🇦🇪 Credit Card Requirements in United Arab Emirates

UAE card comparison is unusually lifestyle-driven, weighing cinema tickets, golf, valet, and Skywards miles against salary-based eligibility, since issuers like Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq and FAB often set a minimum monthly salary to qualify. Lenders check the AECB score (300 to 900; around 650+ is generally treated as good as of 2026). The perk-heavy cards look great on paper, but the value collapses if you don't use the specific lounges, cinemas, or golf courses tied to the offer. Watch for high cash-advance and late fees, and confirm the salary requirement and current perks with the issuer.

The score that matters

Banks in United Arab Emirates lean heavily on your AECB Score (it runs 300–900). Clear 650+ and the premium cards open up; sit below it and you'll still find secured and starter cards built for thinner files.

What you'll usually need

• To be old enough — 18+, sometimes 21+ on certain cards
• ID that checks out (passport, national ID or the local equivalent)
• Something that proves where you live
• Evidence you earn — payslips, bank statements or tax records
• A AECB Score in the qualifying range
• Residency, or a visa/work permit that allows it

Tilting the odds your way in United Arab Emirates

• Pull your AECB Score first — most bureaus let you see it free.
• Apply only for cards that match your score band; scattershot applications mean needless rejections.
• Keep balances low and never miss a due date.
• No history yet? Begin with a secured or entry-level card and build from there.

Regulator: Central Bank of the UAE. Every issuer sets its own bar — confirm on the official application page before you apply.