Top 10 Best Travel Credit Cards in UAE

Who Should Get a Travel Credit Card UAE?

Frequent flyers and UAE expat residents largely depend on travel credit cards. Let’s discuss different buyers’ personas for a better understanding, 

• Frequent Expat Travellers - They need cards with low international transaction fees and high miles accumulation 
• Business Travellers - Look for cards with unlimited airport lounges, hotel loyalty status, and airport transfer
• Airline Loyalists - People who prefer flying in their favourite airline or stay loyal to a particular airline can choose a co-branded travel credit card 
• Family Vacationers - Those who need to focus on hotel discounts, travel insurance, and cashback on travel bookings look for this type of card

How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card in UAE?

To choose the best credit card for air ticket booking, here are some practical tips. 

• Analyse your travel needs - Understand how often you travel and what your requirements are: do you need an Air Miles card, credit cards for flight booking, a cashback credit card, or a card with airport lounge access?
• Review the redemption programs - Make sure the card that you choose is flexible and has an easy-to-use reward redemption program. Always read the fine print and ask about the redemption program upfront. 
• Compare your options - Rather than hopping banks, you can compare the top card options on digital platforms like Paisabazaar.ae. This makes it easier to get a suitable option quickly. 
• Check the travel perks - Look out for benefits like multi-trip travel insurance, airport lounge access, and rewards and miles. Also, compare these benefits against the annual fee you would need to pay. 

To help you choose the right card, we have mentioned the best travel cards in the UAE that cater to everyone — from occasional travellers to frequent flyers.

Best Travel Rewards Cards — A Quick Overview

The table below compares travel credit cards in the UAE based on annual fees, rewards structure, airport lounge access, and other benefits.

For Your Information: The cards above are selected based on —

Lounge access network size and permissible visits
Minimum monthly salary and annual fee vs benefits
Partner airlines

Credit Cards Good for Travel: Categorical Picks

Having discussed the top options, let’s narrow down to the best credit card for travel based on your travel frequency and the number of lounge visits you can get. 

Best Credit Cards for Frequent Travellers

These travel cards are suitable for people who travel 6 to 10 times a year. The focus of these best credit cards for travel is on earning miles, booking tickets, and purchasing merchandise from airline partner brands. 

Best Travel Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access

A travel reward card with airport lounge access helps you visit premium lounges at international airports, be it in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or worldwide. Some cards have a limit on the visits, while some offer unlimited airport lounge access. 

The top cards for travel are —

Best Credit Cards for Travel for Occasional Travellers

These travel credit cards are ideal for those who travel fewer than 3 to 4 times a year. Often, such cards have a lower annual fee and several other benefits attached. Here are the good credit cards for travel —

UAE Travel Credit Card Benefits Explained

The best travel card in UAE offers a range of rewards and privileges to the cardholder. Some perks you should look out for include —

• Airport Lounge Access - You get capped or unlimited complimentary access to airport lounges and their facilities globally.
• Travel Insurance Coverage - Most travel cards in UAE also offer complimentary travel insurance that covers you in case of flight delays, lost luggage, and more.
• Concierge Services - This benefit is often available with premium travel cards. You get assistance for travel bookings, airport rides, itinerary planning, and so on. 
• Airmiles/Cashback Rewards - Travel credit cards usually offer rewards as airmiles, travel points, or cashback. You can redeem these rewards for flights, hotel status, and upgrades.

Common Travel Terms and Conditions to Apply for the Best Credit Card for Travel

Before finalising a credit card for international travel, you need to consider the following terms and conditions —

• Minimum Spending Criteria - Most high-fee, premium cards require a minimum spend per month to get miles or cashback. 
• Go over the Redemption Policies - Check if miles or points have an expiry date or restricted conversion rates. Read the fine print for this. 
• Verify the Lounge Access and Insurance Cover - Check if the lounge access is unlimited, restricted, or has guest inclusions. Furthermore, if your travel card offers travel insurance, understand its extent of coverage. 
• Foreign Transaction Fees - Not a term and condition, but a fee. Look for a credit card with a minimum forex markup so that you can use it for international spending. 

Eligibility Criteria for the Top Credit Card for Travel in the UAE

Eligibility criteria to apply for the best travel rewards credit card vary by bank. However, here is a general criterion to help you understand your chances of getting a basic card —

• Minimum Age for Application - 21 years
• Maximum Age for Application - 60 to 65 years
• Minimum Monthly Salary - AED 5,000
• Residency Status - UAE resident (UAE national or expat)
• For a favourable credit limit, make sure you have a good credit score (which depends on the bank’s AECB credit score bar)

Documents to Apply for Travel Credit Cards in the UAE

Here is the list of documents required to apply for the best credit card for flight booking —

• Emirates ID
• Passport copy with UAE residence visa
• Salary certificate from the employer 
• Recent bank statements
• Trade licence (for self-employed individuals)

In some situations, the bank might ask for additional documents if required. 

Why Compare and Apply for a Travel Credit Card on Paisabazaar.ae?

Paisabazaar.ae helps you find the best travel credit cards through its comprehensive, secure digital platform. You can compare multiple top-tier travel card options in the UAE. 

To streamline your options, you can use the travel category as a filter. Furthermore, you can look for features like lounge access, air miles, loyalty points, and more. 

User Hack: Tips to Maximise Your Travel Credit Card Benefits

To maximise your travel credit card benefits, focus on meeting the minimum spending criteria and pay balance in full. Apart from this, here are some useful tips that can help you make the most of your card.

• Monitor the expiry dates of the benefits
• Keep a check on the forex charges
• Use the travel benefits as and when required and save money
• Transfer points from a card to airline or hotel loyalty programs
• Compare the annual fee and the perks 

Frequently Asked Questions