💳 Best UAE cashback credit cards: July 2025
- Kacper Duda
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
Imagine being able to cut your expenses by 6%... with cashback credit cards you can do exactly that (well, at least some of them!)
In the UAE we're lucky enough to have a very attractive cashback credit card offering, making it easy to claw back AED 1,000 or more on a lot of your monthly spend.
Read on to find out about:
How cashback cards work
Our top 6 cashback card picks
A smart way to earn up to an extra 1% on top of existing cashback
In the news: US Dollar slumps - what does it mean for your money in the UAE?
How do cashback cards work?
Cashback credit cards reward you with a small percentage of your spending back in cash. The rate usually depends on where you spend, with common categories including groceries, fuel, and utilities.
There’s almost always a cap. Some cards limit how much you can earn in each category, while others cap the total cashback you can get each month. The best cards offer up to 10% back in select categories, but most fall in the 4 to 6% range. Monthly cashback is often capped at around AED 1,000 in total, with AED 200 to 300 per category.
It may not seem like much at first, but over the course of a year, those rewards can add up. Bear in mind though that some cards come with an annual fee (which can sometimes be waived with enough annual spend) - so make sure the card is worth it for you.
Our top 6 UAE cashback cards
When evaluating the cards, we focused on the number of categories they apply higher cashback percentages on, as well as the maximum monthly cashback you can obtain.
Credit Card | Cashback | Any catches |
|---|---|---|
6% on dining (incl. online orders), 5% on groceries, 3% on utilities, telecoms, fuel and Salik. 1% on everything else. | - Monthly max cashback AED 1,000. - To be eligible for cashback you need to spend AED 5,000 every month. - Annual fee of AED 383.25 applicable from 2nd year onwards. | |
4% on groceries, fuel, education, dining and utility payments | - Max total monthly cashback AED 1,000. - Max cashback on groceries (AED 300), fuel (300), education (300), dining (200) and utilities (100) - 103.95 AED annual fee applies - Only Apple and Samsung wallet support (no Google) | |
4% on groceries, fuel, education, telecoms and utility payments | - Max total monthly cashback AED 1,000. - Max cashback on groceries (AED 400), fuel (150), education (400), telecoms (150) and utilities (150) - 261.45 AED annual fee applies - Only Apple and Samsung wallet support (no Google) | |
10% on online and Apple Pay/Samsung Wallet transactions (excluding utilities, telecoms, groceries, education). 1% on domestic retail spend. 0.5% utilities, telecoms, groceries, education. | - Monthly total 10% cashback cap at AED 300. - 199 AED fee for 2nd year onwards unless you spend AED 10,000 in prior year. - Only Apple and Samsung wallet support (no Google) | |
6% on dining, 5% on fuel, 2% on groceries and entertainment, 0.5% on everything else. | - Max cashback on dining (200), fuel (200), groceries (200), and entertainment (200). - To be eligible for cashback, min. monthly spend of AED 3,000 required - AED 313.95 fee for 2nd year onwards unless you spend AED 12,000 in prior year. | |
5% on 2 of the following 4 categories (you choose): groceries, fuel, online spend and education. 1% on everything else. | - Max cashback on fuel (AED 400), online spend (200), groceries (200), education (200) - 315 AED fee for 2nd year onwards unless you spend AED 12,000 in prior year. |
How to add another 1% on top of any cashback you're already getting
The trick here is the Wio Credit card, which gives you cashback on paying off other credit cards.
Credit Card | Cashback | Any catches |
2% on credit card spend, 1% on paying off other credit cards for Salary Plan holders, 0.5% on Plus Plans. | - Monthly max cashback AED 2,500 - Cashback for paying off credit cards is limited to 1% (or 0.5% for Plus Plans) of your total credit limit value - Requires Wio Salary or Plus account |
Normally, paying one credit card with another is a red flag. But Wio flips the script offering up to 1% back when you use their card to clear balances on other cards.
Here’s how it works: when your other credit card bill is due, pay it using your Wio Credit Card. Then, repay the Wio Credit card from your own funds (ideally straight away). It’s a neat way to pocket extra cashback, without falling into debt.
Golden rules for using credit cards
Cashback cards can be a great way to earn rewards but only if you use them wisely. Before you apply for any credit card, make sure you're confident in following these golden rules:
Pay your balance in full every month. Missing payments or carrying a balance wipes out any cashback gains with interest charges.
Never withdraw cash from an ATM using your credit card. It triggers hefty fees and interest from day one.
Avoid using your card for spending abroad unless you're clear on the FX fees. (Hint: none of the cards in this list are great for foreign transactions.)
Read the fine print. Understand the annual fee, spending requirements, and how to actually unlock the benefits.
Don’t treat it like free money. If you don’t already have the cash in your account, don’t put it on your credit card.
Used correctly, a cashback card is just a smarter way to pay — not a shortcut to spending beyond your means.
IN THE NEWS - US Dollar slumps: what it means for your money in the UAE?
The US Dollar just posted its worst half-year since 1973, falling by 10% since January, largely due to shifting US trade and fiscal policies. And because the Dirham is pegged to the Dollar, those ripples are felt right here in the UAE.
For non-US expats, now might not be the best time to convert AED into your home currency as you could be locking in a poor rate. Meanwhile, the drop in the Dollar could also drive up the cost of imported goods, affecting day-to-day spending.
Whether you’re sending money home, planning a holiday, or looking to invest, the Dollar’s decline could influence your decisions. The National breaks down the impact on spending, remittances, investing, and travel across the GCC - read the full article here.
Disclaimer: Please bear in mind that this email does not constitute financial advice. Any choices you make you are solely responsible for. We always aim to provide highest quality, independent views but do your own research to ensure you’re comfortable with any changes you make to your personal finances.
