Mashreq launches three Aura credit cards with Alshaya

Mashreq has launched three credit cards with Alshaya Group's Aura loyalty programme: the Mashreq Aura Credit Card, the Mashreq Aura World Credit Card and the Mashreq Aura World Elite Credit Card. All three run on Mastercard and pay cashback as Aura Points, at their highest rate inside Alshaya's brands, including H&M, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Shake Shack and Starbucks.

The cards follow the co-brand partnership Alshaya and Mastercard announced in July 2024 for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. Mashreq is the UAE issuer.

Cards at a Glance

Every card pays in Aura Points, which can only be spent at participating Aura brands and expire 12 months after they are credited. The full brand list is on our Aura hub.

Mashreq Aura Credit Card

• Annual fee: free for life
• Aura brands: 4% as Aura Points, plus Aura tier cashback on top
• Grocery in the UAE: 3%
• Other spend: 0.75%, in the UAE and abroad
• Instant discount: 15% at participating Aura brands
• Lounge: 4 airport lounge visits or airport dining offers a year
• Welcome bonus: AED 500 in Aura Points after AED 5,000 spend in the first two months

Mashreq Aura World Credit Card

• Annual fee: AED 525
• Aura brands: 6% as Aura Points, plus Aura tier cashback on top
• Grocery in the UAE: 4%
• Other spend: 1%
• Instant discount: 20% at participating Aura brands
• Lounge: 8 visits a year
• Welcome bonus: AED 1,000 in Aura Points after AED 10,000 spend in the first two months

Mashreq Aura World Elite Credit Card

• Annual fee: AED 1,575
• Aura brands: 8% as Aura Points, plus Aura tier cashback on top
• Grocery in the UAE: 5%
• Other spend: 1.25%
• Instant discount: 25% at participating Aura brands
• Lounge: 14 visits a year, including an accompanying guest on the same flight
• Welcome bonus: AED 2,500 in Aura Points after AED 15,000 spend in the first two months

Which One Should You Pick?

Take a household spending AED 1,500 a month at Aura brands, AED 3,000 on groceries and AED 3,500 elsewhere. The Aura card returns AED 2,115 a year with no fee. Aura World returns AED 2,940, or AED 2,415 after its AED 525 fee. Aura World Elite returns AED 3,765, or AED 2,190 after its AED 1,575 fee.

At that spend, Aura World comes out ahead. The Elite card pulls ahead only with heavier Alshaya and grocery spend, or if you will use its 14 lounge visits. Run your own numbers in the calculator.

What to Know Before You Apply

• Points stay inside Alshaya. Aura Points have no cash value and only spend at participating brands, so the cards suit households that already shop there.
• The 0.25% bucket is wide. Government payments, utilities, education, charity, fuel, rent, telecom and transport, including taxis and tolls, earn 0.25%.
• The welcome bonus is for new Mashreq cardholders. Anyone who held a Mashreq credit card in the previous six months receives a smaller bonus.
• Lounge access needs an international transaction first. A USD 1 international transaction, in store abroad or online with a foreign merchant, unlocks Mastercard Travel Pass access for three months.

Ready to Apply?

Compare the full details on the Mashreq Aura, Aura World and Aura World Elite card pages. Our Aura guide covers what the points are worth and every participating brand.