Perkly Card Index · August 2026 · Most popular
The 10 most popular credit cards in the UAE: August 2026
Ranked by what people did, not what banks advertise: applications, Apply clicks and card page visits on Perkly in August.
By the Perkly research team · Published · Updated · Covers August 2026 · Card details checked 19 September 2026
Based on Perkly data for August 2026: more than 500 card searches, and the card pages, Apply clicks and applications that followed, on perkly.ae between 1 and 31 August 2026. Card fees, rates and offers on this page update live from Perkly’s card database.
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Every month the Perkly Card Index looks at which credit cards UAE residents actually chose on Perkly: the cards they applied for, started applying for, clicked Apply on and read about. In August that was more than 500 card searches, and the picture is clear. Cashback won, and within cashback, cards that reward food and groceries won.
Seven of the top 10 have no annual fee or a fee under AED 1,000. The two travel cards that made the list are both built around Emirates Skywards. Below is each card, why people chose it and, just as important, the conditions that decide whether it would pay off for you.
Apply for the top picks
- #1Emirates NBD noon One Visa Credit CardNo annual fee · salary from AED 5,000
- #3Emirates NBD Duo Credit CardAED 840 a year · salary from AED 12,000
- #4Emirates Islamic Skywards Black StandardAED 2,100 a year · salary from AED 35,000
How this list is made. The order comes from Perkly’s own data and nothing else. No bank pays to appear here, and no placement on this page can be bought. If you apply through Perkly and a bank issues your card, Perkly may earn a referral fee, which never changes the order or the figures you see.
Annual fee
Free
Min. salary
AED 5,000
Rewards in
noon Credits
Top rate
20% dining & food (partner only)
Top rates apply only within the noon ecosystem: 20% on noon Food, 10% on NowNow grocery, 5% on noon, noon Minutes, Namshi and supermall. Most other spend earns 1%, but supermarkets, fast food, telecom, utilities, government, education and real estate paid outside noon earn 0.30%. noon Credits can only be spent on noon.
The noon One card drew more Apply clicks than any other card on Perkly in August and had the joint second most visited card page. It has no annual fee and pays in noon Credits worth AED 1 each: 20% back on noon Food, 10% on NowNow groceries and 5% on noon, Namshi and supermall, capped at AED 2,000 a month.
Those rates apply only inside the noon ecosystem. Most other spend earns 1%, but supermarkets, fast food, bills, education and telecom paid outside noon earn just 0.3%, and noon Credits can only be spent on noon. The card is only as good as your noon habit.
Best for: People who already order food and groceries through noon several times a week.
- Earn 20% back on noon Food, 10% on NowNow, 5% on noon, Namshi and supermall, 1% elsewhere (capped at AED 2,000/month)
- Free noon One membership for year one, then 50% off annually
- Buy 1 Get 1 on up to 3 Reel Cinemas tickets a month (min AED 3,500 spend)
Current welcome offer: Earn AED 500 cashback as a welcome bonus
- Apply clicks:
- #1 of all cards
- Applications:
- #2
- Page visits:
- Joint #2
Mawarid Finance Platinum Credit Card
Not available through Perkly at the moment. It earned this place in the month this article covers, so it stays on the list, but you cannot apply for it here at present.
Emirates NBD Duo Credit Card
Cashback · Abu Dhabi residents only
Annual fee
AED 840
Min. salary
AED 12,000
Rewards in
Plus Points
Top rate
5% retail
Emirates NBD's Duo pays 5% in Plus Points on groceries, electronics, utilities, education and fuel in any month you spend at least AED 5,000 on the card, and 1.5% in those categories if you don't. Other spend earns 0.5%, and rewards are capped at 500 Plus Points a statement. Plus Points are worth AED 0.75 each as a credit to your card bill (AED 1 in store), so the 5% is 3.75% if you take it as cash.
The Duo is not a free card: it costs AED 840 a year plus an AED 840 joining fee, and needs a salary of AED 12,000. Emirates NBD offers it only to Abu Dhabi residents ("Exclusive for Abu Dhabi residents"), with the annual fee currently waived.
Best for: Salaried households that put AED 5,000 or more a month on bills, school fees and groceries.
- Earn 5% Plus Points on groceries, electronics, utilities, education and fuel (min. AED 5,000/month spend; 1.5% if not met), 0.5% on other spend
- Complimentary airport lounge access: 25+ lounges via Mastercard, 1,900+ lounges via Diners Club
- BOGO cinema at Cine Royal (up to 3 free tickets/month) and complimentary access to 6 UAE golf courses
Current welcome offer: No annual fees for Abu Dhabi residents, limited-time offer
- Apply clicks:
- Joint #2
- Applications:
- Joint #3
- Page visits:
- #7
Annual fee
AED 2,100
Min. salary
AED 35,000
Rewards in
Skywards Miles
Top rate
10.77% travel (partner only)
The top travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai spend in AED booked directly with the airline. Travel agent bookings and other travel spend earn a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.
Emirates Islamic's Skywards Black Standard was the only Emirates Skywards card to receive an application through Perkly in August. It earns 3.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates and flydubai bookings made directly with the airline, 2 Miles per USD on foreign spend and 1.5 on local spend, and comes with complimentary Skywards Silver.
It is a card for higher earners: the annual fee is AED 2,100 and the minimum salary AED 35,000 a month.
Best for: Frequent Emirates flyers who want Silver status from day one.
- Earn 3.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates or flydubai, 2 per USD on foreign spend
- Complimentary Skywards Silver: priority check-in and boarding, 30% bonus Miles, 12kg extra baggage, Dubai Business lounge
- 1 free airport lounge visit a year (1,200+ lounges via Visa Airport Companion) plus 4 airport transfers a year
- Applications:
- Joint #3
- Apply clicks:
- Joint #5
CBD One Credit Card
Cashback
Annual fee
Free
Min. salary
AED 5,000
Rewards in
Cashback
Top rate
100% travel (partner only)
Cashback is 100% of your spend at the selected-merchant list (subscriptions, food delivery, cinemas, ride-hailing, travel and more), capped at a combined AED 135 per month and requiring AED 5,000 minimum monthly spend. All spend outside the selected merchants earns nothing.
The CBD One works differently from most cashback cards. It pays back 100% of what you spend at a list of selected merchants, including noon, Amazon, Uber, Zomato, Netflix and Starbucks, up to a combined AED 135 a month. Spend anywhere else earns nothing.
The cashback only unlocks in a month in which you spend at least AED 5,000 on the card. There is no annual fee. It includes 8 airport lounge visits a year: the first is free, and each later visit needs an international purchase on the card first.
Best for: People who spend AED 5,000 a month anyway and use several of the listed apps and subscriptions.
- Up to AED 135/month cashback at noon, Amazon, Uber, Zomato, Netflix, Starbucks and more
- No annual fee, but AED 5,000 monthly spend required to unlock the cashback
- 8 airport lounge visits a year (1,000+ lounges) via Visa Airport Companion, plus USD 500,000 travel insurance
Current welcome offer: 0% interest on Cash on Call and Balance Transfer plans for new customers
Expected offer expiry: December 2026
- Applications:
- Joint #3
- Apply clicks:
- Joint #5
Mawarid Finance World Elite Credit Card
Not available through Perkly at the moment. It earned this place in the month this article covers, so it stays on the list, but you cannot apply for it here at present.
FAB Cashback Credit Card
Cashback
Annual fee
AED 315
Min. salary
AED 5,000
Rewards in
FAB Rewards
Top rate
5% supermarket
FAB's Cashback card pays 5% on supermarkets, clothing stores and dining, each capped at AED 150 a month, 3% on international spend and 1% on most other spend, including fuel, as long as you spent at least AED 3,000 the month before. The annual fee is AED 315 and the card includes 8 complimentary lounge visits a year.
Best for: Shoppers who spread their spend across groceries, clothes and restaurants.
- Earn 5% cashback on supermarkets, clothing and dining (AED, cap AED 150 each/month), 3% on foreign spend
- 8 airport lounge visits a year for cardholder, 6 for a guest, plus 1 free airport transfer
- 4 cinema tickets a month at AED 20 (Reel, Cine Royal, Star Cinemas) and AED 40 off Carrefour online monthly
- Applications:
- Joint #3
NBF Islamic Platinum Credit Card
Cashback · Islamic
Annual fee
Free
Min. salary
AED 9,000
Rewards in
Cashback
Top rate
10% dining & food
NBF Islamic's Platinum card's headline reward is 10% cashback on dining at restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets, capped at AED 150 a billing cycle. Transactions must be AED 25 or more and made directly with the restaurant, so orders through third-party delivery apps do not count. The card is free for life.
Best for: Regular diners who pay the restaurant directly rather than through a delivery app.
- 10% cashback on dining (capped at AED 150 per billing cycle, min AED 25 per transaction)
- NBF Rewards points redeemable for gift cards, Etihad Guest Miles or instant cashback
- Shariah-compliant Murabaha structure with 2 free supplementary cards included
- Apply clicks:
- #4 of all cards
ADIB Emirates Skywards Infinite
Travel · Islamic
Annual fee
AED 4,725
Min. salary
AED 25,000
Rewards in
Skywards Miles
Top rate
9.21% travel (partner only)
The top travel earn rate applies only to spend with Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays. Other travel spend earns a lower standard rate.
ADIB's Emirates Skywards Infinite had the joint second most visited card page on Perkly in August. It earns 3 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays, 2 on foreign spend and 1.5 on local spend, with complimentary Skywards Silver, lounge access for you and a guest, and 4 airport transfers a year.
At AED 4,725 a year with the fast track to Skywards Gold (AED 2,625 without it) it is one of the most expensive cards in the UAE, so the lifestyle benefits need to be used to earn their keep.
Best for: Heavy Emirates flyers who will use the lounge, transfer and golf benefits.
- Earn 3 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays, 2 on foreign spend, 1.5 on local
- Complimentary Skywards Silver, fast-track to Gold on USD 5,000 Emirates spend, valid 12 months
- Unlimited lounge access for cardholder and 1 guest (1,000+ lounges) plus 4 airport transfers a year
Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Emirates Skywards Miles
- Page visits:
- Joint #2
Annual fee
AED 735
Min. salary
AED 21,250
Rewards in
Membership Rewards Points
Top rate
2.82% travel
Not to be confused with Amex's charge-card Platinum, the American Express Platinum Credit Card was the most popular points card of the month. It earns 1 Membership Rewards point per AED 2, transferable to 14 airline and 3 hotel partners, with 12 Priority Pass lounge visits a year for the main cardholder (a guest uses one of the 12) and 10% cashback on dining worth up to AED 50 a month in months you spend AED 4,000. The annual fee is AED 735.
Best for: People who want flexible points they can move between several airlines.
- Earn 1 Membership Rewards Point per AED 2 spent, transferable to 14 airline and 3 hotel partners
- 12 Priority Pass lounge visits a year (basic card) plus 8 visits a year for 1 supplementary cardmember, guests included in allowance
- 10% dining cashback up to AED 600 a year, plus AED 75 monthly grocery credit up to AED 900 a year
Current welcome offer: Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome offer
- Apply clicks:
- Joint #5
- Page visits:
- Joint #7
Side by side
Live figures from Perkly’s card database. Earn rates are the value you get back per AED spent, after converting miles or points to dirhams.
| Card | Annual fee | Min. salary | Top rate | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1Emirates NBD noon One Visa Credit Card | Free | AED 5,000 | 20%* | Yes |
| #3Emirates NBD Duo Credit Card | AED 840 | AED 12,000 | 5% | Yes |
| #4Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Standard | AED 2,100 | AED 35,000 | 10.77%* | None right now |
| #5CBD One Credit Card | Free | AED 5,000 | 100%* | Yes |
| #7FAB Cashback Credit Card | AED 315 | AED 5,000 | 5% | None right now |
| #8NBF Islamic Platinum Credit Card | Free | AED 9,000 | 10% | None right now |
| #9ADIB Emirates Skywards Infinite | AED 4,725 | AED 25,000 | 9.21%* | Yes |
| #10American Express Platinum Credit Card | AED 735 | AED 21,250 | 2.82% | Yes |
* Applies only at the card’s partner merchants or airline; other spend earns less. A number missing from the list is a card that cannot be applied for through Perkly at the moment.
What August's list tells us
Food and groceries decide the cashback race. The top two cards, and most of the top ten, pay their best rates on dining, food delivery or supermarkets. That matches what people told the Perkly wizard: dining and groceries are among the biggest monthly card spends we see.
Free cards dominate, but not exclusively. noon One, Mawarid Platinum, CBD One and NBF Islamic Platinum charge no annual fee. The Duo and the Skywards cards show that people will pay a fee when the rewards clearly beat it.
Skywards beats Etihad. Emirates Skywards cards drew far more interest than Etihad Guest cards in August, and no Etihad card received an application. See our Emirates Skywards and Etihad Guest lists for the detail.
Read the conditions before the headline rate
Three conditions separate a card that looks good from one that pays off:
- Partner-only rates. noon One's 20%, the talabat card's 35% and CBD One's 100% apply only at named merchants. If you don't shop there, the card earns its base rate or nothing.
- Monthly caps. Mawarid Platinum's 10% on groceries stops paying once you have earned AED 250 in a month, which happens at AED 2,500 of grocery spend.
- Minimum spend. The Duo's 5% needs AED 5,000 a month, CBD One's cashback needs AED 5,000 and FAB Cashback needs AED 3,000 spent the month before. Below those levels the card earns much less, or nothing.
The Perkly wizard works out each card's return on your own spending after fees and caps, and flags partner-only rates and minimum-spend conditions beside every card, so check those flags before you apply.
How we built this list
This list is built from what people did on Perkly between 1 and 31 August 2026, not from what banks advertise and not from payments: no bank can pay to appear here or to move up. We count four things per card, and each visit counts once, at the furthest point it reached: an application submitted through Perkly, an application started, a click on Apply now, and a visit to the card's page. Each is weighted by how far it went: an application counts 10, a started application 5, a click on Apply now 3 and a page visit 1, and the list is ordered by the total. So a card many people explored closely can sit above one with a single application, and the signal shown beside each card is its strongest one, not the whole picture.
The data covers more than 500 card searches in August. Our own testing is excluded, and visitors who opted out of analytics are not counted. At this scale a single application can move a card several places, so read the order as "what people gravitated to", not as a precise league table. We publish ranks rather than raw counts for the same reason.
Card details in the text were checked on 19 September 2026 against Perkly's card data, which was reviewed against each bank's own documents between 15 and 19 September 2026. The fees, earn rates and welcome offers shown in each card panel are live from Perkly's card database, so they stay current after this article was written. Always confirm the final terms with the bank before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What was the most popular credit card in the UAE in August 2026?
On Perkly, Emirates NBD's noon One Visa Credit Card drew the most Apply clicks in August 2026, and Mawarid Finance's Platinum Credit Card received the most applications. Emirates NBD's Duo was third. Mawarid's cards are not available through Perkly at the moment.
What is the best credit card in the UAE?
It depends on your salary and where you spend. A card paying 10% on groceries beats a 1% card only if you spend enough on groceries and stay under its cap. The Perkly wizard ranks every card Perkly tracks by the value it would return on your own spending, in about 2 minutes.
Which free credit card was most popular in August 2026?
noon One and the Mawarid Platinum, both with no annual fee, were the two most popular cards overall. CBD One and NBF Islamic Platinum, also free, were in the top 10. Mawarid's cards are not available through Perkly at the moment.
How often is this list updated?
Every month. Each edition of the Perkly Card Index covers one calendar month of activity on Perkly and is published early the following month. Card details on every page update automatically from Perkly's card database.
Is one of these your best card?
Popular is not the same as right for you. Tell Perkly your salary and how you spend and it ranks every card in the UAE for you, or talk your options through with Perkly Chat.
The August 2026 series
16 articles, each on August 2026 data.
- 1Best cashback credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 2Best travel credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 3Best Emirates Skywards credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 4Best Etihad Guest credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 5The 10 most popular credit cards in the UAE: August 2026You are reading thisYou are reading this
- 6Best rewards credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 7Best no annual fee credit cards in the UAE: August 202619 September 202619 September 2026
- 8Best Islamic credit cards in the UAE: August 202620 September 202620 September 2026
- 9How the UAE chose credit cards in August 202621 September 202621 September 2026
- 10The best credit cards for an AED 5,000 salary in the UAE, August 202622 September 202622 September 2026
- 11The best credit cards for an AED 10,000 salary in the UAE, August 202623 September 202623 September 2026
- 12The best credit cards for an AED 15,000 salary in the UAE, August 202624 September 202624 September 2026
- 13The best credit cards for an AED 20,000 salary in the UAE, August 202625 September 202625 September 2026
- 14The best credit cards for an AED 25,000 salary in the UAE, August 202626 September 202626 September 2026
- 15The best credit cards for an AED 30,000 salary in the UAE, August 202627 September 202627 September 2026
- 16The best credit cards for an AED 50,000+ salary in the UAE, August 202628 September 202628 September 2026
More from August 2026
Best cashback credit cards in the UAE: August 2026
The 8 cashback cards Perkly users applied for, clicked and read about most in August, and the conditions that decide what each one really pays.
Read the list →
Best travel credit cards in the UAE: August 2026
Airline cards, travel cashback and flexible points: the 8 travel cards Perkly users were most interested in during August.
Read the list →
Best Emirates Skywards credit cards in the UAE: August 2026
Seven Skywards co-brand cards from three banks, ordered by the interest Perkly users showed in August, with what each one earns and costs.
Read the list →
Best Etihad Guest credit cards in the UAE: August 2026
Five Etihad Guest cards from three banks, ordered by the interest Perkly users showed in August, with what each earns and costs.
Read the list →
- August 2026
- Most popular
- Cashback
- Travel
- Rewards