Virtual Credit Cards

Virtual credit cards in the UAE are issued entirely in digital form, without a physical plastic card, and are mainly used for secure online payments. They are typically accessed through a bank’s mobile or online banking platform after approval. A virtual credit card includes a card number, expiry ...read more

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Table of Content

Understanding Virtual Credit Cards
How Do Virtual Credit Cards Function?
Virtual Credit Cards vs. Digital Credit Cards
Benefits of Using a Virtual Credit Card
FAQs

Understanding Virtual Credit Cards

A virtual card credit card is an electronically issued credit card linked to a bank-approved credit limit or an authorised credit facility. Unlike physical cards, virtual credit cards exist only in digital format and are mainly intended for online use.

Virtual credit cards can be used for:

Online shopping
E-commerce transactions
Online subscriptions and digital services

Some virtual credit cards, depending on the issuer, can be added to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, allowing contactless payments where supported. Through the mobile app, users can manage spending limits, monitor transactions, and suspend or cancel their card credit virtual instantly.

How Do Virtual Credit Cards Function?

To use virtual credit cards in the UAE, you must request one from a bank or authorised provider. Once approved, the virtual card is issued digitally and becomes available through the provider’s app or online portal.

Virtual credit cards are primarily used by entering card details during online checkout. They do not work at physical POS terminals unless added to a supported digital wallet, and the merchant accepts contactless payments.

Many virtual credit cards also function as temporary credit cards, generating a unique card number for single transactions. Others are reusable until expiry or cancellation.

This temporary structure significantly reduces fraud risk if card details are exposed. Some providers may offer a free virtual credit card with limited features, usually linked to an existing account or offered as a basic or promotional option.

Virtual Credit Cards vs. Digital Credit Cards

Although often confused, virtual credit cards and digital credit cards are different.

Virtual Credit Card	Digital Credit Card
Issued entirely in digital form without a physical card	Digital version of an existing physical credit card
Designed mainly for online transactions	Used for online and contactless payments
Can be single-use or reusable temporary credit cards	Uses the same card details as the physical card
Offers higher control through temporary card numbers	Relies on tokenisation for security

Benefits of Using a Virtual Credit Card

Using virtual credit cards offers several advantages:

Enhanced Security

Virtual credit cards often use masked or temporary card numbers, protecting your primary credit card details.

Instant Access:

Once approved, a virtual card credit card can be used immediately without waiting for physical delivery.

Easy Control:

Users can instantly freeze, suspend, or cancel their card credit through the mobile app.

Ideal for Online Spending:

Temporary credit cards are especially useful for subscriptions, one-time purchases, and international online transactions.

FAQs

Ans: Yes, there are virtual credit cards in the UAE. They are offered by some of the top banks in the country, like Liv Bank, Emirates Islamic, and HSBC.

Ans: Yes, it is actually safer to use a virtual credit card in some cases because it is easier to suspend a virtual credit card. Some virtual cards hide your sensitive information, like your card number, with a temporary account number.

Ans: You can use a virtual credit card most easily to make payments online by entering the card details at any e-commerce checkout section and making the payment.