Credit cards for new UAE residents and expats (October 2026)
New to the UAE? What banks ask for, the cards with the lowest minimum salary, and 16 cards with no annual fee for a salary of AED 5,000 or less.
Getting your first UAE credit card is mostly about paperwork and salary. This page covers what banks usually ask for, then the cards in our catalogue with the lowest stated minimum salary.
What banks usually ask for
- Residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Proof of salary: a salary certificate from your employer, recent payslips or UAE bank statements.
- A UAE bank account, often at the same bank, and sometimes a salary transfer.
- A minimum monthly salary, which each card states. It’s where eligibility starts, not a promise of approval.
Cards with the lowest minimum salary
| Card | Min. salary |
|---|---|
| 1. Emirates Islamic RTA Credit Card Annual fee: No fee | AED 3,000 |
| 2. ADCB LuLu Platinum Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 3. ADCB LuLu Titanium Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 4. Mashreq Cashback Card Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 5. Al Hilal Bank Cashback Credit Card Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 6. Commercial Bank of Dubai CBD ONE Card Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 7. Citibank Citi Simplicity Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 8. Emirates NBD Darna Select Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 9. ADCB Essential Cashback Credit Card Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
| 10. Liv Tamayaz Platinum Annual fee: No fee | AED 5,000 |
16 cards have no annual fee and ask for AED 5,000 a month or less, so a first card doesn’t have to cost anything: see credit cards for a AED 5,000 salary.
Picking your first card
- Start with a card you’re likely to be approved for, ideally at the bank that pays your salary.
- Prefer no annual fee while you find out how you spend in the UAE.
- Choose the reward type you’ll use: cashback, points or miles.
- Pay the full balance every month. It builds your credit record and avoids charges.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a credit card as soon as I move to the UAE?
Usually once you have a residence visa, an Emirates ID and a job paying a UAE salary. Many banks also ask for a salary certificate or a few months of UAE bank statements, so it can take a few weeks after you start work. Each bank sets its own rules.
I have no UAE credit history. Is that a problem?
Everyone starts with an empty record at the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB). It doesn’t stop you applying; paying every bill on time is what builds it. Your bank account and salary matter more at first.
What is the lowest salary a UAE credit card asks for?
Among cards that state a minimum, the lowest is AED 3,000 a month (Emirates Islamic RTA Credit Card). Meeting the minimum doesn’t guarantee approval.
Do I need to transfer my salary to the bank?
Some banks ask for it on some cards, and it can lower the salary they accept. We don’t record this for every card yet, so check the bank’s eligibility page. Opening your salary account and your first card at the same bank is often the easiest route.
Keep going
- Credit cards for a AED 5,000 salary
- No annual fee credit cards
- Card Match: tell us how you spend and see which card pays you most
- The CardMax app: the best of your own cards at every shop
Figures come from the CardMax catalogue of 114 UAE credit cards, taken from each bank’s published terms and checked up to 25 Oct 2026. They update automatically whenever the catalogue changes. Terms change often, so confirm on the bank’s site before you apply. How we rank.