The 10 most popular credit cards in the UAE: September 2026

Invest Bank's Mastercard Platinum received the joint most applications through Perkly in September and the second most Apply clicks. It pays a flat 3% cashback on spending at home and abroad, up to AED 12,000 of cashback a year, with no categories to choose and no monthly minimum.

It is free in the first year, then AED 500 plus VAT (AED 525) a year, with a minimum salary of AED 5,000 and access to more than 25 regional and international airport lounges. Invest Bank does not publish which spending is excluded from cashback, so Perkly counts bills, rent and school fees at 0% until the bank confirms. Foreign currency spending costs about 4.3% in fees (Invest Bank's 3% plus VAT, and Mastercard's charge of about 1.15%), more than the 3% cashback, so it is not a card to use abroad.

ADIB's Emirates Skywards Infinite rose from #9 in August to #4, with the joint most application starts of any card and an application. It earns 3 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays only, 2 on foreign currency spend and 1.5 on local spend, while supermarkets, fuel, utilities, education and government payments earn 0.25. It comes with complimentary Skywards Silver, a fast track to Gold on USD 5,000 of Emirates spend, lounge access for you and a guest at more than 1,000 lounges, and 4 airport transfers a year.

At AED 4,725 a year including VAT with the Gold fast track (AED 2,625 without it) it is one of the most expensive cards in the UAE, and Emirates lists a monthly income requirement of AED 25,000.

Emirates Islamic's Skywards Black also received an application through Perkly in September. It earns 3.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates and flydubai flights booked directly with the airline in AED, 2 Miles per USD on foreign spend and 1.5 per AED 3.67 on local spend, with Skywards Silver from issuance. Supermarkets, fuel, utilities, education, fast food and several other categories earn 0.30.

The card costs AED 2,100 a year. This listing is the version with Skywards Gold fast-tracked: once you spend USD 5,000 on Emirates flights bought directly within 12 months of getting the card, Gold costs an extra AED 3,675, AED 5,775 a year in all. It needs a salary of AED 35,000 and includes 1 complimentary lounge visit a year.

Emirates NBD's Duo, #3 in August, had the joint second most visited card page in September. It 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: its published fees are AED 840 a year and an AED 840 joining fee, and it needs a salary of AED 12,000. Emirates NBD offers it only to Abu Dhabi residents, with a current offer of no annual fee.

Emirates Islamic's Skywards Infinite, the cheaper sister of the Skywards Black at number 5, also received an application. It earns 2 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates and flydubai flights booked directly in AED, 1.5 Miles per USD on foreign spend outside the EEA and UK, and 1 per AED 3.67 on local spend, with less on groceries (0.5) and on fuel, bills and several other categories. It includes Skywards Silver for 12 months and 1 complimentary lounge visit a year.

The fee is AED 999 (AED 1,048.95 including VAT), waived from the second year if you spend AED 150,000 in the year, and the card needs a salary of AED 25,000.

The Signature is the lower tier of ADIB's Skywards Infinite at number 4, and it also received an application through Perkly in September. It earns 2.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays only, 1.5 on foreign currency spend and 1 on local spend, with 0.25 on supermarkets, fuel, utilities and similar categories.

It includes Skywards Silver for the first year (kept with USD 2,500 of Emirates spend a year), lounge access for the cardholder through the Visa Airport Companion app and 2 airport transfers a year. It costs AED 1,575 a year including VAT, and Emirates lists a monthly income requirement of AED 10,000.

Dubai Islamic Bank's Prime Platinum was the most popular points card of the month, with an application through Perkly. It has no annual fee and earns 2 Wala'a Rewards per AED 1 on general retail spend and 2.2 on foreign currency spend, about 1% and 1.1% at Perkly's value of AED 0.005 a Reward. Supermarkets, fuel, education, telecom, government, transport and real estate earn a reduced 0.2, and spending in European Union countries earns nothing.

It is a Shariah-compliant covered card needing a salary of AED 5,000, with travel and medical cover when you book flights on the card and roadside assistance up to 2 times a year.

The only credit card from Ruya Community Islamic Bank, a digital Islamic bank, also received an application. It pays a flat 2% cashback on eligible retail spending, online or in store and including foreign currency, up to AED 500 a billing cycle, with no minimum spend; utility, telecom and government payments earn nothing.

It is free in the first year, and from the second year the AED 313.95 fee (including VAT) is waived if you spend AED 30,000 in the year. It is a Shariah-compliant covered card applied for in the ruya app, with a minimum salary of AED 5,000.