Guide
UAE credit card eligibility — 2026 guide
Minimum salary, salary transfer, and residency rules for UAE credit cards, with a worked example using the Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite.
Published 1 Apr 2026 · Updated 29 Apr 2026
Minimum salary
UAE banks set a monthly minimum salary for each card tier. For premium travel cards, expect AED 25,000–30,000 per month; for entry-level cashback cards, AED 5,000–8,000 is common.
Salary transfer
Some banks require your salary to be transferred to an account with them before approving certain cards. Others treat salary transfer as optional but weight it heavily in approval decisions.
Residency
A valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID are required for almost all UAE credit cards. Tourist applications are not accepted.
Worked example
The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite requires AED 30,000 monthly income, does not strictly require salary transfer, and does require UAE residency.