Premium & Luxury Credit Cards in the UAE
Premium UAE credit cards built for high earners.
See cardsLast updated: - Sourced from official issuer documents and product pages.
You get airport lounge programmes, a 24/7 concierge, strong travel cover, and faster miles or cashback. Annual fees start at AED 1,000+ and most need a salary of AED 15,000 or more.
Lounge access is published per card. Visa Infinite, Mastercard World Elite and Priority Pass tell you which programme a card enrols in, and each issuer sets its own visit allowance on top. American Express Platinum currently gives 12 Priority Pass visits to the primary cardmember and 8 to one supplementary member, and Citi Ultima publishes 14 Mastercard Travel Pass visits. Check the visit, guest and activation terms so you can match a card to how often you fly.
The salary ladder decides the shortlist before the perks do. Most premium cards sit between AED 15,000 and AED 40,000 a month: Visa Infinite and Mastercard World Elite generally open at AED 15,000–25,000, and Citi Ultima is the top of the market at AED 36,750. If your salary sits below that band, the best credit cards in the UAE covers the full range, including strong free-for-life options.
Work the break-even. An AED 1,500 annual fee is covered by roughly AED 1,500 of benefits you would otherwise have paid for: lounge visits you actually take, travel insurance that replaces a policy you buy anyway, and a welcome bonus worth more than the joining fee in year one. Airline status, golf rounds and concierge access count for as much as you use them, so weigh them against how you already travel.
Best published lounge allowance
AMERICAN EXPRESS
The American Express Platinum Credit Card
≈ AED 3,821 potential value / year · incl. perks · incl. welcome bonus
Earn 2 points for every AED 4 spent
12 Priority Pass lounge visits per year
10% cashback every month, up to AED 600 annually
Top of the market
CITIBANK
Citi Ultima Credit Card
≈ AED 28,662 potential value / year · incl. perks
30,000 annual bonus miles
5 miles/USD non-AED
2.5 miles/USD in AED
14 lounge visits/year
4 Careem airport rides/year
Best welcome value
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Voyager World Elite Credit Card
≈ AED 27,949 potential value / year · incl. perks
No Annual Fee for the first year
12 Miles/AED on Voyager Portal
6 Miles/AED on other travel
Premium & Luxury Credit Cards in the UAE compared
A side-by-side snapshot of annual fees, salary requirements, and standout benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Min. salary | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
 | AED 5,775 | AED 35,000 | Up to 3.5 Skywards miles/USD, fast track to Gold tier |
 | AED 3,150 | AED 36,750 | 5 Citi Miles/USD on qualifying international spend, 2.5 miles/USD on local spend, 30K annual bonus miles |
 | AED 617.40 (waivable) | AED 35,000 | Up to 4 Rewards points/AED, about 3% value on airline/hotel redemptions; only Privilege removes the bank FX surcharge |
 | AED 735 (waivable) | AED 21,250 | 2 Membership Rewards points per AED 4 spent; 12 Priority Pass visits for the primary cardmember and 8 for one supplementary member |
 | AED 1,575 | AED 25,000 | Up to 12 Voyager Miles per AED on the ENBD Travel Portal, 150,000-Mile welcome bonus, fast-track and lounge access |
 | AED 1,575 | AED 30,000 | Up to 100K welcome miles, complimentary Skywards Silver |
 | AED 1,575 | AED 30,000 | UAE Nationals only: first year free, 7.5% Emaar value and published cinema, golf, valet and concierge allowances |
 | AED 2,625 | AED 5,000 | 8 Marriott Bonvoy points/USD at Marriott hotels, Gold Elite status, unlimited lounge access for cardholder and guest |
| Card | Annual fee | Min. salary | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| AED 5,775 | AED 35,000 | Up to 3.5 Skywards miles/USD, fast track to Gold tier |
| AED 3,150 | AED 36,750 | 5 Citi Miles/USD on qualifying international spend, 2.5 miles/USD on local spend, 30K annual bonus miles |
| AED 617.40 (waivable) | AED 35,000 | Up to 4 Rewards points/AED, about 3% value on airline/hotel redemptions; only Privilege removes the bank FX surcharge |
| AED 735 (waivable) | AED 21,250 | 2 Membership Rewards points per AED 4 spent; 12 Priority Pass visits for the primary cardmember and 8 for one supplementary member |
| AED 1,575 | AED 25,000 | Up to 12 Voyager Miles per AED on the ENBD Travel Portal, 150,000-Mile welcome bonus, fast-track and lounge access |
| AED 1,575 | AED 30,000 | Up to 100K welcome miles, complimentary Skywards Silver |
| AED 1,575 | AED 30,000 | UAE Nationals only: first year free, 7.5% Emaar value and published cinema, golf, valet and concierge allowances |
| AED 2,625 | AED 5,000 | 8 Marriott Bonvoy points/USD at Marriott hotels, Gold Elite status, unlimited lounge access for cardholder and guest |
Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card
Annual feeAED 5,775
Min. salaryAED 35,000
HighlightUp to 3.5 Skywards miles/USD, fast track to Gold tier
Citi Ultima Credit Card
Annual feeAED 3,150
Min. salaryAED 36,750
Highlight5 Citi Miles/USD on qualifying international spend, 2.5 miles/USD on local spend, 30K annual bonus miles
Rakbank Elevate Credit Card
Annual feeAED 617.40 (waivable)
Min. salaryAED 35,000
HighlightUp to 4 Rewards points/AED, about 3% value on airline/hotel redemptions; only Privilege removes the bank FX surcharge
The American Express Platinum Credit Card
Annual feeAED 735 (waivable)
Min. salaryAED 21,250
Highlight2 Membership Rewards points per AED 4 spent; 12 Priority Pass visits for the primary cardmember and 8 for one supplementary member
ENBD Voyager World Elite Credit Card
Annual feeAED 1,575
Min. salaryAED 25,000
HighlightUp to 12 Voyager Miles per AED on the ENBD Travel Portal, 150,000-Mile welcome bonus, fast-track and lounge access
ENBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
Annual feeAED 1,575
Min. salaryAED 30,000
HighlightUp to 100K welcome miles, complimentary Skywards Silver
ENBD U By Emaar Visa Infinite Emirati Credit Card
Annual feeAED 1,575
Min. salaryAED 30,000
HighlightUAE Nationals only: first year free, 7.5% Emaar value and published cinema, golf, valet and concierge allowances
Marriott Bonvoy ADIB Visa Infinite Card
Annual feeAED 2,625
Min. salaryAED 5,000
Highlight8 Marriott Bonvoy points/USD at Marriott hotels, Gold Elite status, unlimited lounge access for cardholder and guest
Miles-led premium
Premium cards that earn travel miles fastest
If premium spend is really travel spend, the miles rate matters more than the lounge count. The ENBD Voyager pair earns on a portal rather than a fixed airline, so miles stay usable across carriers.
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Voyager World Elite Credit Card
- No Annual Fee for the first year
- 12 Miles/AED on Voyager Portal
- 6 Miles/AED on other travel
3.9/5
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Voyager World Credit Card
- No Annual Fee
- 6 Miles/AED on Voyager Portal
- 3 Miles/AED on other travel
What you are actually paying for
1.
Lounge programmes, with published limits
Premium cards enrol you in Priority Pass, Mastercard Travel Pass or Visa Airport Companion. The programme is the network tier; the visit count, guest policy and activation spend are the issuer's, and they vary widely between cards on the same tier.
2.
A concierge that is worth using
A 24/7 concierge books restaurants, flights, hotels and tickets, sends gifts, and helps in an emergency. Citi Ultima and American Express Platinum run the largest teams in the UAE, and the benefit returns most for travellers who use it regularly.
3.
Travel cover that replaces a policy you buy
Comprehensive travel insurance is the benefit most likely to cover its share of the annual fee, because it displaces a cost you would otherwise pay. Check the medical limit, trip-cancellation cover and whether family members are included.
Which premium card fits your salary
1.
AED 15,000–25,000: Visa Infinite and World Elite entry
The entry band for premium tiers. Expect a published lounge allowance rather than unlimited access, and check whether the annual fee is waived in year one.
2.
AED 25,000–35,000: miles-led premium
ENBD Voyager World Elite sits here — 12 miles per AED on the travel portal and a 150,000-mile welcome after AED 70,000 spend in 3 months. Worth it if your travel spend concentrates on the portal.
3.
AED 36,750+: Citi Ultima
The top of the UAE market — 14 Mastercard Travel Pass visits, a full concierge service and invitation-level support. Built for frequent travellers at the highest spend levels.
13 cards in the UAE
AMERICAN EXPRESS
The American Express Platinum Credit Card
- Salary: AED 21,250+
- Annual Fee: AED 735
- Earn 2 points for every AED 4 spent
- 12 Priority Pass lounge visits per year
- 10% cashback every month, up to AED 600 annually
FIRST ABU DHABI BANK (FAB)
FAB Travel Credit Card
- Salary: AED 20,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 1,575
- Free flight each year to over 15 destinations
- 12% cashback on flights and hotel bookings
- No FX fees
EMIRATES ISLAMIC
Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card
- Salary: AED 35,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 5,775
- 3.5 Skywards miles/USD
- Fast-track to Skywards Gold
- 4 airport transfers/year
3.8/5
EMIRATES ISLAMIC
Emirates Islamic Flex Elite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 15,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 735
- EI SmartMiles welcome offer
- 3.75% cashback on international spend
- Unlimited rounds of golf
CITIBANK
Citi Ultima Credit Card
- Salary: AED 36,750
- Annual Fee: AED 3,150
- 30,000 annual bonus miles
- 5 miles/USD non-AED
- 2.5 miles/USD in AED
RAKBANK
Rakbank Elevate Credit Card
- Salary: AED 35,000+
- Tier fee from AED 51.45/month
- Up to 4 RAKrewards/AED
- Up to 3.2% travel value
- Privilege: 0% bank FX fee
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Voyager World Elite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 25,000+
- 150,000 Miles on AED 70,000
- No Annual Fee for the first year
- 12 Miles/AED on Voyager Portal
- 6 Miles/AED on other travel
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 30,000+
- Joining Fee: AED 3,148.95
- Annual Fee: AED 1,575
- Bonus: Up to 100,000 Skywards Miles
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership
ABU DHABI COMMERCIAL BANK (ADCB)
ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 40,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 2,625
- Welcome Bonus: 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles
- Up to 3 Etihad Guest Miles per 1 USD
- Up to 4 class upgrade vouchers
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD U By Emaar Infinite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 30,000+
- Joining Fee: AED 2,625
- Annual Fee: AED 1,575
- Welcome Offer: Up to 25,000 UPoints
- U By Emaar Platinum Status
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD U By Emaar Visa Infinite Emirati Credit Card
- Salary: AED 30,000+
- First year free
- UAE Nationals only
- Up to 25,000 welcome UPoints
- 7.5% value back at Emaar
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Marriott Bonvoy World Elite
- Salary: AED 25,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 1,575
- Welcome Bonus: Up to 150,000 Points
- 6 points per USD 1 at Marriott hotels
- Gold Elite Status with Marriott
ABU DHABI ISLAMIC BANK (ADIB)
Marriott Bonvoy ADIB Visa Infinite Card
- Salary: AED 5,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 2,625
- Welcome bonus: up to 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
- 8 Marriott Bonvoy points per USD 1 at Marriott properties
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Eligibility criteria
General requirements for credit card applications in the UAE. Exact thresholds vary by bank and card tier.
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Monthly salary | AED 5,000–40,000 |
| Employment | Salaried employees or self-employed professionals |
| Residency | UAE residents with a valid Emirates ID and residence visa |
| Credit history | AECB credit score is checked; a clean record strengthens approval |
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Monthly salary | AED 5,000–40,000 |
| Employment | Salaried employees or self-employed professionals |
| Residency | UAE residents with a valid Emirates ID and residence visa |
| Credit history | AECB credit score is checked; a clean record strengthens approval |
Always confirm the latest eligibility details with the issuing bank before applying.
Documents you will need
Prepare these before you start an application. Some banks accept digital uploads; others require originals at a branch.
UAE nationals
1.Emirates ID
2.Khulasat Al Qaid (Family Book)
3.Salary certificate (less than 30 days old)
4.Bank statements — last 3 months
5.Passport copy
Expats & residents
1.Emirates ID
2.Valid passport with residence visa page
3.Salary certificate or employment letter
4.Bank statements — last 3 months
5.Proof of address (utility bill or tenancy contract)
The final list of required documents may differ based on the bank and card. Self-employed applicants may also need a trade licence and audited financial statements.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Premium & Luxury Credit Cards in the UAE
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