What do you look for in an ideal credit card? Excellent rewards, lifestyle benefits, freebies and low interest rates are all great to have, but what if all of these features didn’t cost you a hefty annual fee! Wouldn’t a ‘zero annual fee’ be the icing on the cake?
Our team has shortlisted five great value credit cards that are absolutely free for life. Take your pick..
ADIB Value+ Card
Standout features
Not only is this credit card free for life, it comes with a fully-loaded list of benefits and rewards. With this card, you are eligible for rewards on both local and international spend. You get 1 reward point for every AED 1 spent locally, and 2 reward points for every AED 1 spent abroad. These points can be redeemed for flight tickets on any airline as well as for shopping mall vouchers (These are redeemable at Sharjah Mega Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall, Sahara Centre).
Other features
In addition to the above, you also get complimentary access to airport lounges across the GCC region, dining discounts across the UAE as well as access to Priceless Arabia deals and offers.
Good to know…
1) This is a Shariah-compliant credit card.
2) If required, you can withdraw up to 100% of your credit card limit as cash.
3) You get four supplementary credit cards at no extra cost.
[Compare and choose from over 200 credit cards in the UAE]
Emirates Islamic Flex Card
Standout features
With zero annual membership fee, this credit card offers you access to the Emirates Islamic’s EI SmartMiles program. For every AED 1 spent locally, you earn up to 1.25 EI SmartMiles, and for every AED 1 spent overseas, you earn up to 2.25 EI SmartMiles. Your EI SmartMiles can be redeemed for free flights, free hotel stay as well for shopping on the go with the card’s ‘instant purchase’ feature. As a welcome bonus, you also get 10,000 EI SmartMiles.
Other features
Perfect for travelers, this cards offers you complimentary lounge access to over 1,000 airports across the world. You’re also automatically enrolled for multi trip travel insurance on this card.
Cardholders also get complimentary rounds of golf at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club and the Track Meydan Golf Club, and free valet parking at a number of locations in the UAE.
Good to know…
1) This is a Shariah-compliant credit card.
2) You get four supplementary credit cards at no extra cost.
Mashreq SmartSaver Credit Card
Standout features
This credit card is free-for-life and packed with great features. It offers you 0.5% cashback on all local spend and 1% cashback on all international spend. Plus, there’s no minimum spend criteria to be eligible for cashback. You also get 8% bonus cashback at SmartSaver merchant partners, which includes over 400 outlets in the UAE.
Other features
Great news for avid travelers – You get free travel insurance with this credit card. You also get access to Mashreq Privileges offers and dining discounts with your SmartSaver card.
Good to know…
1) You can take advantage of Mashreq’s balance transfer program with this card.
ADCB Lulu Standard Credit Card
Standout features
Like all other credit cards on this list, there is no annual fee payable to access the benefits of this card. Perfect for those who shop regularly at Lulu hypermarkets, this card earns you 1.5 LuluPoints per AED 1 spent at Lulu and 0.5 LuluPoints per AED 1 spent anywhere else. Every 5,000 LuluPoints get you a shopping voucher worth AED 50 redeemable at Lulu stores.
Other features
Use your ADCB Lulu credit card to avail up to 15% discount on entry, merchandise, food and more at Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.
Good to know…
1) You can set daily/monthly spend limits and block specific transactions with ADCB’s online ‘Card Control’ feature.
2) You can take advantage of ADCB’s interest-free balance transfers with this card.
HSBC Platinum Select Credit Card
Standout features
Although there’s no annual membership fee on this card, it offers a very long list of benefits. You earn 1 air mile on every AED 4 spent with this card. These air miles can be redeemed for free flights, hotel stay and retail shopping vouchers.
Other features
With this card, you can access the ‘HSBC Entertainer App’ that helps you unlock thousands of dining, retail and recreation offers in the UAE as well as abroad. Add to that, ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ tickets at VOX Cinemas and 15% discount on four Careem rides per month, and you have yourself a very rewarding credit card.
Good to know…
1) You get two supplementary credit cards at no extra cost.
2) You can take advantage of HSBC’s balance transfer offer with this card, and repay your existing balance at as low as 0% interest for the first 12 months.
Looking to apply for a new loan, credit card or bank account? We’ve got you covered! Compare hundreds of credit cards, accounts, personal loans, car loans and mortgage products in the UAE.
