Best Credit Cards for Expats Living in the UAE

High-end luxury cars, expensive outfits, and dining out can have a toll on your budget if one is not careful in using their credit card. However, it is pretty common that a lot of expats opt for credit cards in order to live an extravagant lifestyle, without realizing the fact that every penny spent using the credit will eventually have to be paid back.

Most of the banks and financial institutions offer credit cards with a spending limit that is equivalent to thrice the amount of the applicant’s monthly salary, which appears quite attractive to a lot of users. However, an important point to be kept in consideration is that in order to repay the outstanding debt one needs to work for a couple of months without spending anything which is very difficult in reality.

The right approach for expatriate credit card seekers should be choosing a credit with a manageable limit so that it becomes easier for the user to repay the debts without struggling. If you are wondering which credit card is the right one for you, then you’ve landed at the right place. In this thread, we come up with the best credit cards for expatriates living in the UAE.

Najm Blue Visa Card

The Najm blue visa card is the ultimate companion for your everyday spending. Loaded with a plethora of cashback and purchase offers the card is available at a minimum salary of AED 5000. The best part about this credit card is that there is no annual fee applicable over it and it can be used overseas as well but there will a foreign transaction fee that will be applicable over the transactions. The Najm blue visa credit card offers 2% cashback on all purchases from hypermarket Carrefour and 1% cash back on purchases made from all the other locations. Cardholders are eligible to get a buy-one-get-one offer on movie tickets from VOX cinemas.

ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Platinum Credit Card

ADIB is one of the most popular financial institutions in the UAE that offers Shariah-compliant services to both expats as well as UAE nationals. The ADIB Etihad guest platinum credit card is the ideal choice for frequent travelers as it offers 2.5 airmiles on every 4 AED spent using the card. These airmiles can be later redeemed for Etihad flight tickets. The card comes with a minimum salary requirement of AED 5000 and an annual fee of AED 2000. The card is not just limited to providing airmiles but a wide of offers that include complimentary airport lounge access, valet parking at malls, and roadside assistance to make sure that you always get the help you need.

NBAD Gems Titanium Credit Card

If you are residing in the UAE with your family and you have school-going kids, the NBAD gems titanium credit card is the perfect choice for you. NBAD has partnered with the Gems education group to come up with an innovative product that is designed and developed to provide a staggering discount of 7% on school fees paid in advance at any GEMS school branch all across the UAE. The NBAD gems titanium credit card offers 1.5 NBAD stars for every 1 AED spent. Earned stars can be redeemed later for a variety of lifestyle and travel transactions. The card is available without any annual fee however, there is a late fee of AED 250 that is to be paid in case of late payment. The card can be used overseas, but an overseas transaction fee will be applicable in that case.

RAKBANK Titanium Credit Card

The RAKBANK titanium credit card comes with numerous benefits such as free purchase protection, free travel insurance, along with 3% cashback on domestic purchases made, and 5% cashback on international purchases. The best part about the RAKBANK titanium credit card is that there is no annual fee applicable over the card and comes with a wide array offers on fashion, lifestyle, dining and jewelry.

Mashreq Platinum Elite Card

Mashreq bank is known for its innovative and unique line-up of products that are designed and developed to provide its users with an unparalleled experience. Cardholders get 4 salaam points on every AED spent in the UAE and 10 salaam points on every 1 AED spent overseas. The Mashreq platinum credit card is packed with several offers on shopping, travel, dining, and entertainment. Cardholders get complimentary privileged access to the Al-Badia golf club in Dubai.

In a Nutshell

With these credit cards, you can add a pinch of luxury in your lives and efficiently manage your expenses. Credit card seekers should try and get the card with a manageable limit that can be repaid easily. Expatriates need to clear all their outstanding debts before leaving the country, therefore it becomes important to choose a card that does not add burden over one’s budget.