5 Best Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in 2024
List of Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in UAE - 2024
Advantages
- 1 air mile on 4 AED spent
- Buy 1 get 1 free offers
- Discounts at vox cinemas
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
- This bank offers you an instant credit card with an instant approval.
- This card also provides an instant limit approval.
- This card also offers 24 hour delivery of your card.
- Avail Flexi plus installment program with which you can avail 0% installment plans for purchases.
- The Forex rate stands at 2%
- You get an interest free period of up to 56 days.
- You require a minimum salary of AED 10,000 to be eligible for this card.
- You can transfer your balance at the rate of 0% for 6 months.
There is a processing fee of 2.99% or AED 200, whichever is higher. - There is no annual fee for this card.
Note: Beginning from 15th November 2022, the Annual Percentage Rate on outstanding purchases and cash withdrawals on all HSBC credit cards will increase to 44.28%.
Benefits
- Avail 10% discount in on British Airways fares for flights from UAE to UK, Europe, USA and Canada.
- Access HSBC mobile app for more discounts and offers.
- Get exclusive offers on dining and shopping at 19000 outlets in 160 countries.
- Buy one get one free offers at VOX cinemas with this card.
- Enjoy 200 offers on Golf access programs across the MENA region.
- Avail purchase protection and extended warranty with this card.
- Avail Credit shield plus with this card.
- Avail supplementary cards with this card.
- Also avail Valet parking with this card.
- Enjoy airport dining at over 200 locations with this card and with the partnership of Dragonfly.
- Get up to AED 400 welcome bonus cashback on applying & Offer is valid only for primary cards. T&Cs Apply. The offer is valid up to 30 September 2023.
- Get up to 1 airmile for every AED 4 spent
Advantages
- 10% Cashback
- 2 free valet parking
- 50% OFF at VOX Cinemas
Features
- Both UAE nationals and expats are eligible
- Avail cashback on purchases made using the card
- Get lifestyle benefits and complimentary lounge access.
Features
- Both UAE nationals and expats are eligible
- Avail cashback on purchases made using the card
- Get lifestyle benefits and complimentary lounge access.
- The interest rate of 3.85% is charged
- The minimum salary required for the month is AED 5000
- Get free for the first year on an annual fee and from the second year onwards AED 420 including VAT.
Benefits
- Earn 10% cashback on retail categories like bills, supermarkets, education, and transport
- Can get 50% OFF on ticket bookings made at Vox, or Reel Cinemas
- Enjoy the complimentary airport lounges across the world at more than 1,000 airports.
- Enjoy complimentary valet parking across 30 locations.
- Get Your travel Insurance with Multi-trip travel insurance with coverage of up to USD 500,000
- Enjoy the benefits of a 0% Easy Payment Plan, Balance Transfer & Quick Cash at competitive prices.
Advantages
- Earn EI smart miles on every purchase
- Free airport lounge access
- Free valet parking
Features
- Exclusively designed to offer customers travel, shopping and lifestyle benefits.
- You can redeem points points from 300 airlines and 180,000 hotels.
- Make any purchase with your Elsmartmiles
Features
- Exclusively designed to offer customers travel, shopping and lifestyle benefits.
- You can redeem points points from 300 airlines and 180,000 hotels.
- Make any purchase with your Elsmartmiles
- Shop for fashion, electronics, home decor without leaving your home with our online market place.
- Earn EI SmartMiles on all your domestic and international spends
- Forex rate stands at 2.34%
- You get a repayment period of 55 days.
You need to do a minimum payment of 5% of outstanding amount every month. - You need a minimum salary of AED 5000.
- You can transfer your balance at 0% for 6 months with 2% processing fee.
There is a 5% minimum payment required every month. - There is no annual fee on this card.
Benefits
- You can use your EI SmartMiles to shop with the 'Instant Purchase' feature.
- Complimentary unlimited access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide.
- unlimited miles and redeem with no blackout dates.
- Get fabulous shopping discounts at partner outlets
- Up to 2 “Buy 1 Get 1” complimentary movie tickets each month, any day of the week.
- Get a 15% discount on Emaar Entertainment Attractions.
- Exchange your EI Smart Miles from our partners’ loyalty programmes with Etihad Guest, Emirates Skywards, Etisalat Smiles, Upoints By Emaar, Avios with Qatar Airways Privilege Club and InterMiles.
- 10,000 EI SmartMiles = 1,500 Etihad Guest Miles
- 20,000 EI SmartMiles = 4,000 InterMiles .
- 10,000 EI SmartMiles = 1,000 Emirates Skywards Miles
- 10,000 EI SmartMiles = 1,750 Avios
- 6,500 EI SmartMiles = 1,000 Upoints By Emaar
- 7,500 EI SmartMiles = 5,000 Etisalat Smiles
- Welcome bonus of up to 10,000 EI SmartMiles.
- For every AED 1 spent locally earn 1.25 EI SmartMiles.
- For every AED 1 spent internationally earn 2.25 EI SmartMiles.
- You can redeem at over 300 airlines and 180,000 hotels and car rentals.
- EI SmartMiles can be exchanged for frequent flyer programmes such as Etihad Guest and JetPrivilege.
Advantages
- High miles on online shopping
- Discounts on travel bookings
- Airmiles on every AED spent
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
- This bank offers you an instant credit card with an instant approval.
- This card also provides an instant limit approval.
- This card also offers 24 hour delivery of your card.
- The Forex rate stands at 2%
- You get an interest free period of up to 56 days.
- You require a minimum salary of AED 50000 to be eligible for this card.
- You can transfer your balance at the rate of 0% for 6 months.
There is a processing fee of 2.99% or AED 200, whichever is higher. - The annual fee for this card is AED 1575.
Note: Beginning from 15th November 2022, the Annual Percentage Rate on outstanding purchases and cash withdrawals on all HSBC credit cards will increase to 44.28%.
Benefits
- Get a Welcome Bonus of AED 500 to the Primary Card. T&Cs apply. Offer valid up to 30th April 2024.
- Enjoy complimentary access to air lounges at more than 1000 airports around the world with Travel pass.
- Can get up to 10% off on British Airways airfares
- Get travel discounts with clear trip, Agoda and Ministry of Villas.
- Get 15% discount on your stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- Free Valet parking across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Buy one get one free offers at VOX cinemas with this card.
- Get offers with Reebonz and AED 350 in your account as a new Reebonz member.
- Avail of international concierge service with this card.
- Also, Get 6 careem complimentary airport rides & save up to 110 AED each time. Use Promo Code: MAUAE6. T&Cs Apply.
- You also get travel inconvenience insurance and travel medical insurance with this card.
- Get 150,000 sign-up air miles with your new HSBC Black Credit Card
- Receive 75,000 anniversary air miles on renewal of your membership from the second year onwards
- You can earn 2.5 miles for every AED 1 spent on travel related purchases, including hotels, airlines and car rentals.
- Earn 1.5 miles for every AED 1 spent in all currencies other than Dirhams.
- Earn 1.5 air miles for every AED 1 spent on all online purchases.
- Earn 1 air miles for every AED 1 spent on all other purchases
Features
- This card provides provides you a maximum of 55 interest free days, provided you pay the outstanding bill in full by the due date.
- This card provides you the flexibility to pay as little as 5% of your outstanding balance each month.
- Enjoy instant cash option up to 50%.
Features
- This card provides provides you a maximum of 55 interest free days, provided you pay the outstanding bill in full by the due date.
- This card provides you the flexibility to pay as little as 5% of your outstanding balance each month.
- Enjoy instant cash option up to 50%.
- Protect plus insurance.
- Make use of The Emirates NBD Installment plan for easy payments.
- SMS Alerts, 24/7 assistance and online service.
- Enjoy facilities such as purchase protection, flexible payment plans and protect plus insurance
- The Forex rate stands at 1.99%
- You get an interest free period of up to 55 days.
You need to make a minimum payment of 5% or AED 100, whichever is higher. - You require a minimum salary of AED 10,000 to avail this card.
- Balance transfer is applicable on this card with 0.8% and with a choice of 3-36 months.
- The annual fee applicable on this card is AED 500.
Benefits
- Complimentary access at over 10 VIP lounges.
- Avail cleartrip travel discount.
- Avail insurance benefits.
- This card provides the most convenient option for RTA Salik Auto Top-Up.
- Get 3% discount on air tickets and up to 10% discount on holiday packages through the Emirates NBD Travel Desk.
- Up to 30% at over 2,000 restaurants across the UAE, the Middle East and Europe.
- Get travel vouchers up to AED 1000.
- 0% interest instalment at Dnata travel.
- Avail different discounts on Dnata products.
- Avail Bon appetite discounts at 30%
- Avail 5% discount on air tickets and 10% discount on holiday packages through the Emirates NBD Travel Desk.
- 10% rewards on dnata Credit Cards.
- 5% rewards on duty-free shopping
- 1.5% rewards for all retail spend.
- For redemption purposes, 1 dnata point is worth AED 1
- You can redeem points for travel tickets through Dnata.
Advantages
- 50% off at VOX Cinemas
- Free for first year
Features
- Get Reward Points on Domestic & International spending.
- Get airport lounge access, VIP Parking
- Enjoy Golf, movie discounts, travel insurance & valet parking.
Features
- Get Reward Points on Domestic & International spending.
- Get airport lounge access, VIP Parking
- Enjoy Golf, movie discounts, travel insurance & valet parking.
- Enjoy the Dining & Lifestyle offers through the CBD Mobile app
- Balance transfer is applicable on this card.
- The minimum age should be 21 years and the maximum age should be 63 years
- The Forex rate stands at 2.99% for this card.
- The applicable interest rate on this card is 3.85%
- You should have a minimum salary of AED 15,000.
- Balance transfer is applicable on this card.
- Get free for the first year on an annual fee and from the second year onwards AED 787.5 including VAT.
No annual fees on supplementary cards
Benefits
- Earn AED 2000 cashback on min. spending criteria till 20th March 2024. T&Cs apply.
- Enjoy the complimentary airport lounges across the world at more than 1,000 airports.
- Get a 50% discount on movie tickets at Novo, Reel & VOX cinemas.
- Enjoy complimentary valet parking at 30 locations.
- Enjoy complimentary rounds of Golf at Trump International Golf Club
- Get Your travel Insurance with Multi-trip travel insurance with coverage of up to USD 1,000,000
- Enjoy the benefits of a 0% Easy Payment Plan, Balance Transfer & Quick Cash at competitive prices.
- Earn up to 2.5 CBD reward points for every AED spent on Domestic Spends.
- Earn up to 3 CBD reward points for every AED spent on Domestic Spends.
- Earn rewards and redeem them for cashback on your card, airline tickets, Emirates Skywards Miles, electronics purchases, shopping vouchers, and contribute to charity. Additionally, use points to pay for your next shopping spree.
- Explore over 500 dining and lifestyle deals using the CBD Mobile app.
Features
- This card provides provides you a maximum of 55 interest free days, provided you pay the outstanding bill in full by the due date.
- This card provides you the flexibility to pay as little as 5% of your outstanding balance each month.
- Enjoy instant cash option up to 50%.
Features
- This card provides provides you a maximum of 55 interest free days, provided you pay the outstanding bill in full by the due date.
- This card provides you the flexibility to pay as little as 5% of your outstanding balance each month.
- Enjoy instant cash option up to 50%.
- Protect plus insurance.
- The Emirates NBD Installment plan.
- SMS Alerts, 24/7 assistance and online service.
- The Forex rate for this card stands at 0%
- Get an interest free period of up to 55 days.
You need to pay a minimum balance of 5% or AED 100, whichever is higher. - You are required to have a minimum salary of AED 20000.
- Annual fee applicable for this card is AED 1048.95 & joining fee of the card is AED 1048.95
Benefits
- Get up to the worth of AED 2500 Travel Vouchers as a welcome bonus. T&Cs Apply.
- Unlimited airport lounge access at over 1000 lounges in 450 cities in over 135 countries.
- Hertz Gold plus rewards with this card.
- Get complimentary hotel nights at Starwood hotels and Resorts.
- Book your Airline ticket on Cleartrip and receive discounts.
- Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel exciting offers.
- Various MasterCard buy 1 and get 1 offers.
- Reebonz online shopping privilege
-
Emirates NBD Credit Card offers the New Credit Shield Pro feature includes
- 0.99% on monthly fee on outstanding balance- Each card holder can get decease cover up to AED 300,000- In case of hospitalization get AED 100 pay out per day. T&Cs apply- Can get job loss cover up to AED 60,000 up to 1 year or re-employment
- You can earn 15% dnata points on Citi sightseeing, costa, Imagine Cruising, Giraffe
- Earn 10% dnata points on duty free world wide spend.
- Earn 10% dnata points on Emirates holidays
- Earn 15% dnata points on dnata travel spend.
- Earn 2% dnata points on retail expenses
Advantages
- 5 Salaam points on every 1 AED
- AED 2000 cashback as a welcome bonus
- 20% cashback on Zomato
Overview
- Can get 2 free access to airport lounges worldwide
- Maximum 8 free entries are provided to the airport lounges per year
- A minimum spend of AED 7000(pm)in the last billing cycle is required to get 2 free access to airport lounges and free pickup and drop service to the airport
Overview
- Can get 2 free access to airport lounges worldwide
- Maximum 8 free entries are provided to the airport lounges per year
- A minimum spend of AED 7000(pm)in the last billing cycle is required to get 2 free access to airport lounges and free pickup and drop service to the airport
- Can get free visits to FitnessFirst centers at selected locations
- Earn 1 Salaam points on purchases made in the UAE using the card
- Earn 3 Salaam points on purchases made outside the UAE using the card
- Can get up to 50% on dining, entertainment, leisure and much more
- AED 156.45 is charged as annual fee on supplementary card
Features
- You can avail 4 supplementary cards with this card.
- Convenience to make your card payments in any of ADIB branches.
- This is a high earning rewards program.
Features
- You can avail 4 supplementary cards with this card.
- Convenience to make your card payments in any of ADIB branches.
- This is a high earning rewards program.
- Receive up to four supplementary cards.
- This is an Islamic card.
- This card enables salary transfers
- Get instant SMS updates.
- Forex rate on this card is 2.3%
- You need a minimum salary of AED 5000 for this card.
- There is an option of balance transfer at the rate of 3% or AED 300 for this card.
- You need to pay an annual fee of AED 500 to avail this card.
Benefits
- You can receive service from ADIB travel desk.
- You can redeem your Etihad guest miles for House Furnishing, Travel Bookings, Electronics and Gifts for Friends and Family.
- You can withdraw 100% of your finance limit for your need of cash.
- Avail advance technology of chip and pin for safe transactions.
- Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Etihad guest miles.
- Receive 1 Guest mile up to 4 AED spent internationally.
- Receive up to 0.75 guest miles for every 4 AED spent on local transactions.
- Get Free Roadside assistance
- You can even pay for your ADIB Etihad Guest covered card’s annual fees using 12500 Etihad guest miles.
Advantages
- 1 air mile on 1 AED spent
- Free valet parking
- Discounts on movie tickets
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
Features
- This card is recognized over 32 million establishments.
- This card offers you benefits home and abroad.
- This card offers you a team of financial advisers and helps you achieve your financial goals.
- This bank offers you an instant credit card with an instant approval.
- This card also provides an instant limit approval.
- This card also offers 24 hour delivery of your card.
- Get cash advance of up to 50%
- Applicants must have a HSBC Advance Account to apply
- The Forex rate stands at 2%
- You get an interest free period of up to 56 days.
- You require a minimum salary of AED 15000
- You can transfer your balance at the rate of 0% for 6 months.
There is a processing fee of 2.99% or AED 200, whichever is higher. - There is no annual fees on this card.
Note: Beginning from 15th November 2022, the Annual Percentage Rate on outstanding purchases and cash withdrawals on all HSBC credit cards will increase to 44.28%.
Benefits
- Get a free lounge access at airports across MENA region.
- Get various dining, travel and entertainment discounts.
- Free HSBC app, where you can get over 8000 buy 1 get 1 offers.
- Free Valet parking across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Airline and Hotel discounts of up to 30%
- Get 20% discount with Careem rides across middle east.
- Get benefits on luxury online shopping bonus and 6% discount with Reebonz.
- Get 25% discount with MyUS.
- Get 'Buy 1 Get 1' free offer at VOX Cinemas.
- Enjoy a specific discount of 15% with British Airways.
- Avail credit shield option with this card.
- Avail purchase protection with this card.
- Get AED 400 cash back as a welcome bonus on applying for an Advance Credit Card & Offer is valid only for primary cards. T&Cs Apply. The offer is valid up to 30 September 2023.
- You can earn 1 airmile for 1 AED.
- You can redeem these airmiles for travel accommodation, airline tickets, electronics, entertainment, shopping vouchers or donations.
- You can redeem your airmiles for any flights to any destinations
Joining Bonus Credit Cards
Credit cards are popular for the rewards provided on different purchases. Apart from the rewards that are gained after making purchases, one factor that entices a new credit card holder is the welcome bonus.
What is a welcome bonus on the credit card?
The joining bonus is also known as a welcome bonus or sign up bonus. When a person applies and gets approved for a credit card, the card providers offer bonuses, discounts, etc. as a welcome bonus. Apart from the regular rewards and deals on the card, the welcome bonus acts as a quick benefit for the cardholder. Many credit cardholders offer a joining bonus on credit cards.
Usually, there is a minimum spend required to be eligible for the welcome bonus. For example, if a cashback of AED 5000 is provided, then the cardholder needs to spend at least AED 3000 on the card within 6 months of the card activation or pay the annual fee of AED 1500. The welcome bonus availing rule can vary from provider to provider.
Best Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in UAE
Some of the best welcome bonus that can be highly beneficial for credit cardholders are,
Mashreq Platinum Elite Credit Card
Mashreq Platinum Elite Credit Card offers a cash bonus as a joining bonus also other cashback and rewards are offered
- AED 1500 is provided as a cash bonus on joining for new customers
- Get 50% discount on up to 4 Movie Tickets at VOX, Reel and Novo Cinemas
- AED 200 cash bonus is provided for existing customers as a welcome bonus
- 20% cashback on e-commerce expenses like Zomato, Netflix, Du, Etisalat, noon, iTunes, etc.
- Access to fitness first clubs
- Earn up to 5 Salaam points per AED spent on international and domestic expenses
- No annual fee in the first year
- A minimum salary of AED 7000 is needed
CBD Smiles Visa Signature
CBD Smiles Visa Signature Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for lifestyle privileges.
- Can earn 50,000 Smiles Points as a welcome bonus
- Smiles Points can be redeemed for Utility bills, electronics, dining, travel purchases, shopping and entertainment on the Smiles UAE app
- Earn 15,000 Smiles points as a quarterly bonus on spending USD 15,000 (equivalent AED) using the card
- 100 Smiles points are worth 1 AED
- Earn 10 Smiles points on Etisalat expenses
- Up to 3.5 Smiles points on international and domestic expenses
- 50% off on Vox movie tickets
- Access to 1000 airport lounges worldwide
- A minimum salary of AED 12,000 is needed
- An annual fee of AED 999 is charged
Emirates - CITIBANK Ultima
The Citibank Emirates Ultima Credit Card offers high travel benefits and rewards as a welcome bonus.
- Earn 25,000 Skyward miles as a welcome bonus
- Earn 10,000 Skyward miles annually on renewal
- Earn up to 1.25 miles per 1 USD on expenses made using the card
- Skyward miles can be redeemed for travel tickets, ticket upgrades, car rental, retail and lifestyle, etc.
- 1 Skyward mile equals up to 2 USD
- Buy 1 Get 1 free movie tickets
- A minimum income of AED 36,750 is required
- AED 3000 is charged as an annual fee
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card provides high travel benefits.
- Earn 55,000 joining miles on the primary card
- Earn 5000 joining miles on supplementary card
- Up to 7 Etihad Guest miles are earned per AED 10 spent
- Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed for travel tickets and ticket upgrades
- Free access to airport lounges
- Free airport transfer facility
- Movie tickets start from AED 15
- Discounts at golf clubs
- A minimum income of AED 30,000 is required
- AED 2000 is charged as an annual fee
ADIB Emirates Skywards World Elite Card
ADIB Emirates Skywards World Elite Credit Card offers high travel reward points which can be redeemed for various benefits
- Earn 50,000 Skyward miles as a welcome bonus
- Skyward miles can be redeemed for travel tickets, ticket upgrades, car rental, retail and lifestyle, etc.
- Free access to airport lounges
- Complimentary airport transfer facility
- Get free Emirates Skywards silver tier membership
- Free golf club and valet parking privileges
- A minimum income of AED 25,000 is required
- AED 4500 is charged as an annual fee
Apart from these, many other credit cards offer a welcome bonus. The credit card applicant needs to check how beneficial the welcome rewards can be for them. High travel miles for a person who travels less or not at all can be useless. Hence you must check how worthy the rewards are and proceed further accordingly.
FAQs
Q. Are there any charges levied to avail the welcome bonus?
A. No. Welcome rewards are provided as a gift on getting the credit card.
Q. Is the signup bonus provided on applying for the credit card?
A. No. Sign up bonus is provided only on getting approved and usage of the card.
Q. Will the welcome bonus have any impact on credit score?
A. No. The welcome bonus is a reward offered by the credit card company hence there is no effect on the credit report or score.
Q. Is the welcome bonus provided on supplementary cards as well?
A. Some credit card provides a welcome bonus on supplementary cards as well.
Q. Is there any validity on the welcome bonus?
A. There is a criterion to earn the welcome bonus on some credit cards like the cardholder needs to spend a certain amount using the card in a specific time to avail the welcome bonus. But once the welcome bonus is earned the validity depends on the bonus type.
Q. Can we make use of the welcome bonus and close the credit card?
A. On most credit cards, the welcome bonus is provided after spending a certain amount on the card or after the payment of annual fees. Also, applying and closing a credit card can have a bad impact on the credit score.
Q. What if we don’t meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus?
A. The spending requirement to avail the welcome bonus is mandatory on some of the credit cards. If failed to meet the spending requirement, you may not be able to get the welcome bonus.