Darna Select Visa Credit Card

A free-for-life Emirates NBD and Aldar card that pays 6.25% back as Darna Points at Aldar destinations such as Yas Mall, 0.75% on most other spending in the UAE and abroad (the EU and the UK included), and less on groceries, fuel and bills, with rewards capped at 25,000 Darna Points (AED 2,500) a month.

No annual fee and no joining fee; free for life. Optional Credit Shield Pro insurance, underwritten by ADNIC, costs 0.99% of the card's outstanding balance a month.

Spending abroad costs at least 3.14% all in: Emirates NBD's 1.99% on non-AED transactions plus about 1.15% charged by Visa, both published by Emirates NBD, plus any mark-up the merchant's acquirer charges, which Emirates NBD does not quantify. Foreign spending outside the lower-rate categories, including spending in the EU and the UK, earns the same 0.75% as other spending outside Aldar destinations; Darna has no reduced EU or UK rate.

Outside Aldar destinations the card earns only 0.75%, and less on groceries, fuel and bills; the 6.25% is only at Aldar destinations such as Yas Mall, Yas Island theme parks and Aldar hotels. This tier has no airport lounge access, roadside assistance, complimentary golf or valet parking, and Perkly has no concierge service on record for it. The cinema offer needs at least AED 5,000 of card spending in the month you use it.