# Emirates Islamic Raises RTA and Switch Cashback Spend Minimums from 10 January 2027

Source: https://kredit.ae/blog/emirates-islamic-rta-switch-cashback-spend-minimums-2027

Emirates Islamic raises RTA and Switch Cashback earning minimums from 10 January 2027. Compare ADIB, Mashreq, Citi and Liv alternatives.

Category: Announcements  
Published: 2026-11-06T17:14:48.036Z  
Author: Kredit

**Emirates Islamic** has set higher cashback spending minimums for its **RTA Credit Card** and **Switch Cashback Credit Card** from **10 January 2027**. Cardholders will need AED 2,000 and AED 4,000 in retail spend, respectively, to earn cashback under the new terms. If your usual spending falls short, cards focused on fuel, groceries or dining may fit better.

## The two changes

| Card | Current published minimum | From 10 January 2027 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [RTA Credit Card](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/emirates-islamic-rta-credit-card/details) | AED 1,000 retail spend per statement cycle | AED 2,000 retail spend per statement cycle |
| [Switch Cashback Credit Card](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/emirates-islamic-switch-cashback-credit-card/details) | AED 2,500 billed per calendar month | AED 4,000 retail spend per statement cycle |

The [RTA terms](https://www.emiratesislamic.ae/en/terms-and-conditions/rta-credit-card-tc) and [Switch Cashback terms](https://www.emiratesislamic.ae/en/terms-and-conditions/switch-cashback-credit-card) give **10 January 2027** as the effective date. The current Switch wording refers to a calendar month; the new footnote refers to a statement cycle. Use your statement dates when assessing the new minimum.

## What the thresholds mean for cashback

The RTA card's published rates include **10% on RTA transport payments** and **10% at fuel stations**, each capped at **AED 75 a month**. Those rates still depend on meeting the card's overall retail-spend minimum. AED 1,500 of eligible retail spend in a statement cycle would fall below the new AED 2,000 minimum and earn no cashback from 10 January 2027, even if some purchases were in the 10% categories.

Switch Cashback publishes separate **Lifestyle** and **Travel** category rates and caps. From 10 January 2027, earning cashback on either selection requires AED 4,000 of retail spend per statement cycle. A purchase in a higher-rate category alone will not meet that minimum; category caps still apply after it is met.

## Which card fits your spending instead?

Match a card to purchases you already make. A higher rate on a narrow category, a fee or a redemption rule can matter more than the headline percentage.

### Fuel, groceries and dining: ADIB CashBack Visa

The [ADIB CashBack Visa Covered Card terms](https://www.adib.com/en/siteassets/cards-terms-and-conditions/covered-card-terms-and-conditions-en-v25-oct-2024.pdf) list **4% on eligible fuel and automobile purchases**, capped at **AED 300 a month**; **4% on groceries and supermarkets**, capped at **AED 300**; and **4% on dining**, capped at **AED 200**. Total monthly cashback is capped at **AED 1,000**. An [annual fee](https://www.adib.com/en/Pages/New-Cashback-Gold-Card.aspx) applies, so compare the expected rewards with that cost. If these are your regular categories, [compare ADIB CashBack Visa and apply](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/adib-cashback-covered-credit-card/details).

### Dining without an earning minimum: Mashreq Cashback

[Mashreq Cashback](https://www.mashreq.com/en/uae/neo/cards/credit-cards/cashback-credit-card) earns **5% on eligible local and international dining** with **no minimum spend to earn cashback** and no annual fee. Fuel earns **0.15%**, making this a dining choice rather than a direct RTA fuel replacement. Cashback can be redeemed from **AED 100**. If dining is your main reward category, [compare Mashreq Cashback and apply](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/mashreq-cashback-credit-card/details).

### Groceries and other local purchases: Citi CashBack

[Citi CashBack](https://www.citibank.ae/credit-cards/cashback/citi-cashback-credit-card) has **no minimum monthly spend to earn cashback**. It earns **2% on groceries and supermarket purchases** and **1% on other local spending**. The first year's annual fee is waived; from the second year, the fee is **AED 315** unless you meet its **AED 9,000 annual-spend waiver**, according to Citi's [fee schedule](https://www.citibank.ae/pdf/fees-and-charges.pdf). That annual fee waiver is separate from cashback earning. Citi requires a **minimum monthly income of AED 8,000**. For broader local spending, [compare Citi CashBack and apply](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/citi-cashback-credit-card/details).

### Union Coop regulars: Liv Tamayaz Platinum

The [Liv Tamayaz Platinum Card](https://www.liv.me/en/important-information/features/liv-tamayaz-credit-card-feature) earns **6% back in Tamayaz Points** at Union Coop, capped at **AED 750 a month**, with no annual fee. Points are redeemed at Union Coop from **1,000 points** and expire on **31 December each year**, according to [Liv's support terms](https://www.liv.me/en/ways-of-banking/get-support). If Union Coop is already your grocery store, [compare Liv Tamayaz Platinum and apply](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/liv-tamayaz-platinum-card/details).

## Work out which card should take each part of your budget

Card Picker's free quiz recommends one card for your usual spending. Its optional paid portfolio allocates your declared monthly category spending across several cards and compares calculated annual value after thresholds, caps and fees. See whether concentrating eligible purchases or splitting them across cards gives more value from your existing budget. [Find your card mix with Card Picker](https://kredit.ae/card-picker) before you apply.

Do not increase spending just to cross a cashback threshold. Compare these alternative cards on your usual purchases in the [Kredit calculator](https://kredit.ae/credit-cards/calculator).

## Frequently asked questions

### Which Emirates Islamic cards change, and when?

The RTA Credit Card and Switch Cashback Credit Card get higher retail-spend minimums for earning cashback from 10 January 2027.

### What is the new RTA card minimum?

It rises from AED 1,000 to AED 2,000 of retail spend per statement cycle from 10 January 2027.

### What is the new Switch Cashback minimum?

The current terms require AED 2,500 billed per calendar month. From 10 January 2027, the new minimum is AED 4,000 of retail spend per statement cycle.

### Must I spend the RTA minimum on transport or fuel alone?

No. The RTA notice counts eligible retail spending across categories, including local and international purchases. Cash transactions are excluded.

### What happens if I miss the new minimum?

You do not earn cashback on the affected card for that statement cycle, even when a purchase falls in a boosted category.

### Can I combine spending on the RTA and Switch cards to meet a minimum?

No. Each minimum applies to spending on its own card, so purchases on one do not qualify the other.

### Are the RTA transport and fuel cashback rates ending?

The published table still lists 10% on RTA transport and 10% at fuel stations, capped at AED 75 a month for each category. The new AED 2,000 earning minimum applies to those rewards.

### Which alternatives have no minimum monthly spend to earn cashback?

Mashreq Cashback and Citi CashBack explicitly have no minimum monthly spend to earn cashback. Eligible-category rules still apply, and Citi has a separate annual-spend condition for its fee waiver.

### Which alternative fits fuel, groceries or dining?

ADIB CashBack Visa covers eligible fuel, groceries and dining at 4%, subject to category caps and an annual fee. Mashreq Cashback suits eligible dining at 5%; Citi CashBack covers groceries at 2% and other local spending at 1%. Liv Tamayaz Platinum is specific to Union Coop purchases.

### Do the alternative cards charge annual fees?

Mashreq Cashback and Liv Tamayaz Platinum have no annual fee. ADIB CashBack Visa has an annual fee. Citi CashBack waives the first year, then charges AED 315 from year two unless you meet its AED 9,000 annual-spend waiver; that waiver is separate from earning cashback.

### When can I use the alternatives’ rewards?

ADIB CashBack Visa credits cashback in the following month’s statement. Mashreq Cashback can be redeemed from AED 100. Citi CashBack credits cashback automatically. Liv Tamayaz Points are redeemed at Union Coop from 1,000 points and expire on 31 December each year.

### Should I replace my Emirates Islamic card?

Keeping it can make sense if your usual eligible spending already clears the new minimum and the rewards beat other cards after caps and fees. Card Picker starts with a free one-card quiz; its optional paid portfolio compares allocations of your existing spending across cards. Do not spend more solely to reach a cashback threshold.