The main UAE credit card types include cashback cards, travel or miles cards, lounge access cards, Islamic covered cards, low-fee cards, premium cards, co-branded cards, business cards, and student or entry-level cards.
What this means for you
Card type matters because each type optimizes for a different user need. A cashback card is easier for daily spending, while a miles card may only be better if you travel enough.
A simple way to decide
- 1 Cashback
- 2 Travel
- 3 Islamic
- 4 Business
Before you apply
- Cashback cards are usually easiest to understand.
- Miles and lounge cards can be valuable but often need higher salary or fees.
- Islamic covered cards may suit users who prefer Sharia-compliant banking structures.
Words you may see
- Annual fee
- The standard yearly charge for keeping the card.
- APR
- The yearly borrowing rate if you carry an unpaid card balance.
- KFS
- The Key Facts Statement: a bank document listing important fees, rates, and risks.
Cards worth checking for this need
These are useful starting points from the cards in the comparison table. They are not paid placements or promises of approval.
MashreqMashreq Platinum Plus Credit CardThe bank publishes cashback categories or rates
- Salary
- AED 5,000
- Annual fee
- AED 313.95
- Cashback
- 85% interest rate, 5% cashback, and benefits tailored for frequent spenders.
- Published reward
- Reward Points - Up to 10x Mashreq Vantage points on all spends - Earn up to 10x Mashreq Vantage reward points on all spends
First Abu Dhabi BankFAB GEMS World Credit CardThe published annual fee is zero or has a stated waiver
- Salary
- AED 8,000
- Annual fee
- AED 0
- Cashback
- 10% cashback on school bus transport, canteen, uniform and extracurricular spends
- Published reward
- 2% cashback on international spending
First Abu Dhabi BankFAB ADNOC Rewards Credit CardThe published salary requirement is lower than many alternatives here
- Salary
- AED 5,000
- Annual fee
- AED 300
- Cashback
- 15% back on ADNOC spending including fuel
- Published reward
- 3% back on SALIK, DARB and Mawaqif
First Abu Dhabi BankFAB Cashback Credit CardThe bank publishes several rewards or benefits
- Salary
- AED 5,000
- Annual fee
- AED 300
- Cashback
- 5% on supermarket spending
- Published reward
- 5% on dining spending
Official sources used
These bank pages, Key Facts Statements, fee schedules and terms support the product details in this guide. Open the latest version before applying.
- FAB Credit Cards Service and Pricing GuideFirst Abu Dhabi Bank · Fees-and-charges
- FAB Rewards Terms and ConditionsFirst Abu Dhabi Bank · Terms-and-conditions
- Mashreq cards KFSMashreq · Key-facts-statement
- Mashreq credit cards schedule of chargesMashreq · Schedule-of-fees
- Emirates Islamic credit cards KFSEmirates Islamic · Key-facts-statement
- Emirates Islamic credit cards KFS pageEmirates Islamic · Key-facts-page
- Emirates NBD getallcards APIEmirates NBD · Source-feed
- Emirates NBD credit cards KFSEmirates NBD · Key-facts-statement
- ADCB Credit Cards KFSAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank · Key-facts-statement
- ADCB Terms and ConditionsAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank · Terms-and-conditions
- ADIB Covered Cards KFSAbu Dhabi Islamic Bank · Key-facts-statement
- ADIB Covered Cards Schedule of ChargesAbu Dhabi Islamic Bank · Schedule-of-charges
