Fly High and Save: The Best Airline Travel Credit Cards for UAE Travelers

This article is reviewed regularly by Wego‘s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated May 2024

With the travel and tourism industry back on track, travelers all around the world travelling by air are looking to spend heavily in putting miles and points to work for them again. In a situation like this, choosing a good travel credit card that not only maximizes your earnings but also improves your travel experience should be a priority.

For UAE travelers looking to travel in 2024, here is everything you need to know about some of the best airline travel credit cards, their annual fees, perks and more.

Why use a credit card to travel?

Using a credit card for travel has several advantages. Firstly, it provides convenience as credit cards are widely accepted globally, making it a more convenient way to pay for travel expenses such as flights, hotels, and transportation.

Secondly, many credit cards offer rewards and benefits for travel-related expenses, such as frequent flyer miles, airport lounge access, or travel insurance which incentivizes travelers to use their credit cards. Furthermore, credit cards provide security against fraudulent transactions, and in case your card is lost or stolen, you can have it cancelled and a new one issued without having to worry about losing your travel funds.

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Best airline travel credit cards for UAE travelers in 2024

A travel credit card is a type of credit card that specializes in offering travel-related offers and discounts. Travelers can save money on travel by utilizing the features and benefits offered by travel credit cards, including air ticket bookings, reward points accumulation, airport lounge benefits and more. 

The following are some of the best airline travel credit cards for UAE travelers in 2024

Platinum Card from American Express

One of the most popular and expensive travel cards, the Platinum Card from American Express, allows access to the network of more than 40 Centurion Lounges in airports around the US and in several international locations. However, as a subtle downgrade introduced on 1 February 2023, the card no longer includes free guest privileges.

Platinum cardholders are now required to pay around USD 50 (AED 184) per passenger. The price is USD 30 (AED 110) for children ages 2 to 18. The price has been introduced in addition to a recent change that bars entry to an airport lounge until 3 hours before a flight is scheduled to depart. Nonetheless, travelers on layover longer than 3 hours can still enter with a waiver.

Furthermore, the card also allows holders to add up to 3 registered users to their Platinum account for only USD 175 (AED 643) per year. This further allows each registered user to receive a card in their name for use when travelling with or without the cardholder. The cardholders can also give three people unlimited access to Centurion Lounges for a year for little more than the cost of a one-time, single-person lounge visit.

Annual fee

The annual fee for the Platinum Card from American Express is AED 2,700

Perks

The annual fee of the Platinum Card from American Express is AED 2700, and the returns on it are packed with travel benefits as well as new and non-travel ones. The value for this can easily counteract the annual fee, even beyond the prospect of earning points.

This further allows cardholders access to airport lounges, including Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), Escape and Plaza Premium lounges, and Priority Pass membership, with more than 1,300 locations under its belt.

Other benefits of the Platinum Card from American Express include:

• offers complimentary enrolment to Membership Rewards, where spends can earn cardholders points that never expire.
• offers complimentary enrolment to leading hotel loyalty programs.
• a USD 100 (AED 367) hotel credit on booking and staying two nights or more through Platinum travel service, along with a room upgrade.
• provides platinum experiences in shopping, entertainment, dining and wellness.
• offers comprehensive worldwide travel and retail insurance

Furthermore, cardholders can also earn Membership Rewards points, where with every AED 4 spent, they can earn up to 1 point. Hence, these points can be redeemed for rewards from leading brands in travel, fashion, electronics, and more

Some benefits of travel insurance include car rentals, trip cancellations or delays, baggage delays, and roadside assistance.

Minimum salary

The minimum salary to apply for the Platinum Card from American Express is AED 31,500 per month.

Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card is another airline travel credit card that deserves attention for its lower annual fee of AED 2,000. The card also offers a heap of travel benefits, including unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges, along with a guest.

Moreover, with every USD 1 spent at Emirates or flydubai Airlines, the cardholders can earn up to 2 Skywards miles, 1.5 miles on international spending and 1 mile on domestic spending.

Annual fee

The annual fee for the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card is AED 2,000.

Perks

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card offers cardholders the benefit of automatically upgrading to the Emirates Skywards Silver membership, offering exclusive benefits, including bonus tier miles, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and more.

Moreover, the Silver tier membership will be available as long as the card is active.

Further benefits of the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card include:

• offers extended warranty and purchase protection on purchases made on the card
• offers unlimited complimentary golf rounds at Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Track Meydan Golf Club, The Trump International Golf Club or Yas Links Golf Club on weekends or weekdays. Please note that a minimum monthly retail spend of AED 10,000 is required on the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card to avail of the benefit.
• offers up to 3 “Buy 1 Get 1” complimentary movie tickets each month, any day of the week. Please note that a minimum monthly retail spend of AED 5,000 is required on the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card to avail of the benefit.

Some of the travel insurance protections include travel accident and travel inconvenience insurance on all trips of up to 90 days duration.

Furthermore, cardholders will also enjoy Purchase Protection for lost, stolen or damaged goods purchased when paying with their Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card. The Purchase Protection offers coverage of up to USD 7,500 (AED 27,547) per occurrence and USD 20,000 (AED 73,460) per year

Minimum salary

The minimum salary required to apply for the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card is AED 25,000 per month.

Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card

Awarded as the best credit card in the UAE at the World Finance Islamic Finance Awards 2021, the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card is yet another travel credit card that deserves mention. Similar to the Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card, this credit card offers unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges for cardholders, along with one guest with LoungeKey.

Moreover, with every USD 1 spent at Emirates Airline, the cardholders can earn up to 3.5 Skywards miles, 2 miles on international spending and 1.5 mile on domestic spending.

Annual fee

The annual fee for the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card is AED 4,000

Perks

The Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card offers cardholders the Emirates Skywards Silver membership with exclusive benefits, including bonus tier miles, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and more. Moreover, the Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership is available for as long as the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card is active.

Furthermore, the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card also provides  Emirates Skywards Gold membership to one supplementary cardholder per primary cardholder. The only requirement to avail of this benefit is to spend an additional minimum amount of AED 5,500 at Emirates and pay an Annual Membership Fee of AED 4,000 for the supplementary card.

Further benefits of the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card include:

• offers up to 4 complimentary airport transfers per year to or from Dubai airport. Please note that this benefit will only be available when Emirates airways transaction is done using Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card within the last 3 months.
• offers unlimited complimentary golf rounds at Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Track Meydan Golf Club, The Trump International Golf Club or Yas Links Golf Club on weekends or weekdays. Please note that a minimum monthly retail spend of AED 10,000 is required on your card to avail of the benefit.
• fast track to Gold status
• 25% discount when you Buy or Gift Skywards Miles
• allows 3 complimentary valet parking services per month at select locations across the UAE.
• offers up to 4 “Buy 1 Get 1” complimentary movie tickets each month, any day of the week. Please note that a minimum monthly retail spend of AED 5,000 is required on your card to avail of the benefit.

The travel insurance perks are manifold, as they include unparalleled coverages including:

• personal accident benefits up to USD 1,000,000 or AED 36,73,000 (International)
• personal accident benefits up to USD 100,000 or AED 36,73,00 (Domestic)
• baggage delay of up to USD 500 (AED 1,836)
• loss of personal belongings up to USD 2,500 (AED 9,182)
• covers cardholder, spouse and up to 5 children. The age limit is, however, 75 years for everyone.

Minimum salary

The minimum salary required to apply for the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Credit Card is AED 50,000 per month.

Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card

A 100 per cent exclusive metal card offering one of the best Skywards miles rates, the Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card is yet another airline travel credit card worth mentioning. The card offers up to 25,000 welcome bonus Skywards miles and 10,000 miles annually upon payment of the annual fee.

Moreover, with every USD 1 spent on tickets purchased from emirates.com, the cardholders can earn up to 2.5 Skywards miles, 1.5 miles on international spending and 1 mile on domestic spending.

Annual fee

The annual fee for the Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card is AED 3,000.

Perks

The Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card offers complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide for cardholders, and supplementary card members, along with one free guest per visit.

Furthermore, the travel credit card also offers complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership, providing cardholders up to 12kg of extra baggage allowance, priority check-in and more.

Further benefits of the Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card include:

• offers unlimited complimentary golf on weekdays and once a month on weekends at some of the best golf courses in the UAE.
• offers complimentary valet parking twice a month with Valtrans.
• 50% off on food delivery and dine-in bills with 150 free Voucherskout credits.
• offers complimentary ‘Buy 1 Get 1 free’ movie tickets at VOX & REEL cinemas.
• a complimentary Marhaba meet and greet twice a year.

Furthermore, the Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card offers insurance coverage of up to USD 1,000 (AED 3,673) per year for online purchases at no additional cost.

Minimum salary

The minimum salary required to apply for the Emirates Citibank Ultima Credit Card is AED 36,750 per month.

ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Credit Card

Offering one of the highest welcome bonus miles rates and having one of the lowest minimum salary requirements amongst any of the travel credit cards in the UAE, the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card definitely earns its place in the list of best airline travel cards for UAE.

It offers around 35,000 Etihad Guest miles as a welcome bonus, and cardholders can make up to 1.5 Etihad Guest Miles for every AED 4 spent with their credit card. The Etihad Guest miles can further be redeemed for travel bookings, purchasing electronics, gifts, home furnishing, and more.

Moreover, the advanced Chip&Pin and contactless technology of the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card makes it one of the most advanced travel credit cards in the world

Annual fee

The annual fee for the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card is AED 1,000.

Perks

The ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card allows cardholders to experience the benefits of the Etihad Guest Silver Tier faster than the majority of travel credit cards. The cardholders will be easily fast-tracked to Etihad Silver Tier after completing four return flights on Etihad within twelve months of card issuance.

Furthermore, the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card offers access to over 850 VIP airport lounges worldwide, with two free visits per year for every cardholder.

Further benefits of the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card include:

• offers a free companion ticket voucher to fly on Etihad Airways to any destination worldwide and in any class of travel on spending AED 150,000 or more with the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card.
• entitles cardholders to free roadside assistance
• dining discounts

Minimum salary

The minimum salary required to apply for the ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card is AED 5,000 per month.

Platinum Select Credit Card from HSBC

With the Platinum Select Credit Card from HSBC, you earn air miles every time you use the card to make a purchase. These miles can be exchanged for flight tickets or deals on hotels, entertainment and dining benefits. If you pay your monthly balance in full, there are no interest charges on purchases made with the Platinum Select card for 56 days.

Annual fee

There is no annual fee, but you need to have an HSBC personal banking account and a minimum of AED 10,000 a month in the account.

Perks

The HSBC Platinum Select Credit Card offers cardholders exclusive benefits like earning 1 Air Mile for every AED 4 spent on the credit card, which can be swapped for free flight tickets sans blackout dates. 

Additional Perks include 

• complimentary 12-month Careem Plus subscription which can be redeemed by adding your HSBC credit card on the Careem app. 
• options to browse over 10,000 products and availing the buy 1 get 1 free offer on food deliveries, eating out, spa days and getaways with the HSBC ENTERTAINER app.
• discounts at over 400 restaurants across the UAE when you pay with your credit card.
• over 200 offers across dining, retail and accommodation across MENA with the Timeout and Golf Access Program.
• discounts at over 200 airport restaurants worldwide.
• buy 1 get 1 free movie ticket every month, plus 20% off food and drink at cinemas across the UAE cinemas.
• insurance against purchases made using the HSBC Premium Select Credit Card (protection is provided by Visa International.)

Minimum salary

Although HSBC’s official website does not specify the minimum salary required to own this card, you will need to have AED 10,000 a month in the bank account. Additionally, you must submit two bank statements from the account into which your salary is paid, or two salary credits into your HSBC account, as well as a salary certificate from your employer dated the month before your application.