UAE banking guide

Best Free for Life Credit Cards UAE

Compare UAE cards with no annual fee, waived annual fees, and low-fee alternatives.

FAB GEMS World Credit Card card image FAB SHARE Platinum Credit Card card image Blue FAB Infinite Credit Card by Al-Futtaim card image Blue FAB Signature Credit Card by Al-Futtaim card image Mashreq Cashback Credit Card card image Amazon Platinum Covered Card card image Blue FAB Platinum Credit Card by Al-Futtaim card image Cashback Card card image Cashback Plus Card card image FAB Travel Credit Card card image Mashreq Platinum Plus Credit Card card image Amazon World Covered Card card image
Written by Nahid Perween

Dubai · Banking and Credit Cards Expert

A free-for-life card should have no standard annual fee. Check that the fee is truly AED 0 and not only waived for the first year or after a spending target.

What this means for you

Banks use several different offers: no annual fee, first-year free, or a fee waiver after you spend enough. They are not the same.

A simple way to decide

  1. 1 Find the standard fee
  2. 2 Read the waiver rule
  3. 3 Check other charges

Before you apply

  • Confirm whether the offer applies every year.
  • Check late payment, cash advance, and foreign transaction charges too.
  • Do not choose a card only because its first year is free.
  • Use the official product page and key facts statement before applying. If a value is missing, ask the bank instead of assuming it.

Words you may see

Annual fee
The standard yearly charge for keeping the card.
APR
The yearly borrowing rate if you carry an unpaid card balance.
KFS
The Key Facts Statement: a bank document listing important fees, rates, and risks.

Cards worth checking for this need

These are useful starting points from the cards in the comparison table. They are not paid placements or promises of approval.

Official sources used

These bank pages, Key Facts Statements, fee schedules and terms support the product details in this guide. Open the latest version before applying.

Compare options

Cards in this guide

Select Product Bank Annual feeSalaryAPRCashback*RewardsNetwork Details
FAB GEMS World Credit Card product image FAB GEMS World Credit CardCashback · Low fee First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 0AED 8,00047.88% APR
  • 10% cashback on school bus transport, canteen, uniform and extracurricular spends
  • 2% cashback on international spending
  • 1% cashback on domestic spending
  • 0.15% cashback on low interchange categories
  • Cashback - 10% cashback on school expenses - 10% cashback on school related expenses
  • The FAB GEMS World Credit Card provides 10% cashback on school-related expenses, discounts at Emaar attractions, and 2% cashback on general spending.
Cashback iconLow fee iconMastercard Details
FAB SHARE Platinum Credit Card product image FAB SHARE Platinum Credit CardCashback · Groceries · Cinema First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 0AED 5,00047.88% APR
  • 4% cashback in SHARE points on mall spends
  • 4% cashback in SHARE points at Carrefour
  • 4% cashback in SHARE points on mall experiences
  • 1% cashback in SHARE points on international spending
  • 0.75% cashback in SHARE points on other UAE spending
  • FAB SHARE Platinum Credit Card from First Abu Dhabi Bank provides rewards points, cashback on specific categories, and exclusive entertainment offers.
Cashback iconGroceries iconCinema iconVisa Details
Blue FAB Infinite Credit Card by Al-Futtaim product image Blue FAB Infinite Credit Card by Al-FuttaimCashback · Lounge · Travel First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 0AED 40,00047.88% APR
  • Cashback - Up to 9% - Up to 9% cashback
  • Up to 9% cashback on retail shopping mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 4% cashback on specialty spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 1% cashback on other spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • The Blue FAB Infinite Credit Card by Al-Futtaim provides up to 9% cashback on retail shopping, airport lounge access, travel discounts, and 0% balance transfer interest.
  • Up to Up to 9%
Cashback iconLounge iconTravel iconCinema iconVisa Details
Blue FAB Signature Credit Card by Al-Futtaim product image Blue FAB Signature Credit Card by Al-FuttaimCashback · Lounge · Travel First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 0AED 15,00047.88% APR
  • Cashback - Up to 9% cashback on retail shopping mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 9% cashback on retail shopping mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 4% cashback on specialty spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 1% cashback on other spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • The Blue FAB Signature Credit Card by Al-Futtaim provides up to 9% cashback on retail shopping, airport lounge access, travel discounts, and buy now pay later options.
  • Up to Up to 9%
Cashback iconLounge iconTravel iconCinema iconVisa Details
Mashreq Cashback Credit Card product image Mashreq Cashback Credit CardCashback · Dining · Low fee Mashreq AED 0AED 5,00046.2% APR
  • 5% cashback on local and international dining spends
  • 1% cashback on other international spends
  • Up to 1% cashback on local spends
  • 0.15% cashback on government payments, utilities, education, charity, fuel, rental and telecom spends
  • 20% cashback for the first 4 months on selected merchants like Netflix, Talabat and Careem, capped at AED 50 per merchant per month
  • Cashback - Up to 5% cashback
Cashback iconDining iconLow fee iconVisa Details
Amazon Platinum Covered Card product image Amazon Platinum Covered CardCashback · Lounge · Travel Emirates Islamic AED 0AED 5,00044.28% APR
  • Cashback
  • Enjoy unlimited cashback, and much more with the region's first Amazon card.
  • Lower-entry Amazon cashback card with cinema and lounge benefits.
  • The Emirates Islamic Amazon Platinum Covered Card offers cashback rewards, Amazon shopping benefits, airport lounge access, movie tickets, and various lifestyle discounts.
  • Up to Up to 6%
Cashback iconLounge iconTravel iconCinema iconIslamic iconLow fee iconMastercard Details
Blue FAB Platinum Credit Card by Al-Futtaim product image Blue FAB Platinum Credit Card by Al-FuttaimCashback · Lounge · Travel First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 0AED 8,00047.88% APR
  • Up to 9% cashback on retail shopping mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 4% cashback on specialty spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • Up to 1% cashback on other spending mentioned on FAB Blue listing
  • The Blue FAB Platinum Credit Card by Al-Futtaim provides up to 9% cashback on retail shopping, airport lounge access, travel discounts, and zero annual fee.
  • Up to Up to 9%
Cashback iconLounge iconTravel iconCinema iconVisa Details
Cashback Card product image Cashback CardCashback · Cinema · Low fee Emirates Islamic AED 367.5AED 5,00044.28% APR
  • 5% cashback on telecom expenses
  • 5% cashback on electronic store purchases
  • Up to 1% guaranteed cashback on all local and international transactions
  • Cashback on telecom expenses - 5% - Enjoy 5% cashback on telecom expenses
  • Cashback on electronic store purchases - 5% - Enjoy 5% cashback on electronic store purchases
  • Enjoy 5% cashback on telecom expenses and 5% cashback on electronic store purchases.
Cashback iconCinema iconLow fee iconVisa Details
Cashback Plus Card product image Cashback Plus CardCashback · Lounge · Dining Emirates Islamic AED 313.95AED 12,00044.28% APR
  • Up to 10% cashback on groceries
  • Up to 10% cashback on education
  • Up to 10% cashback on dining
  • Up to 10% cashback on telecom
  • Up to 10% cashback on groceries, education, dining and telecom.
  • Cashback
Cashback iconLounge iconDining iconGroceries iconCinema iconLow fee iconVisa Details
FAB Travel Credit Card product image FAB Travel Credit CardCashback · Travel · Low fee First Abu Dhabi Bank AED 1,500AED 20,00047.88% APR
  • Cashback - cashbackRate
  • FAB Travel Credit Card from First Abu Dhabi Bank provides travel-focused benefits such as yearly free flights, up to AED 1,800 cashback on travel bookings, zero international transaction fees, airport lounge access, and rewards.
  • Up to 12%
Cashback iconTravel iconLow fee iconMastercard Details
Mashreq Platinum Plus Credit Card product image Mashreq Platinum Plus Credit CardLounge · Travel · Cinema Mashreq AED 313.95AED 5,00046.2% APR
  • 85% interest rate, 5% cashback, and benefits tailored for frequent spenders.
Lounge iconTravel iconCinema iconLow fee iconVisa Details
Amazon World Covered Card product image Amazon World Covered CardCashback · Lounge · Travel Emirates Islamic AED 0AED 15,00044.28% APR
  • Cashback
  • Enjoy unlimited cashback, and much more with the region's first Amazon card.
  • Amazon-focused cashback card with lounge access and cinema perks.
  • The Emirates Islamic Amazon World Covered Card offers unlimited cashback, up to AED 500 welcome bonus, no annual fee, worldwide airport lounge access, and various lifestyle benefits including discounts and complimentary tickets.
  • Up to Up to 6%
Cashback iconLounge iconTravel iconCinema iconIslamic iconMastercard Details

APR means Annualized Percentage Rate: the yearly cost rate used for unpaid card balances. If a bank lists only a monthly retail/cash finance rate, we show monthly rate × 12 as APR. Cashback and rewards usually have caps, eligible categories, and terms.

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Check before you apply

UAEBanks.org is an independent research and comparison site, not a bank, broker, financial adviser, UAE government entity, or official bank representative. Fees, eligibility, rewards, offers, and approvals can change. Always verify the latest terms, Key Facts Statement, fees, and conditions with the official bank before applying.