Best Credit Card In UAE

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What are the best Emirates Skywards credit cards for UAE residents?

Choose your Emirates Skywards Credit Card to earn some exclusive benefits. International travel has well and truly ‘taken off’ since the last couple of years. From a state of no travel to some essential travel, now it seems, at least going by the current ticket prices, that there is excessive travel happening! Read more

Why Choose the Emirates Skyward Credit Card?

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 35,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 4200

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Contactless Tech
  • Earn upto 100,000 bonus Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Fast-Track update to Emirates Skywards Gold tier Status
  • Complimentary Airport Transfers and Lounge access
  • Skywards Gold Tier Membership for Supplementary Cardholder

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 35,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 4,200

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / AED 103.95

Joining Offers

Earn upto 100,000 bonus skywards miles!

Welcome Miles Bonus Category: 35,000 skywards miles
Fast Track to Gold tier Membership Option: Upon payment of the Annual Membership Fee of AED 4,000 and joining fee of AED 1,000.
(or)
Without fast track to Gold tier membership Option: Upon payment of the Annual Membership fee of AED 2,000 and the joining fee of AED 1,000.
2) Cumulative retail spend of AED 120,000 within 3 months: 40,000 skywards miles
3) Cumulative Foreign currency spend of AED 50,000 within 6 months : 25,000 skywards miles

Key Features

  • Automatic upgrade to Emirates Skywards silver membership.
  • Fast Track to Emirates Skywards Gold Tier Membership.
  • Skywards Gold Tier Membership for Supplementary Cardholder.
  • 25% discount on Skywards ‘Buy Miles’ and ‘Gift Miles’.
  • Complimentary VOX Movie Tickets
  • Complimentary Valet Parking
  • Unlimited Complimentary golf 7 days a week in UAE and across the world.
  • Unlimited Complimentary airport lounge access with a guest across 1000 lounges.
  • 0% Installment for 3 months on Emirates Airline tickets.
  • Best skyward miles earning rates
  • Complimentary Access to Dubai Ladies Club

Reward Features

Earn up to 3.5 Miles per USD 1 equivalent retail spends as per below rates

- 3.5 Skywards Miles at Emirates Airlines
- 2 skywards miles on international spend
- 1.5 skywards miles on domestic spend

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 30,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1575

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Health & Fitness
  • Balance Transfer
  • Car Registration
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Air Miles
  • Best-in-class Skywards Miles earning - earn and redeem
  • Earn up to 100,000 Skywards Miles
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership upgrade
  • Access to Business Class Lounge with your Silver membership

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 30,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1,575

Non AED Transaction Fee

1.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Joining Offers

  • Earn up to 100,000 Skywards Miles with your Skywards Infinite Credit Card.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership upgrade

Apply for an Emirates NBD Credit Card and receive a voucher worth up to AED 400 that can be availed across Noon and Noon Daily!

Key Features

  • Earn up to 2 Miles per USD 1 of retail spends
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership
  • Complimentary night with Marriott Vacation Club
  • Complimentary Rotana Rewards Exclusive Club Membership (First year only)
  • Unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide via LoungeKey
  • 24-hour personalised premium concierge service
  • Up to 4 airport transfers per calendar year
  • Pick up & delivery of car for servicing & registration once a year
  • Free Local courier services within UAE up to 12 times per calendar year
  • 50% off movie tickets every Sunday at VOX Cinemas
  • Up to 4 complimentary valet parking services at select locations in Abu Dhabi
  • Complimentary golf at not 4, but 5 golf courses across the UAE, twice a month. Discounts at 14 clubs in the UAE and Muscat.
  • Salik auto top-up feature
  • Visa luxury hotel collection offers
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app for exclusive offers & over 5000+ travel discounts
  • Subscribe to Anghami Plus and enjoy upto four months free for the first year
  • Bon Appetit - Exclusive dining discounts
  • Exclusive offers on Emirates.ae
  • International Medical & Travel Assistance
  • Purchase Protection cover for lost, stolen and damaged goods
  • Extended Warranty - automatically double the manufacturer's warranty
  • Travel insurance cover upto $1,000,000 covering the cardholder & family for trips upto 90 days in duration
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Fraudulent card misuse protection cover ($3,000 per occurrence with $5,000 annual aggregate limit)

Reward Features


Earn Skyward Miles

  • Earn Skywards Miles
  • Spend with Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card to earn Skywards Miles on your everyday spends. You can earn up to 2 Skywards Miles per USD equivalent spend.
  • Earn 2 Miles on Emirates and flydubai spends
  • Earn 2 Miles on duty free, online food delivery and car booking apps spends.
  • Earn 1.5 Miles on International spends
  • Earn 1 Mile on Domestic spends

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Specific spend categories earn lower rewards

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 2100

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Health & Fitness
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Contactless Tech
  • Air Miles
  • Earn up to 75,000 Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skywards Miles on all spends
  • Premium Lifestyle benefits

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 2,100

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.34%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Joining Offers

  • Earn up to 75,000 bonus Skywards Miles with the Emirates Skywards DIB Infinite Credit Card
  • 25,000 bonus Miles on card activation.
  • 25,000 bonus Miles when you spend an equivalent of USD 20,000 or more in the first 4 card statements.
  • 25,000 bonus Miles on balance transfer.

Key Features

  • Earn up to 75,000 Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skyward Miles on all spends
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership
  • 20% off at Roxy on weekdays on Ultra Premium, Platinum Plus and Classic Silver Plus
  • Customers can avail discounts from several Golf courses across the world with this card. There are 14 Clubs in the UAE
  • Complimentary access to over 850+ VIP lounges globally for cardholder plus a guest
  • Easy 0% payment plan on Emirates tickets
  • Enjoy 25% dining discounts on online orders through Zomato
  • Complimentary access to the Emirates Towers Health Club
  • Luxury Hotel Collection offers from Visa
  • Up to 4 free valet parking services per month in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
  • Balance transfer facility
  • Travel insurance cover upto $1,000,000 covering the cardholder & family for trips upto 90 days in duration
  • 24-hour personalised premium concierge service
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Medical and legal referral services
  • Complimentary 365 days purchase protection
  • Global Customer Assistance Services
  • Extended warranty that doubles the original manufacturer warranty
  • Visa PayWave contactless technology
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app for exclusive offers & over 5000+ travel discounts
  • Subscribe to Anghami Plus and enjoy upto four months free for the first year

Reward Features

Earn Skyward Miles per 1 USD of spend:

  • Earn 2 Skyward Miles on all Emirates spends
  • Earn 1.5 Skyward Miles on all foreign currency spends
  • Earn 1 Skyward Mile on all local currency spends

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 2100

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Air Miles
  • Earn upto 90,000 bonus skywards miles
  • Fast-Track update to Emirates Skywards Silver Tier Status
  • Up to 2 Skywards Miles per USD equivalent spent

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 2,100

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.34%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Joining Offers

1) Welcome Miles Bonus Category: 40,000 skywards miles
Upon payment of the Annual Membership fee of AED 999 and the joining fee of AED 1,000.

2) Cumulative retail spends (within 6 months): 35,000 skywards miles
Spend a minimum of AED 75,000  within 6 months

3) Spend with Emirates Airlines (within 6 months) : 15,000 skywards miles
Spend a minimum of AED 20,000 withing 6 months

Overall an ability to earn upto 90,000 bonus skywards miles!

Key Features

  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges for cardholder and a guest
  • Up to 3 Complimentary “Buy 1 Get 1” offers on Reel movie tickets on a monthly basis
  • Enjoy 2 complimentary valet parking services per month at select locations across the UAE
  • Enjoy up to 2 complimentary Marhaba Meet & Greet services per year
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary golf per month at select Golf clubs in UAE
  • You can avail complimentary access to Dubai Ladies Club in the UAE and enjoy various benefit like Pool & beach access, gym, outdoor activities and more.
  • Convert your purchases made at emirates.com and other participating partners into convenient monthly installments.
  • Enjoy 0% profit rate on the outstanding balance of your credit cards from other banks for 6 months by simply transferring it to your Emirates Islamic Infinite Credit Card
  • Avail Cash on Call facility of up to 80% of your available credit limit.
  • Get access to all exclusive Visa Infinite benefits

Reward Features

Earn up to 2 Miles per USD 1 equivalent retail spends as per below rates

- 2 Skywards Miles at Emirates Airlines
- 1.5 Skywards Miles on international spend
- 1 Skywards Miles on domestic spend

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Specific categories of spend have lower earn rates

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.33%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 4500

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Fast track to Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership
  • 1 year complimentary Amazon Prime membership
  • Complimentary Emirates Home check-in services

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

3.33%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 4,500

Non AED Transaction Fee

3.10%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / AED 99

Joining Offers

Welcome Offer: 

Upto 120,000 bonus Skywards Miles

  • 50,000 welcome bonus Miles
  • 70,000 bonus Skywards Miles (subject to meeting spend thresholds)

Key Features

  • Upto 120,000 bonus Skywards Miles
  • 1 year complimentary Amazon Prime membership
  • Fast track to Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership.
  • Four complimentary Emirates Home check-in services within Dubai.
  • Unlimited Airport lounge access globally for primary cardholder via LoungeKey.
  • Complimentary airport transfers
  • Exciting travel and lifestyle benefits.
  • Complimentary Concierge Services
  • Valet Parking
  • Complimentary golf for Cardholder
  • Exclusive Mastercard World Elite Concierge benefits
  • Careem chauffeur benefits - 20% off 3 rides every month
  • Mastercard Priceless Cities offers
  • Luxury outlet shopping offers and benefits at Bicester outlet villages in Europe
  • Mastercard Buy 1 Get 1 free offers
  • MyUS Online shopping benefits and offers
  • Complimentary nights at select Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide
  • Special offers including free nights at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
  • Car rental offers from Avis & Hertz including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President's Circle membership
  • Enjoy a 10% discount on any international roundtrip airfare from Cleartrip
  • Exclusive luxury hotel offers at select Soneva properties in Maldives and Thailand
  • Instant upgrade to DISCOVERY Black-level membership, a loyalty programme of Global Hotel Alliance
  • Exclusive discounts on Airport Meet & Greet services
  • Travel insurance cover upto $500,000 covering the cardholder & family
  • Car rental insurance cover up to USD 50,000
  • Complimentary travel insurance confirmation letter (for e.g. for Schengen Visa)

Reward Features

Up to 120,000 bonus Skywards Miles

  • 50,000 welcome bonus Miles
  • 70,000 bonus Skywards Miles (subject to meeting spend thresholds)

*Minimum retail spend of AED 130,000 within 6 months from the card issuance date, when you apply for your Emirates Skywards card from 1st July 2020 till 31st July 2020

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Minimum retail spend of AED 140,000 within 6 months
  • 5th supplementary card onwards annual fee is AED 4500

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

2.45%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1499

  • Golf offers
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Health & Fitness
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Life Insurance
  • Contactless Tech
  • Air Miles
  • Get up to 20,000 Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Emirates Skywards Silver Tier Status
  • Access to 900+ airport lounges across the world
  • Fast Track to Gold Tier status
  • 1-night free stay at Rixos JBR

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 25,000

RATE

2.45%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1,499

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.10%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / Min AED99

Joining Offers

Get Joining bonus Skywards Miles of 20,000 on payment of annual fee of AED 1,499. The bonus Skywards Miles will be credited within a week of the next statement cycle. The card is also available with First year free offer without the joining bonus miles, offer is valid till 31st Jan 2023.


Key Features

  • Simplified Skywards Miles earn logic - based on total spend tiers
  • Exclusive Mastercard World Elite Concierge benefits
  • Careem chauffeur benefits - 20% off 3 rides every month
  • Mastercard Priceless Cities offers
  • Rakfoodie privileges
  • Luxury outlet shopping offers and benefits at Bicester outlet villages in Europe
  • Mastercard Buy 1 Get 1 free offers
  • MyUS Online shopping benefits and offers
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver tier membership
  • Complimentary access to 900+ lounges globally for the cardholder PLUS a guest
  • Complimentary nights at select Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide
  • Special offers including free nights at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
  • Complimentary airport transfers within the UAE
  • Complimentary Amazon Prime membership for a period of one year
  • 50% discount on VOX Cinemas at 4 free tickets per month per card
  • Car rental offers from Avis & Hertz including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President's Circle membership
  • Enjoy a 10% discount on any international roundtrip airfare from Cleartrip
  • Exclusive luxury hotel offers at select Soneva properties in Maldives and Thailand
  • Free delivery of fuel at your door step by CAFU - 4 times in a month
  • Discovery Black membership by Global Hotel Alliance with discounts and other premium benefits
  • 15% discount on "Buy and Gift Miles"
  • Fastrack to Gold tier by opening a RAKBANK Emirates Skywards Saving Account
  • Complimentary access two times in a month at some of the finest golf courses in Dubai
  • Travel insurance cover upto $500,000 covering the cardholder & family
  • Car rental insurance cover up to USD 50,000
  • Complimentary travel insurance confirmation letter (for e.g. for Schengen Visa)
  • Applicants for RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card should be citizens or residents of the UAE
  • Minimum monthly salary requirement for salaried applicants is AED 25,000
  • Annual fees for RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card is AED 1,499. Limited Period Offer - Annual fees waived for first year until 28th February 2021.
  • Annual fees for RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard Supplementary Credit Card is AED 999 with Silver tier membership & AED 200 without Silver tier membership

Reward Features

Earn Emirates Skywards Miles on all spends

The RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card lets you earn Skywards Miles on all types of spends. What’s more, these Skywards Miles are awarded based on total monthly spends in Dirhams to keep it simple for you.

 

Skywards Miles award will be reduced to 50% if spend in special categories (such as Charities, Government Services, Bill Payments, Schools, Transits, Transport, Telecommunication, Real Estate, Petrol/Gas stations, Supermarkets, Health & Beauty, Club Membership, Motion Pictures & Theatres, Computer Services, Automobiles & Vehicles) exceeds 50% of total spends for the month.

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Free for the first year - Annual fee of AED 1499 on renewal

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Dining Offers
  • Health & Fitness
  • Balance Transfer
  • Car Registration
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Air Miles
  • Welcome offer: Up to 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles
  • Best-in-class Skywards Miles earning - earn and redeem miles
  • Complimentary, unlimited worldwide lounge access
  • Complimentary access to top golfing courses across the UAE
  • Valet Parking at selected locations in Abu Dhabi

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

Non AED Transaction Fee

1.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Joining Offers

Earn up to 40,000 Skywards Miles with your Skywards Signature Credit Card:

  • 15,000 Skywards Miles on payment of the joining fee( AED 735
  • 15,000 Skywards Miles on spending minimum USD 10,000 within the first three billing statements.
  • 10,000 Skywards Miles on spending minimum USD 3,750 on emirates.com or at any Emirates sales office in the UAE within the first twelve billing statements.

Key Features

  • Earn up to 1.5 Miles per USD 1 of retail spends
  • Unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges in 300 cities
  • Dedicated concierge service
  • Up to 2 airport transfers per calendar year
  • Complimentary golf at not 4, but 5 golf courses across the UAE, twice a month. Discounts at 14 clubs in the UAE and muscat.
  • Enjoy 4 complimentary valet parking services per month of 1 hour each at select popular shopping malls by simply presenting your Emirates NBD Credit Card(s) at the valet service.
  • Pick up & delivery of car for servicing & registration once a year
  • Complimentary golf access twice a month at select courses
  • Exclusive discounts at Lifeline Health Club Abu Dhabi
  • Salik auto top-up feature
  • 24-hour personalised premium concierge service
  • Visa luxury hotel collection offers
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app for exclusive offers & over 5000+ travel discounts
  • Subscribe to Anghami Plus and enjoy upto four months free for the first year
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Bon Appetit - exclusive dining discounts
  • Discounts on air tickets and holiday packages
  • Exclusive offers on Emirates.ae
  • International Medical & Travel Assistance
  • Purchase Protection cover for lost, stolen and damaged goods
  • Extended Warranty - automatically double the manufacturer's warranty
  • Travel Insurance cover

Reward Features

Earn Skyward Miles
Per 1 USD of spend:

  • Earn 1.5 Miles on Emirates and flydubai spends
  • Earn 1.5 Miles on duty free, online food delivery and car booking apps spends
  • Earn 1 Mile on International spends
  • Earn 0.75 Miles on Domestic spends

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Golf access requires min spend of AED 5,000 per month

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 12,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Air Miles
  • Earn upto 60,000 bonus skywards miles
  • Complimentary Airport Lounge access
  • Complimentary Cinema tickets, Golf rounds & Valet Parking
  • Up to 1.5 Skywards Miles per USD equivalent spent

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 12,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.34%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Joining Offers

1) Welcome Miles Bonus Category: 30,000 skywards miles
Upon payment of the Annual Membership Fee of AED 700 and joining fee of AED 550.

2) Cummulative retail spends ( within 6 months): 20,000 skywards miles

Spend a minimum of AED 30,000  within 6 months

3) Spend with Emirates Airlines ( within 6 months) : 10,000 skywards miles
Spend a minimum of AED 10,000 withing 6 months

Overall an ability to earn upto 60,000 bonus skywards miles!

Key Features

  • Up to 2 Complimentary “Buy 1 Get 1” offers on Reel movie tickets on a monthly basis
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges
  • Enjoy 1 complimentary valet parking services per month at select locations across the UAE.
  • Enjoy up to 2 complimentary Marhaba Meet & Greet services per year
  • Enjoy two rounds of complimentary golf per month at select Golf clubs in UAE
  • You can avail complimentary access to Dubai Ladies Club in the UAE and enjoy various benefit like Pool & beach access, gym, outdoor activities and more.
  • Convert your purchases made at emirates.com and other participating partners into convenient monthly installments.
  • Enjoy 0% profit rate on the outstanding balance of your credit cards from other banks for 6 months by simply transferring it to your Emirates Islamic Signature Credit Card
  • Avail Cash on Call facility of up to 80% of your available credit limit
  • Get access to exclusive Visa Signature benefits

Reward Features

Earn up to 1.5 Miles per USD 1 equivalent retail spends as per below table

  • 1.5 Skywards Miles at Emirates Airlines
  • 1.1 Skywards Miles on international spend
  • 0.75 Skywards Miles on domestic spend

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Specific categories of spend have lower earn rates

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1575

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Contactless Tech
  • Air Miles
  • Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skywards Miles on all spends
  • Premium lifestyle benefits

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1,575

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.26%

Cash Advance Fee

- / -

Joining Offers

Earn up to 30,000 bonus Skywards Miles with the Emirates Skywards DIB Signature Credit Card:

  • 15,000 bonus Miles on card activation

  • 15,000 bonus Miles on balance transfer

Key Features

  • Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skyward Miles on all spends
  • Complimentary access to over 850+ VIP lounges globally for cardholder
  • 20% off at Roxy on weekdays on Ultra Premium, Platinum Plus and Classic Silver Plus
  • Easy 0% payment plan on Emirates tickets
  • Customers can avail discounts from several Golf courses across the world with this card. There are 14 Clubs in the UAE
  • Complimentary international concierge services
  • Complimentary travel insurance with cover up to US $500,000
  • Enjoy 25% dining discounts on online orders through Zomato
  • Luxury Hotel Collection offers from Visa
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Fraudulent card misuse protection cover ($2,500 per occurrence with $4,000 annual aggregate limit)
  • Up to 3 free valet parking services per month in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
  • Balance transfer facility
  • Medical and legal referral services
  • Complimentary 365 days purchase protection
  • Global Customer Assistance Services
  • Extended warranty that doubles the original manufacturer warranty
  • Visa PayWave contactless technology
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app for exclusive offers & over 5000+ travel discounts
  • Subscribe to Anghami Plus and enjoy upto four months free for the first year

Reward Features

Earn Skyward Miles for every 1 USD spend:

  • Earn 1.5 Skyward Miles on all Emirates spends
  • Earn 1 Skyward Mile on all foreign currency spends
  • Earn 0.75 Skyward Miles on all local currency spends

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.33%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1500

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Fast track to Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership
  • Complimentary Emirates Home check-in services

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.33%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 1,500

Non AED Transaction Fee

3.10%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / AED 99

Joining Offers

Welcome Offer:

Upto 60,000 bonus Skywards Miles

  • 40,000 welcome bonus Miles
  • 20,000 bonus Skywards Miles (subject to meeting spend thresholds)

Key Features

  • Upto 60,000 bonus Skywards Miles
  • Fast track to Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership
  • Two complimentary Emirates Home check-in services within Dubai
  • Unlimited Airport lounge access globally for primary cardholder via LoungeKey
  • Complimentary airport transfers
  • Exciting travel and lifestyle benefits
  • Valet Parking
  • Complimentary golf for Cardholder
  • Careem chauffeur benefits - 20% off 3 rides every month
  • Mastercard Priceless Cities offers
  • Luxury outlet shopping offers and benefits at Bicester outlet villages in Europe
  • Mastercard Buy 1 Get 1 free offers
  • MyUS Online shopping benefits and offers
  • Complimentary nights at select Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide
  • Car rental offers from Avis & Hertz including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® Five Star membership
  • Enjoy a 10% discount on any international roundtrip airfare from Cleartrip
  • Travel insurance cover upto $500,000 covering the cardholder & family
  • Complimentary travel insurance confirmation letter (for e.g. for Schengen Visa)

Reward Features

Up to 60,000 bonus Skywards Miles

  • 40,000 welcome bonus Miles
  • 20,000 bonus Skywards Miles (subject to meeting spend thresholds)*
  • Minimum retail spend of AED 50,000 within 6 months from the card issuance date, when you apply for your Emirates Skywards card from 1st April 2020 till 30th April 2020.

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Minimum retail spend of AED 50,000 within 6 months
  • 5th supplementary card onwards annual fee is AED 1500

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Contactless Tech
  • Air Miles
  • Extensive premium lifestyle & travel benefits
  • Up to 3.75 EI SmartMiles per AED 1 spend
  • Complimentary unlimited access to 1000 lounges worldwide
  • 2 complimentary valet parking service per month

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 15,000

RATE

3.49%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 735

Non AED Transaction Fee

3.49%

Cash Advance Fee

3.15 % / Min 103.95

Key Features

  • Earn EI SmartMiles on all spends - domestic & international
  • Complimentary access to 1000+ lounges globally for the cardholder Plus a guest (via Loungekey)
  • 20% off on weekdays at Ultra Premium, Platinum Plus and Classic Silver Plus at Roxy
  • Earn unlimited miles and redeem with no blackout dates
  • Instant EI SmartMiles redemption at over 300 airlines and 180,000 hotels worldwide
  • “Instant Purchase" - shop with EI SmartMiles anytime, anywhere
  • Miles Exchange with frequent flyer programmes with Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and InterMiles
  • A wide range of shopping options with online market place
  • Unlimited Complimentary Golf at Arabian Ranches and Track Meydan Clubs. Discounts at 14 clubs in UAE and Muscat
  • 24-hour personalised premium concierge service
  • Free Valet parking up to 2 times per month
  • Visa Luxury Hotel collection offers
  • DragonPass 'Dine & Fly' airport dining program
  • Mazaya offers
  • Travel insurance cover upto $1,000,000 covering the cardholder & family for trips upto 90 days in duration
  • Fraudulent card misuse protection cover ($3,000 per occurrence with $5,000 annual aggregate limit)
  • Extended warranty & purchase protection on purchases made on the card
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Visa PayWave - new, convenient, faster and safer way to pay
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app for exclusive offers & over 5000+ travel discounts
  • Subscribe to Anghami Plus and enjoy upto four months free for the first year

Reward Features

Earn EI SmartMiles

Earn Upto 3.75 EI Smart Miles per AED on international transactions.

Earn Upto 2.5 EI Smart Miles per AED on local transactions.

 

You can redeem your EI SmartMiles

  • With the instant purchase feature against any purchase, across the globe
  • At over 300 airlines and more than 180,000 hotels worldwide
  • For latest electronics or for gift vouchers at our online marketplace
  • Simply exchange your EI SmartMiles for Miles with frequent flyer program with Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and InterMiles.

6,500 EI SmartMiles = 1,000 Upoints By Emaar
7,500 EI SmartMiles = 5,000 Etisalat Smiles

10,000 EI SmartMiles= 1,000 Emirates Skywards Miles

10,000 EI SmartMiles= 2,500 Etihad Miles

20,000 EI SmartMiles = 4,000 InterMiles

10,000 EI SmartMiles= 1,750 Avios

 

Miles will be transferred within 5 working days

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Specific categories of spend have lower earn rates
  • Welcome miles will be given once AMF is paid

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 525

  • Golf offers
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Contactless Tech
  • 5,000 Bonus Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skywards Miles on all spends

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 525

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.26%

Cash Advance Fee

- / -

Joining Offers

Earn bonus Skywards Miles:

5,000 bonus Miles on card activation.

Key Features

  • Earn 5,000 Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Earn Skyward Miles on all spends
  • Easy 0% payment plan on Emirates tickets
  • Buy 1 Get 1 at Vox on Standard tickets on Sundays and 20% off on weekdays at Ultra Premium, Platinum Plus and Classic Silver Plus at Roxy
  • Enjoy 25% dining discounts on online orders through Zomato
  • Customers can avail discounts from several Golf courses across the world with this card. There are 14 Clubs in the UAE
  • Luxury Hotel Collection offers from Visa
  • Balance transfer facility
  • Medical and legal referral services
  • Complimentary 365 days purchase protection
  • Global Customer Assistance Services
  • Extended warranty that doubles the original manufacturer warranty
  • Visa PayWave contactless technology
  • Access to over 200 airport restaurant offers globally
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER Offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app
  • 4 free months of Anghami Plus

Reward Features

Earn Skyward Miles per 1 USD spend:

  • Earn 1 Skyward Mile on all Emirates spends
  • Earn 0.75 Skyward Miles on all foreign currency spends
  • Earn 0.5 Skyward Miles on all local currency spends

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 36,750

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 3000

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Air Miles
  • 30,000 bonus Citi Miles annually post payment of annual fee
  • AED 1000 cash back welcome bonus
  • Transfer miles to 11 partner airline
  • 50% off flights (up to AED 2,000) once per year
  • Unlimited access to 1,100+ lounges worldwide

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 36,750

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 3,000

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / Min 99

Joining Offers

Signup for the exclusive Citi Ultima Card and enjoy a vast range of flexible rewards & benefits, plus AED 1000 welcome offer!

Key Features

  • AED 1000 cash back welcome bonus (subject to payment of full annual fee)
  • 30,000 bonus Citi Miles annually post payment of annual fee
  • Redeem Citi Miles for flights: any airline, class or destination
  • Transfer miles to 11 partner airlines including Etihad, Turkish, Qatar & British Airways or redeem for cash back at a click of a button from Citi Mobile® App
  • 50% off flights (up to AED 2,000) once per year
  • 3rd night free at any hotel worldwide (unlimited)
  • Free home check-in (4 per year)
  • Airport Lounges: Unlimited access to 1,100+ lounges worldwide for primary & supplementary cardholders (+ 1 guest each) with MasterCard Travel Pass app
  • Airport Transfers: 4 rides per year (up to AED 84 each) using code "MAUAE6“ on the Careem app
  • Golf: Unlimited golf on weekdays and 1 free round on weekends per month at some of the best golf courses in UAE
  • Valet Parking: 2 services per month at select Valtrans locations
  • Booking.com: Up to 10% cash back to wallet across millions of properties worldwide via Booking.com/mastercardmea
  • Movies: 6 ‘Buy 1 Get 1 free’ movie tickets per month at VOX (4) & REEL(2) cinemas
  • Talabat: 20% discount (up to AED 14) on grocery and food orders once a month on the Talabat app. Use code “MASTERCARD” at checkout
  • Marhaba Silver Meet & Greet service twice a year with fast-track and porter services for arrivals & departures at Dubai International Airport
  • Online purchases cover (up to $1,000 per year) for delayed, damaged or wrong items.
  • Purchase Protection Cover (up to $5,000 p.a.) for damaged or stolen items within 90 days of purchase
  • Travel Accident & Medical Insurance for delayed flights, lost luggage and emergency medical conditions

Reward Features

$1 = 5 Citi Miles on non-AED spend

$1 = 2.5 Citi Miles on AED spend

Apply Now

on Citibank site

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 12,000

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 400

  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Contactless Tech
  • Earn up to 1 Skywards Mile per USD spent
  • Flat 30% off 2 movie tickets at VOX Cinemas every month
  • Unlimited free lounge access for supplementary holders too
  • No annual fee in Year 1

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 12,000

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 400

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / Min 99

Key Features

  • Earn up to 1 Skywards Miles per USD and redeem them on Emirates or Flydubai Reward flights and upgrades
  • No annual fee for the first year
  • 2 complimentary airport rides per year (up to AED 110 each) using code "MAUAE2“ on the Careem app.”
  • Flat 30% off 2 movie tickets at VOX cinemas
  • Unlimited access to 1,100+ lounges worldwide with MasterCard Travel Pass app
  • Get access to hundreds of Buy 1 Get 1 offer with the free Mastercard® priceless specials app
  • Fast, safe and effortless purchases, with Apple Pay & Google Pay
  • PayLite: turn any big purchases into small payments
  • Complimentary Marhaba Bronze Meet & Greet service once a year at Dubai International Airport.
  • Complimentary Travel Insurance
  • Citi World Privileges: Enjoy travel, dining and entertainment discounts locally and across 95 countries

Reward Features

Earn Emirates Skyward Miles on your Citi Emirates World Card

 

Earn 1 Skywards Mile per USD on non AED spend and 0.75 Skywards Miles per USD on AED spend. 

Redeem your Skywards Miles for reward flights and upgrades with Emirates & Flydubai

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Annual fee of AED 400 from year 2 onwards
Apply Now

on Citibank site

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 700

  • Golf offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Purchase Protection
  • Extended Warranty
  • Earn Skywards Miles on all spends
  • Double Miles on spends at Emirates Airlines
  • Complimentary golf offers

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 700

Non AED Transaction Fee

3.49%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / Min 199

Key Features

  • Enjoy earning Miles for every USD 1 spend on all local and international transactions
  • Additional Skywards Miles for all spends at Emirates Airlines
  • Access to over 200 airport restaurant offers globally
  • Visa Luxury Hotel collection offers
  • 8% discount on hotel bookings made at Hotels.com
  • Mazaya Offers Programme
  • Exclusive golf offers
  • Extended warranty & purchase protection on purchases made on the card
  • Balance transfer facility
  • Golf offers across the globe
  • 2-for-1 ENTERTAINER Offers with Visa Offers MENA mobile app
  • 4 free months of Anghami Plus

Reward Features

  • Earn 0.6 Miles for every USD 1 spent on local transactions
  • Earn 0.75 Miles for every USD 1 spent on international transactions
  • Earn 1 Mile for every USD 1 spent on all Emirates Airlines transactions

Things To Be Aware Of

  • Specific categories of spend have lower earn rates

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 18,000

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 800

  • Golf offers
  • Valet Parking
  • Cinema Tickets
  • Dining Offers
  • Balance Transfer
  • Airport Lounge Access
  • Travel Insurance
  • Airport Chauffeur Services
  • Purchase Protection
  • Earn up to 1.25 Skywards Miles per $ spend
  • 1 Complimentary golf a month at the finest courses in UAE
  • Complimentary valet parking, cinema ticket offers
  • Unlimited access to 1000+ airport lounges

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 18,000

RATE

3.5%

ANNUAL FEE

AED 800

Non AED Transaction Fee

2.99%

Cash Advance Fee

3.00 % / Min 99

Key Features

  • Earn up to 1.25 Skywards Miles per USD
  • Convert Skywards miles into Reward Flights and Business Class upgrades with Emirates
  • Complimentary Valet Parking once a month with Valtrans
  • Complimentary golf once a month at some of the best golf courses in the UAE
  • Unlimited access to 1,100+ lounges worldwide (+guest) with MasterCard Travel Pass app
  • 6 complimentary airport rides per year (up to AED 110 each) using code "MAUAE6“ on the Careem app.
  • ‘Buy 1 Get 1 free’ movie tickets at VOX cinemas
  • Get access to hundreds of Buy 1 Get 1 offer with the free Mastercard® priceless specials app
  • Fast, safe and effortless purchases, with Apple Pay & Google Pay
  • Complimentary Marhaba Bronze Meet & Greet service once a year at Dubai International Airport.
  • 0% interest for 3 months easy instalment plan on Emirates tickets purchased through www.emirates.ae
  • Complimentary International Concierge Service
  • Complimentary Travel Insurance
  • Citi World Privileges: Enjoy travel, dining and entertainment discounts locally and across 95 countries

Reward Features

Earn Emirates Skyward Miles on your Citi Emirates World Card

       

  • 1.25 Skyward Miles per USD on non AED spend
  • 1 Skywards Miles per USD on other AED spend

Redeem your Skywards Miles for reward flights and upgrades with Emirates & Flydubai

Apply Now

on Citibank site

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25

ANNUAL FEE

AED 0

  • Free for life
  • Complimentary airport lounge access
  • 2 free cinema tickets a month at Reel
  • Switch your rewards between cashback and skywards miles
  • 8% off on cleartrip

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 5,000

RATE

3.25

ANNUAL FEE

AED 0

Non AED Transaction Fee

1.99

Cash Advance Fee

3 % AED 99

Key Features

  • Access to 25+ airport lounges world wide
  • Upto 2 Free cinema tickets and 20% off on F&B at Reel every month
  • Buy 1 get 1 free dining & lifestyle offers
  • 8% off on Cleartrip flight bookings
  • Upto 30% off on Mastercard Hotel Bookings (IOL Escapes)
  • 10% off on Musafir.com
  • 20% off on Airalo eSIM purchases
  • 1-week free access & membership discounts at Gym Nation
  • 20% off on 1 order every month at Talabat free food or grocery delivery
  • 20% on 3 rides every month on Careem
  • Documents required You need to upload your valid Emirates ID and Passport as part of our credit card application process. You also need to take a selfie so that we can verify your identity!
  • How to check the status of the application? You will receive the status of your credit card application as soon as you complete the application process. If your credit card application is under review, then one of our Support team members will contact you within 3-5 business days. One need not create an account with Liv if applying for a credit card through Liv website. However, if applying from Liv app; one must create a Liv account..

Reward Features

Choose the reward points you want to earn (Cashback, Skywards Miles) and the things you want to earn bonus rewards for (groceries, food deliveries, online shopping, travel or something else?). 

  • Earn upto 15% cashback. Upto AED 12,000 Cashback per annum and AED 1,000 per month.
  • Earn upto 1 skyward miles per 1 AED spent. Earn monthly skywards miles of upto 6,600

The Liv. Cashback and Cashback plus credit card is tailored for individuals with dynamic, on-the-go lifestyles, offering the ability to earn Skywards Miles with every purchase. Cardholders can choose four spending categories—such as international spending, travel, online shopping, dining, and more—where they will earn "booster" Skywards Miles in addition to base Miles.

The Miles accumulation structure is tiered based on monthly spending:

  • For spending between AED 0-2K, earn a total of 0.05 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 2K-5K earns 0.1 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 5K-15K earns 0.2 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 15K-30K earns 0.5 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending above AED 30K earns 1 Skywards Mile per AED 1.

This structure allows cardholders to maximize their Skywards Miles by focusing their spending in categories that matter most to them, particularly when they exceed certain spending thresholds.

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 10,000

RATE

3.25

ANNUAL FEE

AED 700

  • Switch rewards between Cashback and Skyward Miles
  • Access to 850+ airport lounges world wide
  • Upto 3 Free cinema tickets at Reel every month
  • 10% off on Cleartrip flight bookings
  • 1-week free access & membership discounts at Gym Nation

MINIMUM SALARY

AED 10,000

RATE

3.25

ANNUAL FEE

AED 700

Non AED Transaction Fee

1.99

Cash Advance Fee

3

Key Features

  • Access to 850+ airport lounges world wide
  • Upto 3 Free cinema tickets at Reel every month
  • Buy 1 get 1 free dining & lifestyle offers
  • 10% off on Cleartrip flight bookings
  • Upto 30% off on Mastercard Hotel Bookings (IOL Escapes)
  • 10% off on Musafir.com
  • 20% off on Airalo eSIM purchases
  • 1-week free access & membership discounts at Gym Nation
  • 20% off on 1 order every month at Talabat free food or grocery delivery
  • 20% on 3 rides every month on Careem
  • Documents required You need to upload your valid Emirates ID and Passport as part of our credit card application process. You also need to take a selfie so that we can verify your identity!
  • How to check the status of the application? You will receive the status of your credit card application as soon as you complete the application process. If your credit card application is under review, then one of our Support team members will contact you within 3-5 business days. One can apply for credit card without creating a Liv account. However, need to have an account with Liv to access other Liv products.

Reward Features

Choose the reward points you want to earn (Cashback, Skywards Miles) and the things you want to earn bonus rewards for (groceries, food deliveries, online shopping, travel or something else?). 

  • Earn upto 15% cashback. Upto AED 18,000 Cashback per annum and AED 1,500 per month.
  • Earn upto 1 skyward miles per 1 AED spent. Earn monthly skywards miles of upto 10,000

The Liv. Cashback  and Cashback plus credit cards are tailored for individuals with dynamic, on-the-go lifestyles, offering the ability to earn Skywards Miles with every purchase. Cardholders can choose four spending categories—such as international spending, travel, online shopping, dining, and more where they will earn "booster" Skywards Miles in addition to base Miles.

The Miles accumulation structure is tiered based on monthly spending:

  • For spending between AED 0-2K, earn a total of 0.05 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 2K-5K earns 0.1 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 5K-15K earns 0.2 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending between AED 15K-30K earns 0.5 Skywards Miles per AED 1.
  • Spending above AED 30K earns 1 Skywards Mile per AED 1.

This structure allows cardholders to maximize their Skywards Miles by focusing their spending in categories that matter most to them, particularly when they exceed certain spending thresholds.

What are the best Emirates Skywards credit cards for UAE residents?

In 2024 international travel has well and truly ‘taken off’ after a couple of years which everyone would rather happily erase from their collective memories. From a state of no travel to some essential travel now it seems, at least going by the current ticket prices, that there is excessive travel happening!

Here in the UAE too all kinds of travel seem to be back on the table now – business folks traveling again, annual trips back home to visit family and friends, and of course travel as tourists to new and also repeat international destinations which has always been a favorite indulgence for us here in the UAE.

As UAE residents and probably more specifically for Dubai residents we are so fortunate to have access to Emirates Airlines which is easily one of the best airlines in the world and is the obvious airline of choice when considering any international travel. How often do we find ourselves looking for reasons to stretch our budgets a bit to justify any price differences travelling with Emirates versus some other budget airline? Deep down we know that traveling with Emirates is quite simply the best option in terms of the entire experience - right from the dedicated terminal, class leading on demand in-flight entertainment options, direct routes saving us the hassle of multiple stops and of course for the well-heeled travelers amongst us - the Emirates business class lounge experience which is second to none!

A great option for anyone in the UAE to enjoy the many benefits of flying with Emirates Airlines is to use an Emirates Skywards Credit Card in UAE which is offered by most of the leading banks in the UAE. These best credit cards are offered as a partnership between Emirates Airlines and the bank and offer a multitude of benefits to customers who have these credit cards. These benefits can vary from earning best credit card for emirates miles on purchases made with the credit cards, gaining membership to exclusive Emirates Airlines membership tiers including Skywards Silver status, and in some cases, even the coveted Emirates Skywards Gold Tier membership status. These tiers bring their own significant benefits to customers and ‘earning’ them by getting a best skywards credit card UAE is a quick and easy way to gain entry into these exclusive membership categories. But these are just a few benefits and as you will find out further in this article, these best emirates credit card UAE credit cards offer a wide array of benefits to suit every individual profile.

Given the popularity and demand for flying with Emirates it is no wonder that several leading banks offer co-branded best Skywards credit card as part of their credit card portfolio offerings. And as can be expected, not all of these cards offer the same level of benefits or are indeed even offered to the same profile of customers. There are no fewer than 14 different Emirates Skywards co-branded credit cards currently available in the UAE and it is no easy task to identify which of them is best suited to you. But fret not, our team here at Soulwallet.com has done the heavy lifting to help you find the best ones suited to your specific needs.

 Banks in UAE that currently offer Emirates Skywards co-branded credit cards are   

Across these 6 banks there are currently a total of 14 different Emirates Skywards credit cards offered. These are broadly categorised based on the minimum income required to be eligible for each credit card, the features and benefits offered, annual fees charged and so on.

Income Eligibility 

The monthly minimum income requirement for Emirates Skywards credit cards are as below :

As can be seen from the table above, there is an Emirates Skywards credit card option available for customers with income segments starting from as low as AED 5,000, which incidentally is also the minimum monthly salary required as per UAE Central bank regulations for a credit card.

Exploring the Top Emirates Skywards Credit Cards in the UAE: Your Gateway to Luxury Travel 

Emirates Airlines, recognized as the top choice for travelers heading to and from Dubai, provides UAE residents with a unique opportunity to elevate their travel through the Emirates Skywards Credit Card. These cards, issued in collaboration with several leading UAE banks, offer a variety of exclusive benefits as part of a strategic partnership between Emirates Airlines and the banking sector.

With every purchase, cardholders accumulate Emirates Skywards miles, granting them access to Emirates Airlines’ exclusive loyalty tiers, including the highly coveted Skywards Silver and Gold tier statuses. These levels come with valuable perks, making the credit card a fast-track to premium travel experiences. But that’s just the start—these credit cards are designed to meet various lifestyle needs.

Given the widespread popularity of Emirates Airlines, it’s no surprise that many top-tier banks offer co-branded Emirates Skywards credit cards. With over a dozen options available in the UAE, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, the experts at Soulwallet.com have carefully reviewed these choices to help you find the perfect fit. Whether you’re looking for a card with a low salary requirement starting from AED 5,000 or one that offers zero annual fees for the first year, we’ve got you covered. Explore with us to discover the best Emirates Skywards credit card to enhance your travel experience.

Best Emirates Skywards Credit Cards to earn Skywards Miles :

Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card :

Spends at Emirates Airlines (and Flydubai) spends

3.5 Skywards miles per USD equivalent 
International spends     Up to 2 Skywards miles per USD equivalent spend
Domestic (UAE) spends     Up to 1.5 Skywards miles (specific categories offer lower earn rates)

ADIB Emirates Skywards Visa Infinite Credit Card :

Spends at Emirates Airlines (and Flydubai) spends 3 Skywards miles per USD equivalent
International spends Up to 2 Skywards miles per USD equivalent spend
Domestic (UAE) spends Up to 1.5 Skywards miles per USD equivalent spend (specific categories offer lower earn rates)

HSBC Skywards Infinite Credit Card :

Spends at Emirates Airlines (and Flydubai)

2.75 Skywards miles per USD equivalent
International spends     Up to 1.5 Skywards miles per USD equivalent spend
Domestic (UAE) spends

    Up to 1 Skywards mile per USD equivalent spend (specific categories offer lower earn rates)


Best Emirates Skywards Credit Cards to earn Emirates Skywards GOLD TIER Status:

ADIB Emirates Skywards Visa Infinite Credit Card:

Primary cardholders can fast-track to Gold tier status upon spending AED 5,500 with Emirates. One Supplementary cardholder can also enjoy Emirates Skywards Gold membership on an additional minimum spend of AED 5,500 on Emirates and subject to payment of Annual Fee of AED 4500.​​​


Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card :

You can fast track to Skywards Gold Tier status with a minimum spend of AED 5,500 on Emirates Airline within 12 months from the Card Issuance date.

The Emirates Skywards Gold membership is available for one supplementary cardholder per primary cardholder. All you need to do is spend an additional minimum amount of AED 5,500 at Emirates and pay an Annual Membership Fee of AED 4,000 for your Supplementary Card.


Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 125,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Welcome Miles Bonus - Upon payment of Annual Membership Fee = 30,000 miles
  • Cumulative retail spends (within first 3 months) of AED 120,000 = 40,000 miles
  • Cumulative foreign currency spends (within 3 months) of AED 50,000 = 30,000 miles
  • Cumulative Emirates Airlines spends (within 3 months) of AED 28,000 = 25,000 miles
Other Key features:
  • 3.5 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 2 & 1.5 Skywards miles per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership
  • Fast track to Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership for BOTH the primary as well as a supplementary card holder
  • Complimentary airport transfers across UAE (up to 4 per year)
  • Complimentary valet parking benefits at Dubai & Abu Dhabi (3 per month)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for each cardholder plus a guest
  • Unlimited complimentary golf rounds (at Arabian Ranches, JA Golf Resort, Trump International or Yas Links golf courses)
  • Buy-1-get-1 free offers at VOX cinemas every month (4 free tickets per month)
  • Complimentary “Silver” Marhaba Meet & Greet services (2 per year)
  • Complimentary access to Dubai Ladies Club and Sharjah Ladies Club (for women only!)
  • Highest category of Visa credit cards – ‘Visa Infinite’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on
  • 25% discount on purchase of Emirates Skywards miles

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card offers the MOST PREMIUM FEATURES of any Skywards credit card offered by any bank in the UAE currently. It also has the distinction of offering the highest Skywards miles earn rates across all Skywards credit cards in the UAE and also offers a host of excellent benefits including:

Minimum Salary: AED 50,000 Annual Fee: AED 4,200 (with fast track to Skywards Gold Tier Membership, AED 2,100 without it)

All relevant features of this credit card, along with side-by-side comparisons can be seen at: www.soulwallet.com

HSBC Skywards Infinite Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 50,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Welcome Miles Bonus - Upon payment of Annual Membership Fee = 20,000 miles
  • Cumulative retail spends (within first 2 months) of AED 50,000 = 30,000 miles
Other Key features:
  • 2.75 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines (& Flydubai), up to 1.5 & 1 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the primary cardholder
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for each cardholder plus a guest
  • Buy-1-get-1 free offers at VOX, ROXY and Reel cinemas every month (4 free tickets per month EACH)
  • Highest category of Visa credit cards – ‘Visa Infinite’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on
  • Complimentary 12 month Careem Plus subscription
  • Complimentary access to HSBC Entertainer App offers
  • 15% off at Amazon once each month (up to AED 75)
  • 3 complimentary visits a month to premium beach clubs across UAE

The HSBC Skywards Infinite Credit Card is a premium Skywards credit card with multiple lifestyle benefits available to its cardholders. Emirates Skywards Miles earned through this card never expire, making it a convenient choice for frequent travelers.

Minimum Salary: AED 30,000 Annual Fee: AED 2,625

The HSBC Skywards Infinite Credit Card is a brand new offering from one of the leading multi- national banks here in the UAE. This is a premium Skywards credit card with multiple lifestyle benefits available to its cardholders. This card also provides its customers the opportunity to earn a joining bonus of 50,000 Emirates Skywards miles. A key benefit of this credit card is that Emirates Skywards Miles earned through this card do not expire, ever.

ADIB Emirates Skywards Visa Infinite Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 50,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Welcome Miles Bonus - Card has to be used just once in the 1st 30 days - no minimum spend criteria!
Other Key features:
  • 50,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles joining offer (only requires using the card once in the first 30 days)
  • 3 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 2 & 1.5 Skywards miles per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • Fast track to Skywards Gold tier membership for BOTH the primary as well as a supplementary card holder
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership
  • Complimentary Emirates home check-in services 4 times per year (only ADIB Skywards credit cards offer this benefit)
  • Complimentary airport transfers across UAE (up to 4 per year)
  • Complimentary valet parking benefits at Dubai & Abu Dhabi 4 times per year
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for the primary and supplementary cardholder plus a guest each
  • Complimentary golf at select course in UAE (Els Club, Arabian Ranches, Abu Dhabi Golf Club)
  • Highest category of Visa credit cards – ‘Visa Infinite’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on

The ADIB Emirates Skywards Visa Infinite credit card is one of the top premium Skywards credit cards available in the UAE, known for its competitive features and generous rewards for Emirates Airlines and retail spends both internationally and domestically.

Minimum Salary: AED 25,000 Annual Fee: AED 4,500

All relevant features of this credit card, along with side-by-side comparisons, can be seen at: www.soulwallet.com

Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 100,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • 35,000 Skywards Miles on payment of joining fee (2,999)
  • 40,000 additional bonus miles ("Spend Based Miles") if cumulative retail spend of USD 25,000 is achieved within 3 months.
  • 25,000 miles will be credited if USD 7,500 is spent at Emirates (online or sales offices) within the first 12 months
Other Key features:
  • 2 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 1.5 & 1 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the primary cardholder
  • Opportunity to earn up to 100,000 Emirates Skywards miles (specific spend conditions to be met)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for the cardholder plus a guest
  • Valet parking services at busy malls in Abu Dhabi (4 per month)
  • 2 complimentary rounds of golf per month at select courses in the UAE
  • Up to 6 (3 free) Buy 1 Get 1 free on movie tickets at Reel Cinemas
  • Complimentary Rotana Rewards Exclusive club membership
  • Highest category of Visa credit cards – ‘Visa Infinite’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on

The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card is a premium credit card which has a lot of features for the well-heeled traveler. While it does not offer the card holder an option to get the coveted Emirates Skywards Gold Tier membership it also has a much lower annual maintenance fee than the other credit cards that do offer the Gold tier membership. This card also gives the card holder the opportunity to earn up to 100,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles by meeting certain spend criterion on the card. Some of the key benefits of this card include:

Minimum Salary: AED 30,000 Annual Fee: AED 3,148.95 (AED 1,575 from the 2nd year onwards)

All relevant features of this credit card, along with side-by-side comparisons, can be seen at: www.soulwallet.com

Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card

Other Key features:
  • 2 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 1.5 & 1 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the primary cardholder
  • Complimentary valet parking benefits at Dubai & Abu Dhabi (2 per month)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for each cardholder plus a guest
  • Unlimited complimentary golf rounds (at Arabian Ranches, Trump International or Yas Links)
  • Buy-1-get-1 free offers at Reel cinemas every month (3 per month)
  • Complimentary “Silver” Marhaba Meet & Greet services (2 per year)
  • Complimentary access to Dubai Ladies Club and Sharjah Ladies Club (for women only!)
  • Highest category of Visa credit cards – ‘Visa Infinite’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on
  • Option to earn 1 Skywards Tier mile for every 4 Skywards miles earned

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card offers a range of premium benefits tailored for frequent travelers and luxury seekers. Some of the key benefits include unlimited complimentary airport lounge access, valet parking, and golf rounds. Additionally, you can earn bonus Emirates Skywards miles based on your spending. Below are the details:

Minimum Salary: AED 25,000 Annual Fee: AED 2,100 (20,000 bonus miles); AED 1,048.95 (10,000 bonus miles)

For a detailed breakdown and comparison with other credit cards, visit: www.soulwallet.com

Dubai Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Infinite Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 100,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Cumulative retail spends (within first 6 months) of AED 80,000 = 40,000 miles
  • Cumulative foreign currency spends (within 6 months) of AED 120,000 = 40,000 miles
  • Cumulative Emirates Airlines spends (within 6 months) of USD 7,500 = 20,000 miles
Other Key features:
  • 2 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines & Flydubai, up to 1.5 & 1 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the primary cardholder
  • Complimentary airport lounge access for the card holder plus a guest to over 850 airport lounges worldwide via Loungekey
  • Complimentary valet parking offers (4 per month across Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
  • Exclusive health club, valet parking and roadside assistance offers

The Emirates Skywards Dubai Islamic Bank Infinite Credit Card is offered by Dubai Islamic Bank that provides customers a range of travel and lifestyle benefits. This credit card offers customer the option to earn up to 100,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles based on specific spend criteria that are met. Some of the key benefits of this card are:

Minimum Salary: AED 20,000 Annual Fee: AED 2,625

For a detailed breakdown and comparison with other credit cards, visit: www.soulwallet.com

RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 20,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • On payment of annual membership fee (AED 1,499)
  • Earn 50% extra spend based Emirates Skywards Miles based on retail spends in the first 3 statements
Other Key features:
  • Opportunity to earn Skywards miles across all spend categories with a unique tier-based rewards system
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership (also available for the supplementary card holder on payment of a fee)
  • Complimentary airport transfers across UAE and in India (up to 6 per year)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for each cardholder plus a guest
  • Complimentary rounds of golf up to twice a month
  • Complimentary cinema offers at VOX cinemas on ANY cinema experience (50% off for up to 4 tickets each month)
  • 15% discount on purchase of Emirates Skywards miles
  • Highest category of Mastercard credit cards – ‘Mastercard World Elite’ benefits & offers

The RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard is a premium credit card offering from RAKBANK that offers several unique benefits to card holders including:

Minimum Salary: AED 25,000 Annual Fee: AED 1,499 (waived if AED 120,000 spend is made during the year)

For more details and comparison options, visit: www.soulwallet.com

HSBC Skywards Signature Credit Card
Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 20,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Welcome Miles Bonus - Upon payment of Annual Membership Fee = 10,000 miles
  • Cumulative retail spends (within first 2 months) of AED 30,000 = 10,000 miles
Other Key features:
  • 1.75 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines (& Flydubai), up to 1 & 0.75 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • 12 complimentary airport lounge visits per year for each cardholder
  • Buy-1-get-1 free offers at VOX, ROXY and Reel cinemas every month (2 free tickets per month EACH), minimum spend of AED 6,000 required
  • Visa ‘Signature’ benefits & offers including purchase protection, travel insurance & medical cover and so on
  • Complimentary 12-month Careem Plus subscription
  • Complimentary access to HSBC Entertainer App offers
  • 15% off at Amazon once each month (up to AED 75)

The HSBC Skywards Signature Credit Card is a new offering from one of the leading multi- national banks here in the UAE. This card offers requires applicants to have a minimum salary of only AED 10,000 per month and offers multiple lifestyle benefits. This card offers its customers the opportunity to earn a joining bonus of 20,000 Emirates Skywards miles. A key benefit of this credit card is that Emirates Skywards Miles earned through this card do not expire, ever.

Minimum Salary: AED 10,000 Annual Fee: AED 1,050

For more details and comparison options, visit: www.soulwallet.com

ADIB Emirates Skywards Visa Signature Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn 25,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Card has to be used just once withing the 1st 30 days of card issuance – no minimum spend!
Other Key features:
  • 25,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles joining offer (only requires using the card once in the first 30 days)
  • 2.5 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 1.5 & 1 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership for the primary cardholder
  • Complimentary Emirates home check-in services 2 times per year (only ADIB Skywards credit cards offer this benefit)
  • Complimentary airport transfers across UAE (up to 2 per year)
  • Complimentary valet parking benefits at Dubai & Abu Dhabi 2 times per year
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for the primary and supplementary cardholder
  • Complimentary golf at select courses in UAE (Els Club, Arabian Ranches, Abu Dhabi Golf Club)
  • Other useful benefits including travel accident and medical cover

The ADIB Emirates Skywards credit card is available for residents with a minimum salary of AED 10,000 only and offers a wide range of benefits. This card offers generous Emirates Skywards miles for spends at Emirates Airlines, for international spends as well as for domestic retail spends in the UAE. In addition to the excellent Skywards miles rewards offered, this card also offers:

Minimum Salary: AED 10,000 Annual Fee: AED 1,500

For full features and side-by-side comparisons, visit: www.soulwallet.com

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature Credit Card

Other Key features:
  • The Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature Credit Card requires a minimum salary of only AED 12,000 and has the below features and benefits:
  • 1.5 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 1.1 & 0.75 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively.
  • Complimentary valet parking benefits at Dubai & Abu Dhabi (1 per month)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for each cardholder
  • 2 complimentary golf rounds per month (at Arabian Ranches, Trump International or Yas Links), minimum spend of AED 5,000 in the month required
  • Buy-1-get-1 free offers at Reel cinemas every month (2 per month), minimum spend of AED 3,000 in the month required
  • Complimentary “Bronze” Marhaba Meet & Greet services (2 per year), minimum spend of AED 5,000 in the month required
  • Complimentary access to Dubai Ladies Club in the UAE and enjoy various benefits like pool and beach access, gym and so on

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature Credit Card offers an array of premium benefits including Skywards Miles for travel, complimentary golf, valet parking, and exclusive access to Dubai Ladies Club. Ideal for those who want to enjoy luxury lifestyle perks with their everyday spends.

Minimum Salary: AED 12,000 AED 735 (20,000 bonus miles); AED 1048.95 (10,000 bonus miles)

For full features and side-by-side comparisons, visit: www.soulwallet.com

Emirates NBD Skywards Signature Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 40,000 Emirates Skywards Miles :
  • 15,000 Skywards Miles on payment of joining fee
  • 15,000 additional bonus miles ("Spend Based Miles") if cumulative retail spend of USD 10,000 is achieved within 3 months.
  • 10,000 miles will be credited if USD 3,750 is spent at Emirates (online or sales offices) within the first 12 months
Other Key features:
  • 1.5 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines, up to 1 & 0.75 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • Opportunity to earn up to 40,000 Emirates Skywards miles (specific spend conditions to be met)
  • Unlimited complimentary airport lounge access for the cardholder (supplementary as well)
  • Complimentary valet parking services at busy malls in the UAE (4 per month)
  • 2 complimentary rounds of golf at select courses in the UAE, minimum spend of AED 5,000 in the month required
  • Up to 6 (3 free) Buy-1-Get-1 free on movie tickets at Reel Cinemas. Minimum spend of AED 5,000 required in the month
  • Complimentary 2-for-1 deals with Entertainer on food, entertainment and shopping

The Emirates NBD Skywards Signature Credit Card offers several benefits to cardholders including the ability to earn welcome bonus Skywards miles. Some of the key benefits of this card include:

Minimum Salary: AED 12,000 Annual Fee: AED 735

For full details and side-by-side comparisons, visit: www.soulwallet.com

Dubai Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Signature Credit Card

Joining Bonus Emirates Skywards Miles Special Offer:
  • Earn up to 50,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
  • Cumulative retail spends (within first 6 months) of AED 40,000 = 20,000 miles
  • Cumulative foreign currency spends (within 6 months) of AED 60,000 = 20,000 miles
  • Cumulative Emirates Airlines spends (within 6 months) of USD 5,000 = 10,000 miles
Other Key features:
  • Earn up to 50,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles (spend based)
  • 1.5 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines & Flydubai, up to 1 & 0.75 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • 8 complimentary airport lounge access for the card holder to 850+ lounges worldwide
  • Complimentary valet parking offers (2 per month across Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
  • Roadside assistance offers

The Emirates Skywards Dubai Islamic Bank Signature Credit Card is offered by Dubai Islamic Bank and provides customers a range of travel and lifestyle benefits. This credit card offers customer the option to earn up to 50,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles

Minimum Salary: AED 15,000 Annual Fee: AED 1,575

For full details and side-by-side comparisons, visit: www.soulwallet.com

Dubai Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Platinum Credit Card

Other Key features:
  • Earn up to 5,000 bonus Emirates Skywards miles (on card activation)
  • 1 Emirates Skywards miles per USD of spend at Emirates Airlines & Flydubai, up to 0.75 & 0.5 Skywards mile(s) per USD for international and domestic spends respectively
  • Earn 1 Emirates Skywards Tier mile for every 4 Skywards miles earned
  • Roadside assistance offers

The Emirates Skywards Dubai Islamic Bank Platinum Credit Card is offered by Dubai Islamic Bank with the lowest annual membership fee of any Emirates Skywards credit card in the UAE. Some of the key benefits of this card are:

Minimum Salary: AED 10,000 Annual Fee: AED 525

For full details and side-by-side comparisons, visit: www.soulwallet.com


Emirates Skywards Credit Card Eligibility in the UAE

Emirates Skywards Credit Card Eligibility in the UAE: Understanding the Requirements and How to Qualify

The UAE's vibrant financial sector offers a wide range of credit card options catering to diverse income brackets, spending habits, and financial needs. Understanding the eligibility criteria is essential for anyone applying for a credit card. This article provides a comprehensive overview of credit card eligibility in the UAE, outlining common requirements, factors that influence approval, and tips for navigating the application process.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a credit card in the UAE, applicants must meet several basic requirements set by banks and financial institutions :

Minimum Age : Most banks require applicants to be at least 21 years old, though this age limit can vary.

Residency : Applicants generally need to be UAE residents, which is often verified through a valid residency visa.

Minimum Salary : The minimum salary requirement is crucial and varies widely depending on the card. It can range from AED 5,000 to over AED 20,000 per month for premium cards.

Employment : A steady job and a regular income are typically required. Some banks may ask for proof of employment or require a salary transfer to the bank.

Some financial institutions request a security check based on the above profiles.

Credit History and Score

In the UAE, credit scores play a pivotal role in financial transactions, especially when applying for credit cards. Here's an in-depth look at how the credit scoring system works in the UAE and what scores are considered acceptable for obtaining a credit card.

Understanding Credit Scores in the UAE

The UAE’s credit scoring system is managed by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB). The AECB collects financial information from various sources, including banks, finance companies, and telecom companies, to create credit reports and scores for individuals and companies.

How Credit Scores Are Calculated

The credit score is a numerical representation of an individual's creditworthiness, ranging from 300 to 900. It is calculated based on several factors, including :

Payment History : Timely payments on loans and credit cards improve your score, whereas late payments, defaults, and foreclosures negatively impact the score.

Credit Utilization : This refers to the amount of credit you are using compared to your credit limits. Lower utilization rates generally lead to higher scores.

Length of Credit History : A longer credit history provides more data and can lead to a higher score, assuming the history shows responsible credit use. The term that is used for customers with less than 12 months is a “Thin file” which is considered higher risk than those who have a history of more than 12 months. There can be specific policies applied by the bank for a lower number of months such as additional verifications, higher income requirements, additional documentation, employer profiles, and so on.

Types of Credit : Having a mix of credit types, such as credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages, can positively affect your score.

New Credit : Frequent applications for new credit can lower your score, as it might indicate financial distress.

Acceptable Credit Scores for Credit Cards

Scores 300 - 619 : Considered low. Applicants might find it difficult to get approved for credit cards and may only qualify for secured credit cards or products designed for low credit scores.

Scores 620 - 657 : Fair. Individuals with scores in this range are typically considered subprime borrowers and might face higher interest rates or less favorable terms.

Scores 657 – 750 : Good. This is generally considered low risk to the banks as applicants with scores in this range are likely to be approved for most credit cards.

Scores above 750 : Excellent. These scores qualify for the best available credit cards, including those with premium benefits, low-interest rates, and high credit limits.

Tips to Improve or Maintain a Good Credit Score in the UAE

Make Payments on Time : This is by far the most important factor as payment behavior impacts your credit score directly. Always pay your bills and credit card dues on time. Setting up automated payments can help avoid missed deadlines.

Manage Credit Utilization : Try to keep your credit utilization below 30% of your total available credit. It is not necessary that one needs to max out on the credit available. Keep your utilization to your needs and ensure timely payments.

Regularly Monitor Your Credit Report : You may have a card that is accumulating charges since you forgot to close it. Hence, do check your credit report periodically for any inaccuracies or fraudulent activities. This can be done through the AECB’s website, and you can raise it to the concerned banks and have these issues fixed.

Limit New Credit Applications : Only apply for new credit, when necessary, as multiple credit inquiries can lower your score.

Maintain a Healthy Mix of Credit : Diversifying the types of credit can positively impact your score.

By understanding and managing these factors, individuals in the UAE can improve their credit scores, enhancing their eligibility for credit cards and other financial products.

Debt-Burden Ratio (DBR)

The DBR is another critical factor considered by banks. It measures the proportion of a person’s income that goes towards repaying debts, including loans and credit card payments :

DBR Limit : In the UAE, the maximum DBR allowed is 50% of your monthly income. This means that all your monthly debt repayments combined should not exceed half of your monthly earning.

Additional Factors

Banking Relationship : Existing relationships with a bank can facilitate easier approval, especially if you have a history of responsible financial behavior with that institution. Banks do have more comfort lending to customers who have their salaries credited to their banks.

Type of Employment and Employer : Working for a well-recognized company or a government entity can improve your chances of approval as it implies job security and a stable income. Most companies have a process of identifying specific employers and listing them to offer credit to their employees. These listed companies are supposed to be low in risk considering the employment stability they offer to their employees. Having said that companies can move in and out of the listed zone based on the way their employees perform. The advantage of such listed companies is that the requirements for credit issuance are generally more lenient than those that are not listed.

Self Employed Eligibility : In UAE, eligibility even extends to self-employed persons to applying for credit cards, only eligibility criteria and documentation requirements are minutely different from the ones employed by the company. Banks usually require the individual to furnish bank statements and a profit and loss statement that can confirm consistent income from business along with sound financials. Further, for most cases of self-employment, a trade license or any other document indicating that the business would be run is submitted. For self-employed applicants, the issuer may need to scrutinize with more careful consideration the consistency and reliability of the income to avoid the risks that fluctuating incomes may pose. Self-employed individuals who would like to enhance their chances of getting their credit card application approved in the UAE need to have a good credit score and a low Debt Burden Ratio (DBR). Generally, a healthy cash flow, years in business, and line of business are considered key parameters while underwriting self-employed individuals.

Tips for Successful Credit Card Application

Check Your Credit Score : Before applying, check your credit score with the AECB. Address any discrepancies or outstanding debts. It is recommended that one keeps a tab on their credit score periodically. A credit report can be requested from Al Etihad Credit Bureau for a charge.

Understand the Card Benefits : Match the credit card features with your financial behavior and needs. For instance, if you travel frequently, consider cards that offer travel benefits.

Prepare Documentation : Have all necessary valid documents handy, such as your passport, visa, Emirates ID, salary certificate, and bank statements.

Consider Multiple Options : Don’t apply for multiple cards at once, as this can negatively impact your credit score. Instead, choose the best option that fits your needs and apply for that one first. Make use of the comparison sites to understand more about the products as these sites provide information on most of the banks.

Follow-up : After applying, keep in touch with the bank to check your application status and provide additional information if required.

Conclusion

Qualifying for a credit card in the UAE requires understanding and meeting the banks' eligibility criteria, including financial stability, creditworthiness, and compliance with the DBR. By carefully preparing and choosing the right credit card, you can manage your finances more effectively and take advantage of the benefits credit cards offer.

We hope this article has been useful in giving you a better understanding of the various Emirates Skywards miles credit card options available in the UAE. While we have highlighted the best options for specific benefits offered by these credit cards, we highly recommend that you review all the features in detail before deciding which is the best credit card for you. After all, the process of identifying the best option and applying for a credit card is not something undertaken regularly and therefore getting it right will not only help you maximize potential saves but will also help you enjoy the unique benefits most relevant to your individual preferences.

Detailed features and benefits along with side-by-side comparisons of all these credit cards and more can be found at www.soulwallet.com

FAQs

Emirates Skywards Credit Cards are co-branded credit cards offered in partnership with Emirates Airline. These cards allow customers to earn Skywards Miles on daily purchases and enjoy exclusive travel benefits.

UAE residents who meet the eligibility criteria, such as minimum income requirements and a good credit score, can apply for these cards.

Benefits include earning Skywards Miles, complimentary airport lounge access, free flights or upgrades, travel insurance, and priority check-in.

Skywards Miles are earned on eligible purchases. Higher rates may apply for spending on Emirates flights, hotel bookings, or dining.

Yes, you can redeem Miles for hotel stays, car rentals, shopping, and other lifestyle experiences in addition to flights and upgrades.

Skywards Miles generally expire three years after they are earned, but some cards offer options to extend their validity.

You can check your balance through the Emirates Skywards app, website, or by contacting their customer service.


Yes, these cards usually come with an annual fee, though it may be waived during promotional periods or based on your spending.

Yes, many cards include complimentary access to selected airport lounges worldwide.

Foreign transaction fees may apply, but some cards offer reduced or waived fees for overseas transactions.

Applications can be made online through the respective bank’s website or at bank branches in the UAE.

Typically, you need a valid Emirates ID, proof of income, and bank statements. Additional documents may be requested by the issuing bank.

The income requirement varies by bank and card tier. For example, premium cards may require a higher minimum income.

Joining offers may include bonus Skywards Miles, complimentary lounge access, travel vouchers, or first-year fee waivers.

Yes, many joining offers have a minimum spending threshold within a specified period after card activation.

Yes, most Emirates Skywards Credit Cards include complimentary travel insurance that covers trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage.

Yes, you can use the card to pay for upgrades and earn additional Miles for the transaction.

Some cards include priority check-in and boarding at selected airports for cardholders.

Benefits may include discounts on flight bookings, priority service, and additional Miles for Emirates purchases.

Yes, supplementary cards can be added for family members, allowing them to earn Skywards Miles on their spending as well.