Best Credit Cards for Beginners in UAE - Best Starter Credit Card for Beginners

Every first experience of your life is going to be magical whether it is the first paycheck, the first time to withdraw money using your ATM card, your first car, the first house that you own, and even your first credit card. Less of a luxury and more of a necessity in today’s UAE, credit cards are something that almost all adults are using which makes finding the best credit card in UAE for yourself a necessity as well. Not to mention, UAE is one of the top names among credit card users around the world. 

It is a point of common knowledge that most credit cards come with a bunch of exciting benefits that debit and ATM cards do not. However, the increased number of users, the forever booming banking sector, and the emergence of new competitors have made it so that a lot of banks have come forward to offer exciting new benefits to their customers and roll out special credit cards for each category of users. One of these categories is credit cards for beginners. Although almost all banks offering exceptional offers and deals, it can be hard to choose the best credit card in UAE for beginners. 

Top 7 Credit Card for Beginners in UAE

Listed below are the top picks for the credit cards that are ideally suited for someone who is applying for their first credit card. Browse through to find the best credit card in uae for yourself:

RAK Bank Red Mastercard Credit Card

One of the top options when it comes to the best credit card in UAE for beginners, RAK Bank offers some very fascinating offers on its Red Mastercard Credit Card, explained as follows:

Features and Benefits:

• 1% cashback on spends between AED 1000 – AED 2999
• 1.5% cashback on spends of AED 3000 or more
• Maximum cashback every month – AED 300
• Up to 30% off on restaurant bill payment in over 2000 restaurants across UAE
• 20% off on Careem Ride – Thrice every month across UAE
• Complementary Credit Shield Cover 

Mashreq Smart Saver Titanium Card

Features and Benefits:

• 1% cashback on international and 0.5% cashback on local transactions
• Mashreq Salaam points on each spend
• Up to 8% cashback on spend with selected merchants

ADIB Cashback Visa Platinum Card

Features and Benefits:

• Flat 1% cashback on all transactions – anytime, anywhere
• Free unlimited towing services for your vehicles
• Free roadside assistance at all times
• Access to airport lounges anywhere in the world via Veloce Lounge
• Four supplementary cards for free (no annual fee)
• 100% cash withdrawal limit for users

Minimum Salary Required: AED 5000

Annual Fee: AED 1000 – from second year onwards

ADCB TouchPoints Titanium Credit Card 

Finding the best credit card in UAE is no issue with ADCB TouchPoints Titanium Card in the mix. Following is the list of benefits and features:

Features and Benefits:

• 0.5 TouchPoint for every Dhiram spent on the credit card 
• Additional 5000 TouchPoints on completing a spend of AED 5000 in a single month
• Up to 25% off on Dining in over 1400 restaurants across UAE
• Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Vox Cinema movie tickets (2 tickets per months)
• Unlimited complimentary access to airport lounges
• Service of personal chauffeur on Careem rides

Minimum Salary Required: AED 8000

Annual Fee: AED 0

ADIB Value+ Card

Features and Benefits:

• 1 reward point on every Dhiram spent locally and 2 rewards on every Dhiram spend internationally
• Reward points are redeemable against flight tickets as discounts
• Up to 25% off on dining in selected restaurants across UAE

Minimum Salary Required: AED 5000

Annual Fee: AED 0

FAB Platinum Visa Credit card

Features and Benefits:

• 4 movie tickets from Reel Cinemas, Oscar Cinema, and Cine Royal at a flat rate of AED 15 on weekdays and AED 20 on weekends. 
• Buy 1 Get 1 Free on movie tickets from Vox cinema
• Up to 10% cashback on online shopping sites globally 
• 2 free airport travel transfers every year from the bank
• Free access to lounges in 25+ airports around the world
• 3 FAB reward points on each Dhiram spent

Minimum Salary Required: AED 8000

Annual Fee: AED 0

FAB Standard Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• 2.5 FAB reward points on each Dhiram spent
• Up to 10% off/cashback on online shopping platforms globally

Minimum Salary Required: AED 5000

Annual Fee: AED 0

Check key Benefits, Annual Fee & Minimum Salary of  Best Credit Cards for Beginners

Tips for Choosing Your First Credit Card and Using it Right

There is always a right way to do something and the same applies when you are trying to select your first credit card. As evident, every bank offers something different or a combination of a few different things which can make it confusing to select a card for yourself if it is your first time. The best way to do it is to keep tabs on a few important things when you are in the process of selecting to find the best credit card in UAE for yourself. Following are some tips and tricks that can come in handy:

Check out the Benefits of Credit Card in UAE 

The first thing that will grab your attention in case of any card at all is the list of benefits that it comes with. To make sure that you do not get swayed by just anything that you lay your eyes upon, try and make a mental (or actual) list of benefits that you would be able to use when you have a credit card. If you are someone who doesn’t really go to watch movies in theatres then a card offering a discount on movie tickets as a benefit won’t be the best for you. Opt for a credit card that offers benefits on the store or online purchases if you plan to use it for shopping mostly or get one with free lounge benefits if you travel a lot via airplanes. This is the perfect way to find the best credit card in UAE for yourself.

Find out the Minimum Salary Required

Each credit card has a minimum salary requirement, even the ones that are offered by the same bank. This requirement generally depends on the level of the card, the maximum spent limit on the card, and the benefits it offers. It simply means that the applicant must have at least the minimum required salary. This way bank has the surety that the user will be able to pay back the card in due time. 

Look for any Annual or Hidden Fee

Many credit cards in UAE come with an annual fee that is charged to the cardholder every year. There is another term that you may come across – enrolment fee. This generally refers to the fee that you have to in the beginning when applying for the credit card and not every coming year. Make sure that you have asked the bank or researched on the website for this fee beforehand so that it doesn’t pop up as a surprise later on. 

Keep Tabs on the Credit Limit 

A credit limit is the maximum amount of money that you can charge your credit card for. For example, if the credit limit of your credit card is AED 20,000, you will not be able to buy something that costs even AED 20,001 using the credit card. Make sure that the credit limit on your credit card is according to your needs. It is advisable to not go with credit cards that are too high on the credit limit department so that you can keep a stronghold on your spending and not go overboard. 

Know the Minimum Due Limit for Each Month

Your bank will give you a minimum set amount for each month that has been paid before the set payment deadline. The total amount due for the month, the minimum amount due, and the payment deadline are always mentioned on your monthly credit card statement. The minimum amount is the least that you need to pay to avoid action from the bank against you. Although it is always advisable to pay the whole due amount for each month to keep a good credit Score. 

Card Usage Alert

Setting up a card usage alert on your smartphone is a great way to keep your credit card spending in check. Most banks offer this service to their customer via their mobile application. Either check out the app or talk to customer care to set up a text reminder from the bank. 

Conclusion 

As long you are well aware of your needs, choosing the best credit card in UAE for yourself is a piece of cake. Although, always be extra careful with the expenses that you make on your credit card and make sure you pay the due amount in time. Your credit score is affected by these factors and may reflect positively or negatively on you if you apply for a loan in the future or another credit card.