Citi Ultima Credit Card

It earns 5 Citi Miles per USD on eligible non-AED spend and 2.5 Citi Miles per USD on regular eligible AED spend. EEA currencies and selected merchant categories earn lower rates.

Yes. Get 14 visits per year to more than 1,200 lounges through Mastercard Travel Pass, including one guest, after the programme's qualifying non-AED transaction.

Citi's direct joining statement-credit offer excludes applicants arriving through third-party links, so it is not counted in this comparison.

There's a joining fee of AED 3,150 in year one (AED 3,000 plus 5% VAT), and the same AED 3,150 (AED 3,000 plus 5% VAT) repeats as the annual fee every year after. Once you pay that annual fee, Citi credits your account with 30,000 bonus Citi Miles, which offsets a meaningful chunk of the cost if you value and redeem the miles.

You need a minimum monthly salary of AED 36,750, must be at least 18 years old, and must be a UAE resident. Meeting these minimums doesn't guarantee approval: Citi may still ask for identity, residency, employment and income documents before making its final credit decision.

It bundles a 50% airline ticket rebate worth up to AED 2,000 once a year, an unlimited complimentary third hotel night when booked through the Citi Ultima concierge, unlimited weekday golf plus one weekend round per month, 4 VOX and 2 Reel buy-one-get-one movie tickets monthly, and 2 complimentary valet parking visits per month.