In the UAE, the school fees often start from AED 9,000 per year and go up to AED 120,000 (for the leading international schools). If you have more than one child, the costs can shoot up even more. This is where a good, reliable credit card can be helpful. The cards can ease the financial burden while offering benefits such as cashback, rewards, easy payment plans, and discounts. When you find the right card that can maximise rewards and simplify payments, it becomes an essential tool for budgeting education costs. ...read more
If you are looking for the best credit card for education fees payment, we have jotted down major options for you.
Credit Cards
Annual Fee
Minimum Monthly Salary
Education Cashback/Rewards
Suitable For
Apply
FAB GEMS World Credit Card
AED 399
AED 8,000
Up to 3% discount on GEMS school fee payments Up to 10% cashback on other school-related expenses 0% easy payment plans for up to 12 months on GEMS fees Education protection coverage of up to AED 500,000 per child
*Disclaimer - The card types available may vary based on your minimum monthly income and eligibility.
Education Credit Card in UAE: An Overview
A credit card for education is a cashback or reward-based card that offers benefits upon paying school fees, tuition expenses, and other education-related expenses like books, uniforms, and academic services.
How Does a Credit Card for Education Fees Reduce Tuition Costs?
Usually, there are education cashback credit cards in the UAE. It means that most cashback credit cards offer rewards on Dirhams spent on school fees. Apart from rewards like cashback, some cards also offer —
0% Easy Payment Plans
Co-branded school cards (like FAB GEMS World Credit Card)
Discount on school fee payments
Points redemption to pay for tuition
This smoothens the expenses. Here’s an example -
Say you are a parent who needs to pay AED 30,000 as your child's annual school fee. With a credit card for education fees, you can get -
If you are an EMI user, you can opt for 0% interest instalment plan on the card for a better cash flow.
Which Credit Card for Education Fees Suits Your Family?
With multiple cards for education fees available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. To help you out, we have broken down what family should opt for which type of card.
BUDGET-CONSCIOUS FAMILIES
No annual fee credit cards
Education cash back credit cards
Cards with lower reward caps but predictable returns
HIGH-SPENDING HOUSEHOLDS
Premium cards
Higher caps
Cards with broader cashback/reward categories
Eligibility Criteria to Apply for the Best Card for Education Payment
Eligibility requirements vary by the issuing bank’s risk assessment policies and credit Score criteria. You need to fulfill the following eligibility criteria to apply for credit card for education payments —
Minimum Monthly Salary - While the income may vary based on the credit card you opt for, the minimum monthly salary for a basic card is AED 5,000
Residency - UAE nationals and expatriates
Stable employment history
Acceptable credit score
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using a Credit Card for Education Fees
If you strategically use your credit card for education fees, you can earn rewards. However, impractical use can lead to financial restraints. That being said, here are some common mistakes to avoid when using your card for education fees.
Paying only the minimum balance due
Ignoring convenience fees
Maxing out on your credit limit
Missing the payment deadlines
Treating the credit card funds as free money
Ignoring credit card interest rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do private schools and international school payments qualify for cashback?
Ans: Yes, if the card offers cashback on education, these payments qualify.
Q2: Can supplementary card spending earn education rewards?
Ans: Often, yes. However, the total rewards are credited to the primary cardholder.
Q3: Do all school fee payments earn cashback or rewards?
Ans: No, rewards apply only if your card has education as a payment category.
Q4: Is it better to use a credit card or a direct transfer for school fees?
Ans: It is better to use a credit card if it has school fees as a reward-centric payment category, or you pay your balance in full before the due date.
Q5: Which is the best education credit card?
Ans: There is no one best credit card for educational expenses. But you can find the right card based on whether you are a GEMS school parent, cashback seeker, high-spending family, or EMI user.
Q6: Do schools in UAE charge extra fees for credit card payments?
Ans: Most schools do not impose an additional fee if you pay the education fees using a credit card.
Q7: Do UAE credit cards offer rewards on school fees?
Ans: Yes, several credit cards in the UAE offer cashback or rewards on education spending, depending on the merchant category codes and reward caps.
Tanvi is a finance content writer and editor who works on curating factually correct and user centric copies for credit cards, and other banking products. With around 4 years of industry experience with Paisabazaar.ae, she has been focused on making sure that the content produced helps you make smart financial decisions. Her objective is to ensure accuracy, transparency, and credibility.
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