first two years if the minimum spend of AED 9,000 is met.
Mashreq SmartSaver Credit Card
Mashreq Bank’s SmartSaver Credit Card is known for its excellent cashback rewards on shopping. You can get cashback at supermarkets, online shopping websites and auto rentals. Customers can get up to 1% cashback on international spending and 0.5% cashback on all local spending. The great news is there are no caps on the cashback.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 5,000
- Annual Fee: No fee
BEST REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
The best rewards credit cards in this list offer lifestyle discounts, travel miles and other perks to cardholders.
HSBC Platinum Select Credit Card
Using your HSBC Platinum Select Credit Card can help you earn 1 air mile for every AED 4 spent, buy one get one free on cinema tickets and complimentary Entertainer App. In fact, HSBC is one of the best banks if you are looking for credit cards with cinema offers.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 10,000
- Annual Fee: No fee
Emirates NBD Titanium Card
The Emirates NBD Titanium Card gives you access to premium airport lounges across the world. Moreover, it offers discounts on thousands of restaurants across the UAE, the Middle East and Europe.
You can earn 1 Plus Point for every AED 100 spent. For golf lovers, this is the perfect card as you get a 40% fee discount on some of the top golf courses across the world. Additionally, there’s a 15% off on all golf equipment purchases.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 5,000
- Annual Fee: No fee
BEST TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS
If you are a frequent traveller, you would know that managing travel expenses is no easy feat. Booking hotels and air tickets every now and then can take a toll on your bank balance. Considering your travel needs, you can opt for a travel credit card that offers a host of benefits such as free lounge access, travel miles, complimentary travel insurance and discounts on air tickets.
ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Platinum Card
Frequent travellers can save a lot of money with the ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Platinum Card. You get 3 Etihad miles for every AED 4 spent and these miles would come in handy when travelling with Etihad Airways.
Other benefits include access to airport lounges, free valet parking at some of the best malls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and more.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 10,000
- Annual Fee: AED 2,000
CBD Al Islamic Visa Infinite Card
All new cardholders opting for this credit card are given multi-travel insurance. You can collect loyalty points and redeem them as cashback or as air miles. Another important feature is that no foreign exchange fee applies to overseas expenses. When travelling, you get complimentary airport lounge access at over 1,000 airports across the world. In the UAE, you can get a 50% discount on VOX, Reel or Novo Cinema tickets.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 20,000
- Annual Fee: No fee for the first year
Union National Bank Titanium Credit Card
Another excellent credit card for expats in Dubai, the Union National Bank Titanium credit card offers numerous benefits. All new customers get a bonus of AED 500 as UNBmiles. When you spend AED 1 locally, you receive a reward of 3 UNBmiles on all transactions made using the credit card. This can be used at Telco’s globally for air flights to renting a car.
Moreover, the card holders are offered airport lounge access across the GCSE.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 5,000
- Annual Fee: No fee
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING A CREDIT CARD
It is best to do some research before getting any kind of credit card. Here’s what you need to consider before applying for a credit card in Dubai.
Salary Requirements
Most banks have a minimum salary requirement for people who want to apply for credit cards. So, before getting in touch with the bank, just check out their requirements online. At times, the place of employment can also make a difference when it comes to getting your application approved. Basically, there is no one set of rules that fits all applications. Hence, a little bit of research goes a long way toward choosing the right card.
When calling a bank, the first question should be ‘ what is the minimum salary for expat credit cards in Dubai?’
Interest Rates
Interest rates are another factor that you should consider carefully. It is best to opt for credit cards with the lowest possible interest rates.
Annual Fees
How much will you end up paying for the credit card services? Read more about the fees, especially the fine print details. You need to have all the numbers right before making the final commitment.
Other Charges
At times, the bank can waive off the annual fees for a limited period, but they might have other charges. As a consumer, you need to look for any hidden fees before choosing a credit card.
Foreign Currency/Exchange Rates
Most credit cards for expats in Dubai often offer decent foreign currency rates. Depending on how much you travel, this could be a really important deciding factor.
Benefits and Rewards
We recommend that you compare two to three credit cards to know more about their benefits. For example, not all travel credit cards offer the same perks when it comes to bonus air miles, discounts on air tickets and bookings and access to premium airport lounges. Similarly, parents with school-going kids can opt for cards that offer discounts on annual tuition fees. Evaluate these benefits while keeping in mind the annual credit card fee before reaching a conclusion.
The International Airport Lounges at the Dubai Airport are incredible. So having a credit card that offers access to one of these lounges is a real bonus.
Documents Required for Credit Card Application
Typically, documents required to proceed with a credit card application include:
- Your passport copy
- A valid UAE visa
- Emirates ID
- Certificate of salary
- Bank statement of salary for three months
Self-employed individuals have to provide proof of steady income. Please note that these requirements may vary depending on the bank. Also, make sure to check your UAE visa status online to know about its validity before applying for a credit card.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A CREDIT CARD IN THE UAE?
All UAE residents aged 21 or above with a valid Emirates ID can apply for a credit card in Dubai. Nonetheless, you should meticulously check your eligibility before signing up for any credit card.
WHICH CARD SHOULD I CHOOSE?
The answer to this question depends on your specific needs and financial requirements. For example, if you are a frequent traveller, consider getting a credit card that offers premium lounge access and travel miles. If you love shopping and dining out, get a credit card that gives you lucrative benefits and privileges in the form of lifestyle discounts.
There are some top banks in Dubai that offer excellent benefits with cards. All you have to do is choose the one which offers deals on things you purchase regularly. For instance, if you are a regular traveller, it would be wise to go for credit cards that offer air miles.
HOW MANY CARDS CAN I APPLY FOR AT THE SAME TIME?
There is no specific limit or number. You are allowed to have more than one credit card at a time provided that you can manage them without having a negative impact on your credit report.
CAN I WITHDRAW CASH USING MY CREDIT CARD?
Yes, you can. However, remember that there are charges associated with this cash withdrawal.
This wraps up our list of the top credit cards for expats in Dubai. What do you love most about your favourite credit card? Please share your experience in our comments section.
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