Best Credit Cards for International Travel if You Live in the UAE
- MooCover
- Oct 10, 2025
- 10 min read
Travelling abroad is exciting, but international expenses can quickly add up. One wrong swipe and foreign fees can quietly drain your wallet. That’s why picking the right travel credit card matters. From skipping transaction fees to sipping coffee in an airport lounge, the right credit card can make your trip smoother and more rewarding.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best credit cards for UAE residents travelling internationally. You’ll learn which features matter most, which banks offer the best perks, and how to pick a card that suits your travel style.
Why Your Travel Credit Card Matters
A normal credit card may work fine for local spending. But once you step into another country, hidden costs start showing up:
Foreign exchange fees, often 2.5–3.5% per transaction
Overseas transaction charges
Minimal rewards or cashback for international spending
A travel-focused card addresses these pain points. The ideal card offers no foreign exchange fees, lounge access at airports, rewards for spending worldwide, and sometimes, complimentary travel insurance. Think of it like a travel backpack: it carries everything you need so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute.
Key Features to Look For
No International Transaction Fees
Airport Lounge Access
Travel Insurance
Rewards for International Spending
Global Acceptance
Tips for Choosing the Right Card
Travel Frequency: Frequent flyers should choose cards with unlimited lounge access. Occasional travellers can manage with limited visits.
Match Rewards to Spending: Emirates flyers should target Skywards cards; hotel lovers should look for cards with points or cashback for stays.
Watch the Annual Fee: Some cards charge AED 500–2,000 yearly. Ensure perks outweigh the cost.
Look for Extras: No foreign transaction fees and free travel insurance save both money and stress.
Acceptance Matters: Stick with Visa or MasterCard for global convenience.
For extra peace of mind while travelling, consider pairing your trip with comprehensive travel insurance from MooTravel.
15 Best Credit Cards for Traveling from UAE in 2025
Here are examples of good credit cards for international travel in the UAE (features change often, always confirm with the bank):
For Frequent Flyers (Airline-Specific Cards)
Best for those travellers who frequently travel via Emirates, Etihad, or other airlines- these credit cards help you maximize air miles and travel perks.
1. Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Up to 100,000 bonus Skywards Miles- Welcome Offer |
Travel Cashback | Earn 2 Skywards miles per USD 1 spent on Emirates and flydubai 1.5 Miles on international purchases 1 Mile on local purchases |
Lifestyle Perks | • Complimentary Rotana Rewards membership • Golf access • Valet parking (Abu Dhabi) |
Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited access to 1,000+ lounges worldwide via Visa Airport Companion App |
Travel Insurance | Health and travel assistance |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 30,000/month |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 1.99% of Transaction Amount |
Annual Fee | AED 1,575 AED 3,148.95- Joining Fee |
2. Emirates NBD Skywards Signature Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | N/A (rewards in Skywards Miles) |
Travel Cashback | N/A |
Lifestyle Perks | • Golf access • Concierge services • Valet parking (Abu Dhabi) |
Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited access to 1,000+ lounges worldwide via Visa Airport Companion (cardholder only) |
Travel Insurance | N/A |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 12,000/month |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 1.99% of Transaction Amount |
Annual Fee |
3. HSBC Emirates Skywards Signature Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Not applicable - rewards are earned as Emirates Skywards Miles, not cashback. |
Travel Cashback | Not applicable - rewards accrue as Skywards Miles; no direct travel cashback. |
Lifestyle Perks | Careem Plus: Complimentary 12-month subscription when you pay with your card. Zomato Gold Membership: Up to 50% off dining at 4,000+ UAE restaurants. Cinema Offers: Buy 1 Get 1 Free movie tickets each month + 20% off food and drinks at cinemas (minimum spend AED 6,000/month). home&Away Deals: Global shopping, dining, and travel offers. Samsung Products: Up to 30% off phones, laptops, TVs, and more. |
Airport Lounge Access | 12 complimentary visits/year for cardholders and additional cardholders to 1,000+ lounges. |
Travel Insurance | Multi-trip travel insurance: Coverage up to USD 500,000 for cardholder and family members on trips up to 90 days. |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 10,000 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2% of Transaction Amount |
Annual Fee | AED 1,050 including VAT per year |
4. Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | N/A |
Travel Cashback | Rewards are earned in Skywards Miles instead of cashback. Emirates/flydubai spend: 2 Miles per USD International spend: 1.5 Miles per USD Domestic spend: 1 Mile per USD |
Lifestyle Perks | Complimentary Reel Cinemas: Up to 3 “Buy 1 Get 1” tickets per month (AED 5,000 monthly spend required). Complimentary valet parking: 2 services/month (AED 5,000 monthly spend required). Complimentary golf at Arabian Ranches, Track Meydan, or Yas Links (AED 10,000 monthly spend required). |
Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited complimentary access to 1,200+ airport lounges via Visa Airport Companion App. 1st visit in a calendar year is free; subsequent visits require USD 1 foreign spend in prior 15 days per card. Additional guests charged USD 32 per person/visit. |
Travel Insurance | Multi-trip travel insurance covering up to 90 days per trip. Automatic coverage includes travel accident and travel inconvenience insurance. |
Eligibility | Not specified |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.34% of Transaction Amount (for Non-UAE Dirhams) 1.99% of Transaction Amount (for UAE Dirhams) |
Annual Fee | AED 999, waived for the first year if retail spends of AED 30,000 within 180 days from card approval are met. |
5. FAB Etihad Guest Signature Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Not applicable - rewards are earned as Etihad Guest Miles, not cashback |
Travel Cashback | Not applicable - travel rewards are earned as Etihad Guest Miles. |
Lifestyle Perks | 4 discounted tickets/month for AED 20 at Reel Cinemas, Cine Royal & Star Cinemas. Discounts at select premium golf courses. 24/7 concierge service for bookings, reservations, and travel support. |
Airport Lounge Access | Up to 8 free lounge visits/year at 1,000+ lounges globally (via Visa). |
Travel Insurance | International Medical & Travel Assistance: Emergency medical expenses, trip cancellation, delayed departure cover (when travel booked with the card). Travel Accident Insurance: Complimentary cover up to USD 500,000. |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 15,000 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.61% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 1,500 |
6. ADIB Etihad Guest Gold Card
Monthly Cashback | Welcome bonus of 35,000 Etihad Guest Miles |
Travel Cashback | 1.5 Etihad Guest Miles for every AED 4 spent Free Companion Ticket Voucher |
Lifestyle Perks | Free Roadside Assistance |
Airport Lounge Access | Free Airport Lounge Access via LoungeKey (2 Free visits/year) Access to 850+ VIP airport lounges |
Travel Insurance | N/A |
Eligibility | Not specified |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.3% of Transaction Amount (for Non-AED) 1.99% of Transaction Amount (for AED) |
Annual Fee | AED 1000 |
7. Citibank Ultima Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | AED 1,000 cashback subject to min spend criteria of AED 25,000 in 90 days. |
Travel Cashback | 50% off airline tickets (up to AED 2,000) once a year. Redeem Citi Miles for flights with any airline, class or destination. Transfer miles to 11 partner airlines, including Etihad, Turkish, Qatar & British Airways. |
Lifestyle Perks | 3rd night free at any hotel worldwide (unlimited). Free Home check-in (4 per year). |
Airport Lounge Access | Airport Transfers (4 per year) Unlimited global airport lounge access (+ guest) |
Travel Insurance | N/A |
Eligibility | Minimum Salary: AED 36,750 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.99% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 3,000 |
8. Citibank Prestige Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | N/A |
Travel Cashback | Redeem points for cash rebates, travel related spend or points transfer to 11 partner airlines/hotels. |
Lifestyle Perks | 4th night free at any hotel locally for staycations, or anywhere worldwide. Unlimited complimentary golf. Buy 1 – get 1 free movie tickets & Valet Parking each month. |
Airport Lounge Access | Access to 1,200 lounges worldwide (+guest) with MasterCard Travel Pass app. |
Travel Insurance | N/A |
Eligibility | Minimum Salary: AED 30,000 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.99% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 1,500 |
For Families/ Budget Travellers
For families/budget travellers who value insurance coverage, lounge access for companions, and want travel perks but lower fees and smaller minimum salary requirements
9. ADCB Traveller Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Up to AED 1,500 (minimum spend AED 5,000) |
Travel Cashback | 10% on hotel stays 10% on airline tickets (any airline, any destination) |
Lifestyle Perks | 50% cashback on movie tickets Dining & travel offers |
Airport Lounge Access | 14 complimentary visits/year to 1,200+ lounges worldwide + 1 free guest per visit |
Travel Insurance | Complimentary annual travel insurance |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 20,000/month |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% - No Foreign Transaction Fees at all |
Annual Fee | AED 1,575 |
10. Liv. Cashback Plus Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | 4% cashback on all spends Up to AED 1,500 |
Travel Cashback | |
Lifestyle Perks | 3 tickets per month + 25% off on F&B 20% off on 1 order per month |
Airport Lounge Access | 800+ Airports |
Travel Insurance | Up to USD 500,000 |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 5,000. |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 1.99% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 700 and AED 700 Joining Fee |
11. HSBC Max Rewards Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Not applicable - rewards are earned in Air Miles, not cashback. |
Travel Cashback | N/A |
Lifestyle Perks | Careem Plus Subscription: Complimentary 12-month subscription when you add and use your HSBC card on the Careem app. Zomato Gold Membership: Up to 50% off dining bills at over 4,000 restaurants in the UAE. Fitness First: 8 visits per month for AED 1 each when you spend over AED 6,000/month (offer valid until 9 Oct 2025). Cinema Offers: Buy 1 Get 1 Free movie tickets each month + 20% off food and drinks at cinemas in the UAE (minimum spend AED 6,000/month). home&Away Deals: Shopping, travel, dining offers worldwide. |
Airport Lounge Access | 12 complimentary visits/year to over 1,000 airport lounges for cardholders and additional cardholders. Condition: At least one international purchase of USD 1 on the card 15 days before travel. Access via Visa Airport Companion Mobile App. |
Travel Insurance | Multi-trip travel insurance: Coverage up to USD 500,000 per person for trips up to 90 days. Includes insurance for cardholder and family members. |
Eligibility | Minimum monthly salary: AED 10,000 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2% of Transaction Amount |
Annual Fee | AED 0 for the first year. Subsequent years: AED 600 |
12. FAB Cashback Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | 5% on dining, fashion & groceries (up to AED 150 each/month). 3% on international (non-AED) spends. 1% on all other spends. 0.15% on select categories (real estate, utilities, petrol, education, insurance, etc.). Monthly cap: AED 1,000 cashback in FAB Rewards (redeemable via FAB Mobile). Minimum spend: AED 3,000 in previous month required to earn cashback. |
Travel Cashback | 3% cashback on international spends. 40% off on MakeMyTrip bookings. |
Lifestyle Perks | Staycation: Free 1-night family stay at Rixos Bab Al Bahr (spend AED 10,000 in 60 days; offer valid until 30 Sept 2025). Food: 40% off Talabat orders. Cinema: Movie tickets for AED 20 at select cinemas. Shopping: AED 40 off Carrefour online orders. |
Airport Lounge Access | Free access to international airport lounges worldwide. 2 complimentary airport transfers per year. |
Travel Insurance | Not Specified |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 5,000. |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.61% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 300 |
13. FAB Travel Card
Monthly Cashback | 12% cashback (in FAB Rewards) on flight & hotel bookings (subject to minimum monthly spend). |
Travel Cashback | Free yearly return flight to over 15 destinations (London, Paris, Istanbul, Baku, Tbilisi, Mumbai & more). Earn FAB Rewards on all spends. No FX conversion fees & no hidden charges |
Lifestyle Perks | Movie ticket discounts. Exclusive offers with FAB partners & 0% Easy Payment Plans. Discounts on shopping, dining & entertainment via FAB partner network. |
Airport Lounge Access | Complimentary global airport lounge access for cardholder + 2 guests. Free airport transfers. Airport Fast Track for quicker security checks. |
Travel Insurance | Not Specified |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 25,000 |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.61% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | AED 1,500 |
14. RAKBank World Credit card
Monthly Cashback | 10% cashback on dining, travel & grocery spends Up to 3% cashback on retail spends AED 750 welcome bonus (limited-time offer, T&Cs apply) |
Travel Cashback | 10% cashback on travel & hotel spends Exclusive offers on tickets & hotel bookings Mastercard travel discounts & privileges |
Lifestyle Perks | VOX Cinemas discounted tickets Shopping, entertainment & fashion discounts Educational & fitness offers Discounts on Talabat |
Airport Lounge Access | World Mastercard® Lounge Program (complimentary global lounge access) Airport transfer & transport perks |
Travel Insurance | Not mentioned |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 20,000. |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.57% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | Free for the first year and an annual fee of AED 950 +5% VAT applies from second year |
15. FAB Rewards Indulge Credit Card
Monthly Cashback | Earn FAB Rewards on every spend 5 FAB Rewards on online spending 1 FAB Reward on all other spends (including abroad) Monthly bonus: 20,000 FAB Rewards |
Travel Cashback | 8% discount on bookings via cleartrip.ae. 10% off car & truck rentals. |
Lifestyle Perks | 20% off shopping on Namshi.com (up to AED 100 per order) Up to 20% off dining at 150+ UAE restaurants Up to 20% off attractions (Wild Wadi, Dubai Aquarium, Dubai Ice Rink, etc.) Movie tickets at only AED 20. |
Airport Lounge Access | Unlimited complimentary global airport lounge access. |
Travel Insurance | Not Specified |
Eligibility | Minimum salary: AED 5,000. |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.61% of the transaction amount |
Annual Fee | No annual fee (lifetime free) |
*All credit card fees, benefits, and policies mentioned in this guide are accurate as of September 17, 2025, and are sourced from the official bank websites. Rates and terms may change, so please check with the bank for the most current information before applying.
Common Questions About Travel Credit Cards
Do all travel cards remove foreign exchange fees?
No. Only select cards waive these charges. Always check the fine print.
Is airport lounge access unlimited with credit cards?
Some premium cards offer unlimited visits. Others limit free visits to 4–6 per year, or require a small fee after free visits.
Can I use my UAE card everywhere?
Mostly yes, but small towns abroad may still prefer cash. Carry both card and cash.
Do travel cards have annual fees?
Many do, but if you travel often, perks like lounge access and no foreign fees usually outweigh the cost.
Can I bring family or guests to lounges?
Some cards allow 1–2 guests per visit; others only cover the cardholder. Premium options like Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite include unlimited access for both cardholder and guests.
Do rewards expire?
Airline miles and cashback often have expiry terms. Keep an eye on expiry dates and redemption limits.
Which cards are best for low-salary residents?
Cards like Liv. Cashback Plus, FAB Rewards Indulge, and FAB Cashback Credit Card offer travel perks and lounge access without high minimum salary requirements.
Are there credit cards with free global lounge access for families?
Yes, premium cards like RAKBank World Credit Card and FAB Travel Card allow cardholders to bring 1–2 guests, making them suitable for family travelers.
Which travel credit card gives the most cashback on hotels and flights?
Cards like ADCB Traveller Credit Card and RAKBank World Credit Card provide up to 10% cashback on hotel stays, airline tickets, and travel bookings, while FAB Travel Card offers complimentary yearly flights and FAB Rewards on all spends.
Which travel credit cards offer zero foreign currency exchange fees?
The ADCB Traveller Credit Card offers zero foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international spending.
Conclusion
Choosing a travel credit card isn’t just about chasing miles or lounges. It’s about matching the card to how you travel and spend. A frequent flyer will need a very different card from someone taking an annual vacation. Pick one that rewards your lifestyle and makes every trip easier.
Travel smarter. Spend wisely. And wherever you go, make every mile count.
Planning a trip? Protect your trip with comprehensive coverage from MooCover. Contact us today!