Best Credit Cards for Travel in the UAE: Unlock Rewards and Benefits
Travel is a very exciting business and will become even better with new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes. To frequent flyers in the UAE, using the right credit card increases the pleasure of travel. Indeed, these cards help offer rewards, travel perks, as well as security. Find out more about the best travel credit cards in the UAE that guide you on which one to use for your next trip.
What Are Travel Credit Cards?
Travel Credit Cards
Travel credit cards are made to offer all those features mainly based on the needs of travelers. This can include rebates points, where one collects points for spending every dirham and applies them for flights, hotel stay, or travel experience and free entry into airport lounges before taking a flight.
They cover out-of-the-blue trips, such as the cancellation of a trip due to unexpected circumstances and lost luggage, while medical emergencies are taken care of.
– Less additional fees on international transactions with a travel credit card, specifically no Foreign Transaction Fee.
– Offers tasteful travel discounts in deals and offers from their partners, airlines, hotels, and travel agencies.
Why Use a Travel Credit Card?
Going out on a credit card may help you travel, save and enjoy your traveling. You can earn rewards at the cost of your every single spend when one is earning rewards for the cost of flights or hotel stays. It also has other perks, such as insurance and lounge access, that make your travel much more comfortable and secure.
Best Travel Credit Cards in UAE
- Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
Features:
– Rewards: Earn 1.5 Skywards Miles on every AED spent locally and 2 Skywards Miles on every AED spent internationally.
– Welcome Bonus: Award up to 100,000 bonus Skywards Miles at sign up.
– Lounge Access: Enjoy unlimited free lounge access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through Lounge Key
– Travel Insurance: Gain coverage for comprehensive travel insurance
– No Foreign Transaction Fee: Spend abroad without extra charges.
Why It’s Great: The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card is best suited for frequent flyers of Emirates. Great earning rate on Skywards Miles along with bonus miles and traveling benefits, this card is one of the greatest options among traveler cards for flyers frequently visiting Emirates.
- FAB World MasterCard
Key Features:
Points: Get 3 points of FAB Rewards per AED spent on travel, 2 points at dining, and 1 point for all other purchases.
Lounge access: Get free entry to more than 800 airport lounges across the world with Lounge Key.
Global Concierge Service: For any travel, booking related issues.
Travel Insurance: Emergency medical and worldwide trip interruption coverage.
Why It’s Great: The FAB World MasterCard is extremely versatile, especially for those who dine out or have recurring travel-related purchases. The international concierge will treat you personally for that touch of luxury.
- HSBC Elite Credit Card
What’s in it for you:
– Rewards: Earn 2 HSBC Reward points for every AED 1 spent locally and 3 points for international transactions
– Travel Benefits: Enjoy access to luxury airport lounges worldwide.
– Travel Insurance: All-inclusive insurance for travel-related emergencies.
– Redemption Flexibility: Points can be used in the form of tickets, hotel bookings, or shopping vouchers.
– Why It’s Great: The HSBC Elite Credit Card is suitable for a traveler who likes flexibility in redeeming rewards. In addition to this, the good credit-grabbing power of international spending in it makes it one of the most ideal cards for globe trotters.
- Citibank Prestige Credit Card
Top Features:
– Rewards: 5 Thank You Points for every Dirham spent at air and hotels, 3 for dining spend, and 1 for other spends.
Lounge Access: Enjoy free access to over 1,000 airport lounges across the globe.
Global Assistance: Receive 24-hour concierge services to assist with anything from planning your trip or during emergencies.
Comprehensive Insurance: Offering you protection in case of medical emergencies and trip cancellation.
Why It’s Awesome: If premium services and rewards are what you are after, then this will be a Citibank Prestige Credit Card, perfect for high-spending travelers. As its structure is based on earning points on travels or travel-related expenses, it is very well-suited for loyal flyers.
- RAK Bank Travel Credit Card
Key Features:
Rewards 1.5 RAK Rewards points per AED 1 locally and 2 points internationally
Welcome Bonus 30,000 bonus RAK Rewards points on signing.
– No Annual Fee for First Year: It has no annual fee for the first year.
– Insurance Coverage: It comes with travel insurance for emergency coverage.
Why It’s Great: RAK Bank Travel Credit Card is competitively priced for travelers. Actually, its waivers on annual fees in the first year are attractive especially if one’s purchases yield hundreds of thousands of welcome bonus points for new cardholders.
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) Hayyak Credit Card
Key Features:
Points: earn 1 ADCB Touchpoints on every dirham in AED 1. Travel Insurance All Inclusive incident covers while traveling. Offers Tying up Co-op with hotel and travel packages. Free foreign transaction fee Travel without any additional charges across the globe.
Why it’s great The ADCB Hayyak Credit Card is for a casual tourist looking to save on travels. Points can get earned by people looking to make easy miles.
Travel Credit Cards: How to Choose the Best
The best travel credit card depends on various considerations, such as:
- Traveling Habits
Identify how frequently you travel, which airlines you prefer to travel with, and what type of expenses you incur. This will help determine which card best suits your needs for the most rewards based on your spend habits.
- Reward Structures
Examine your travel and spending habits and then look for a card that can offer you rewards in a manner that is friendly to these patterns. For example, if you are accustomed to eating out, you should go for cards that have a high rate of spend for dining.
- Annual Fees
Compare the annual fees around different cards and see how each card can offer you much more against the fee charged. Sometimes you may find a card with higher fee offering more precious rewards and benefits.
- Travel Perks
Travel perks include lounge access, travel insurance, and concierge services. Don’t forget to add those to the package. These benefits can really raise your game for traveling.
- Redemption Flexibility
The rewards you earn in return must be easily redeemable on flights, hotels, or other traveling expenses. Find a credit card with very flexible redemption options.
Maximizing Travel Rewards
- Sign-Up Bonuses
Use credit card sign-up bonuses. Minimum spend can add up to a lot of money at the end.
- Everyday Spend
Put everyday spend onto your travel credit card. This can earn you points faster.
- Look for Promos
Watch out for special promotions from your credit card issuer. Many cards offer bonus points on specific categories or during promotional periods.
- Pay Balances in Full
Pay your balances in full to avoid interest, and you’ll enjoy rewards without debt.
- Combine Rewards Programs
If you have multiple travel credit cards, then consider pooling your rewards and points to maximize travel benefits.
Conclusion
Travel credit cards in the UAE are designed to make your traveling more pleasant, with your frequent rewards and other benefits. Whether you happen to be a tourist traveler, who frequently travels, or a leisure-seeker, who resorts to dining out as the source of fun; you have the right card.
Each offers different special benefits differently across the differing preferences. Therefore, assuming you know which is your travel preference and then evaluating the features of each card, you can strategize how to maximize rewards and unlock a whole world.
The ultimate travel credit card will make your adventures richer, but it will also give you peace of mind because you know you have valuable perks and rewards by your side at every step. So, as you start planning your next journey, take a look at the options and pick out the card that best fits your travel aspirations. Safe travels!