It’s no secret the UAE is a nation obsessed with travel – be it back to residents’ homelands, escaping the summer heat, enjoying one of the many public holidays or making the most of its position in the centre of the world – not to mention its award-winning airlines and airports. A travel credit card is a fantastic way to earn points on day-to-day purchases and use them towards free hotel stays and flights or room or cabin class upgrades, all while enjoying perks like lounge access, valet service, discounts and complimentary golf.

From cards with 50% off beach and pool days to free hotel nights every year, here are the best travel credit cards in the UAE in 2025.

Top travel credit cards in the UAE

HSBC Emirates Skywards Infinite Credit Card

Cost per year: AED2,625
Minimum salary requirement: AED30,750
Apply now: hsbc.ae

As one of the newest Emirates Skywards credit cards on the market, HSBC Emirates Skywards Infinite Credit Card is offering a fantastic 50,000 bonus miles when joining (20,000 on payment of the annual fee and a further 30,000 when spending AED50,000 in 60 days). Customers can earn up to 2.75 Skywards Miles per US$1 spent, one of the highest rates around, plus they get instant Silver status – meaning a better chance of upgrades, use of the business class lounges, 12kg extra checked-in luggage allowance and use of the priority counters, to name a few perks. Perks also include a complimentary Careem Plus subscription for one year, three complimentary premium UAE beach club visits a year, 1GB free roaming data, 8% off booking.com, best hotel rates and so many other perks – making it perfect for travellers.

Marriott Bonvoy World Mastercard from Emirates NBD

Cost per year: AED315 (AED315 joining fee)
Minimum salary requirement: AED12,000
Apply now: emiratesnbd.com

The Marriott Bonvoy World Mastercard from Emirates NBD is a great entry-level travel credit card for those wanting to accumulate points, without needing a host of extras and not wanting to pay a large fee. The attractive white card gives the cardholder up to 3 points per US$1 spent, with an incentive to earn up to two free nights when spendingUS$6,000 or more in the first three months of cardmembership. There are no other perks, but for the fee, it’s a great option without a a big commitment.

Marriott Bonvoy World Elite Mastercard from Emirates NBD

Cost per year: AED1,575
Minimum salary requirement: AED25,000
Apply now: emiratesnbd.com

Another one of the best credit cards in the UAE for travellers and hotel lovers is Emirates NBD’s Marriott Bonvoy World Mastercard, allowing cardholders access to Marriott’s incredible global portfolio of properties – which includes brands like EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, St Regis and JW Marriott. The card allows holders to earn up to 150,000 bonus points, enjoy free night stays at more than 8,100 hotels worldwide and enjoy room upgrades, free flights, VIP experiences and more. Holders of this UAE credit card will be automatically upgraded to Marriot Bonvoy Gold Elite status – which gives a multitude of benefits like 25% more points, room upgrades and 2pm late check out – and have VIP access to Marriott Bonvoy moments and receive one free night’s hotel stay when renewing their card. Airport lounge access to more than 1,000 cities in 300 countries, complimentary UAE golf across, the chance to transfer points to over 40 airlines and 6 points per US$1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy are all top perks of this UAE credit card.

ALL – ADCB Signature Credit Card

Cost per year: AED1,050
Minimum salary requirement: AED20,000
Apply now: adcb.com

Launched in 2022, ADCB’s ALL Signature Credit Card was highly anticipated, giving users a chance to earn coveted points to use at one of the region’s most prolific and dynamic hotel groups, Accor. Partnering with Accor’s loyalty programme, ALL, the credit card allows you to acquire points to redeem on hotel stays, along with getting automatic discounts just for being a card member. This includes 50% off beach, pool and gym passes at select Accor hotels in the UAE, 35% off all-inclusive beach access at select Rixos resorts in the UAE, 25% off spa treatments at UAE Accor hotels and fast-track upgrade to Gold status, and $50 f&b credit and late check-in and check-out during hotel stays.

A free night’s stay is also awarded to the cardholder after each annual renewal. With Accor brands including Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Rixos, SO/ and M Gallery, this is, perhaps, the best credit card in the UAE for hotel and staycation lovers. Hotel and lifestyle perks aside, the card gives you two reward points per US$ spend at UAE Accor hotels, two reward points per US$ on all international spends and one reward point per US$ on all domestic spend. A special promotion with a 2,5000 bonus rewards point is also available – comprising 7,500 for applying, 10,000 as an introductory offer, and 7,500 when you spend AED20,000 in the first 90 days.

RAKBANK Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard

Cost per year: AED1,499
Minimum salary requirement: AED25,000
Apply now: rakbank.ae

RAKBANK’s Emirates Skywards World Elite Mastercard allows new cardholders to earn up to 20,000 bonus Skywards Miles and 40,000 Skywards points per month. The card launched in 2021 and is one of the newer co-branded Emirates Skywards credit cards around, which means its perks are incredibly attractive. 

Top perks include an automatic upgrade to Emirates Skywards Silver tier status (and a fast-track to Gold by moving AED 500,000 into a RAKBANK Emirates Skywards Savings Account (more than AED 500,000 deposited will also earn Skywards Miles). Cardholders will also get unlimited access for themselves and one guest per visit to over 1,000 airport lounges across the world – 450 cities and 135 countries. 

Cardholders will also be enrolled in GHA’s Discovery Titanium Membership which grants access to exclusive benefits across the world, including guaranteed room availability for bookings up to 48 hours before arrival, room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out. Other perks include complimentary airport pick up and drop off, cinema tickets and discounts, hotel discounts and many more. A supplementary credit card is also available for AED999 annually with Silver tier membership and AED200 without.

Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Inspire Credit Card

Annual fee: AED727
Minimum monthly salary: AED15,000
Get it now: emiratesnbd.com

An affordable and hard-working Etihad Guest credit card, Emirates NBD’s Inspire card gives you up to 60,000 in bonus miles throughout the year (along with a 40,000 welcome bonus if hitting the card’s spending requirements). Cardholders will earn up to seven Etihad Guest Miles for every AED10 spent and have fast-track to Silver Tier upon completing one return flight with Etihad. Other perks include 10% back on purchases made with Etihad Airways (flights, extras, upgrades, in-flight services), and a 25% discount voucher on redeeming miles. Outside of flying, cardholders can enjoy buy-one-get-one-free on movie tickets at Vox Cinemas, complimentary inter-city airport transfers, lounge access to over 1,000 airports and golf and concierge benefits

Alhilal Etihad Guest Signature Credit Card

Annual fee: AED1,050
Minimum monthly salary: AED8,000
Get it now: alhilalbank.ae

Coming in an attractive brushed silver, Alhilal’sEtihad Guest Signature Credit Card is a great fuss-free Etihad Guest credit card with low annual fees and an approachable minimum monthly salary. New cardholders will get 40,000 Etihad Guest miles as a welcome bonus, 5,000 quarterly bonus miles when spending AED37,000 on the card and 20,000-anniversary bonus miles for every subsequent year or subscription on payment of the annual fee.

Points aside, this is a great card for lifestyle, with unlimited airport lounge access and two complimentary airport transfers per year, plus up to 25% back on hotels and restaurants, buy one, get one free on the Entertainer app and a discount at various golf clubs across the world. Fast-track Gold status is also available, with instant Gold status granted when completing two economy return flights or one business class return flight in the first six months of card membership.

HSBC Emirates Skywards Signature Credit Card

Cost per year: AED 1,050
Minimum salary requirement: AED 10,000
Apply now: hsbc.ae

HSBC’s Emirates Skywards Signature Credit Card is the perfect entry-level credit card for frequent travellers who want to collect points, without spending too much on membership fees (and without sky high salary requirements). It’s a great way to gradually increase your Skywards miles – and what’s more, there’s a 20,000 bonus miles offer currently on. Cardholders will earn 1.75 Skyward mile per USD1 equivalent on eligible spend, alongside fast-track to Silver status (meaning complimentary business class lounge access in Dubai and more perks). Other perks include a 12-month Careem Plus membership, complimentary international data roaming and discounts with Vox, Reel and Roxy cinemas, plus airport lounge access.

Read more: The best Emirates Skywards credit cards to apply for now

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