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UAE's #1 Points & Miles Blog
Make every dirham work harder.
Independent guides to UAE credit cards, salary-transfer bonuses, miles redemptions and staycation deals — written by residents, for residents.
Hero image Editor's Pick · May 1
Credit Cards · UAE
The 5 best credit cards for UAE expats in 2026
We compared 22 cards across every major UAE bank. Here's exactly which card wins for groceries, dining, travel, and everyday spend — and which to avoid.
Top UAE card offers this month
Compare all cards →Best for dining
FAB Signature
FAB Signature Credit Card
5×
points on UAE dining
- No monthly cap on dining points
- Free Skywards transfer 1:1
- AED 500 annual fee waived first year
Best welcome bonus
ENBD Beyond
Emirates NBD Beyond
75,000
Skywards miles bonus
- Spend AED 25k in 60 days
- 2 Marhaba lounge passes / month
- Complimentary airport transfers
Best everyday
ADCB Lulu
ADCB Lulu Platinum
10%
cashback at Lulu & groceries
- No annual fee, ever
- 5% on utilities & telco
- Min salary AED 5,000
Best cashback
Mashreq
Mashreq Cashback Platinum
5%
cashback on all spend
- Up to AED 1,500 cashback / month
- Buy 1 Get 1 cinema tickets
- AED 600 annual fee
May 2026 Valuations
What UAE points are actually worth
Our monthly valuations help you decide whether to redeem now, transfer, or save up. Updated every first Friday — based on real Dubai-resident redemptions.
Emirates Skywards
2.4fils
Best for premium-cabin redemptions on Emirates & partners.
↑ Up from 2.2 in April
Etihad Guest
2.1fils
Strong on EY metal; weaker via partner award charts.
— Flat month-on-month
Marriott Bonvoy
2.8fils
UAE Marriotts hold strong off-peak award value.
↑ Up from 2.6
FAB Rewards
3.6fils
Highest value when transferred 1:1 to Skywards.
↑ New high
ADCB TouchPoints
2.0fils
Statement credit redemptions hold steady.
— Flat
ENBD Smiles
1.4fils
Best used on partner gift cards, not flights.
↓ Down from 1.7
IHG One Rewards
2.5fils
UAE properties slightly above global average.
— Flat
Hilton Honors
1.7fils
Reliable for Dubai resort weekends with 5th-night-free.
↑ Up from 1.5
See full methodology and historical data → DubaiPoints valuations
Latest articles
View all →Guide
Miles Guide
Emirates Skywards upgrade bids: how to win without overpaying
Deal
Staycation
5 Dubai hotel deals this weekend — paid with points or discounted rates
Review
Credit Cards
Mashreq Cashback Platinum: is the AED 600 annual fee worth it?
Compare
Hotel Loyalty
Marriott Bonvoy vs IHG One: which earns more in UAE hotels?
Beginner
Guide
How to start collecting UAE points from zero — a 2026 starter
Expiring this week
All deals →BankingENBD
AED 2,000 cash bonus for salary transfers this month
Min salary AED 5,000 · Account required
Ends May 10→
Credit CardFAB
5x points on dining — no monthly cap, all of May
Signature cardholders · UAE restaurants only
Ends May 31→
StaycationMashreq
30% off Atlantis The Palm with Mashreq Cashback card
Stays before May 5 · Cashback card holders
Ends May 5→
Hotel LoyaltyMarriott
Double Bonvoy points at every UAE Marriott property
Register by May 1 · Stays through June 30
Ends Jun 30→
Why DubaiPoints
Independent. UAE-resident-led. Reader-first.
We hold ourselves to a simple standard: every guide is researched, verified against official sources, and written without sponsorship influence.
01
Researched in the UAE
Every article is written by writers who actually live in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — and use these cards every day.
02
Verified with the bank
Rates, fees and bonuses are checked directly against the issuer's official terms before publication.
03
No paid placements
We never accept payment to feature, rank or recommend a card. Affiliate links are disclosed, never decisive.
04
Updated monthly
Offers change fast in the UAE. We re-verify every featured deal at the start of each month.
What readers say
"
Finally, a UAE-specific guide that doesn't read like a press release. Helped me pick the right Skywards card before our Bali trip.
SM
Sara Mansoor
Dubai Marina
"
The salary-transfer comparison saved me from picking the wrong bank. The breakdowns are honest and clearly UAE-focused.
JH
James Holloway
Abu Dhabi
"
I read the weekend deals every Friday morning. Booked a 4-star Atlantis stay at half price thanks to one tip.
NK
Noura Khalifa
JBR