Travel cards in the UAE: 6 options compared

If you’ve traveled outside of the UAE before, you’ve probably had this moment: you check your bank account after getting home and wonder why your trip cost more than you expected.

It often isn't the flights or hotels that catch you out. It's the small things. Paying for coffee, grabbing an Uber, shopping in a local market. Every time you swipe your everyday card, you might be adding more foreign transaction fees or currency conversion charges to your bill.

The good news is that there are plenty of travel cards designed to make spending overseas easier and more cost-effective nowadays. The challenge is knowing which one to choose.

That's where this guide comes in. We'll compare six of some popular travel cards available to UAE residents, break down their fees and features, and help you find the right option for the way you travel.

We cover:

Ziina is the first peer-to-peer payments app in the UAE that helps you keep costs low when spending abroad.

While there’s no ‘best’ card for spending abroad, finding the right one for you comes down to how you use it.

For example, before deciding on a card, ask:

As a general rule, the right card is usually one that offers low currency conversion fees up to a limit that suits you, provides benefits that are important to you, and actually matches how often you travel.

Note: Make sure to check the minimum salary and eligibility requirements for each card, since that can quickly narrow down your options in the UAE.

Let’s get into our five options!

We’ll start by introducing ourselves: Ziina is a UAE peer-to-peer payment app that helps you travel overseas and keep costs low each time you swipe your card.

Using Ziina’s virtual card, you can spend directly from your Ziina Wallet anywhere that Visa is accepted. Add the card to e-wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and check your balance anytime within the Ziina app (which updates quickly with every transaction).

A Ziina Card is free to create and helps you save on international spending with 0% currency conversion fees up to your account limit. This depends on what type of Ziina account you have:

For example, if you're using Ziina Lite and spend the equivalent of 4,000 AED in foreign currencies in one month, you'll only pay the 0.5% currency conversion fee on the AED 1,000 above your allowance. That's a fee of AED 5.

Other than that, the Ziina Card has zero fees for local AED transactions in the UAE. You don’t need to worry about sign-up fees or hidden fees, either.

Read more: Top 5 digital wallets in the UAE: A comprehensive guide

Please bear in mind that the Ziina Card doesn’t support ATM withdrawals, and it can only be used for purchases at merchants that accept Visa, including through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

If you’re using Ziina Lite and want higher spending limits abroad, you can simply upgrade to Ziina Violet, which is our premium lifestyle membership tier that costs 100 AED per month or 996 AED per year.

With a Violet account, you can create a Ziina Violet Card and gain access to a range of exclusive benefits, including:

You can also get exclusive deals and benefits from our 12 partner brands, including…

… among others. Most benefits refresh automatically each month.

If you change your mind, you can cancel your membership anytime from the app. If you're on a yearly plan, your benefits will stay active until your plan ends.

As a virtual-only card, Ziina enables you to control all your details from the app, which is protected by multi-factor authentication and your phone's built-in biometric security (like Face ID or your fingerprint scanner). All card details are encrypted and stored using PCI-DSS-compliant security standards.

You can freeze your Ziina Card through the app if you believe your card has been subject to fraud. There’s no need to call or wait for customer support to do this: instead, you can just head to the card management section of the app and click the ‘Freeze’ button.

And if your card does get stolen or compromised, we allow you to ‘Block & Reissue’ your card, which is useful if you’re already abroad and can’t wait for a new physical one in the mail. Once you reissue your card, your new 16-digit card number, CVV, and expiry date are generated instantly, so you can start using your new card straight away.

Simply sign up for a Ziina Personal account with your Emirates ID and a UAE phone number – it’s free, and it typically only takes a few minutes.

Once you complete the onboarding process, you’ll be issued with an activated Ziina Card automatically.

Here are some other travel cards in the UAE to consider…

The prepaid Al Ansari Exchange Platinum TravelCard¹ is a reloadable prepaid card that allows you to manage up to 37 currencies at once. You can use the card to pay for goods, services, and bills, or to withdraw money from ATMs across the world (where Visa is accepted).

Key rewards and perks

Eligibility requirements:

To apply for the Al Ansari Exchange Visa Platinum TravelCard, you need to be a UAE resident with a valid Emirates ID that’s over the age of 18.^1b To apply for a TravelCard, visit any of the Al Ansari Exchange branches across the UAE.

Annual cost: Costs vary depending on which card services and features you use. For example, there’s a digital issuance fee of 50 AED, a card reload/unload fee of 5 AED, and it costs 30 AED for every supplementary card you create.^1a

Might be the right fit for: Users looking for multi-currency spending options.

The ADCB Traveller Credit Card² is a travel-focused rewards credit card issued by the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Frequent flyers can earn up to AED 1,500 cashback per month rates on flights and hotels with waived foreign currency fees.

To access these cashback rewards, you’ll have to meet a minimum retail spend of AED 5,000 or more using your card in a calendar month. It’s worth noting that overseas retail purchases other than airline and hotel bookings seemingly won’t be eligible for cashback rewards.

Key rewards and perks:

Eligibility requirements:

You’ll also need a minimum balance of AED 5000 to open an ADCB account, which lets you then apply for the ADCB Traveller Credit Card².

Annual cost: There’s an annual membership fee of 1,575 AED per year to maintain this card.^2a

Might be the right fit for: High spenders looking for cashback rewards on airline and hotel bookings.

The Emirates Skyward Visa Infinite Card³ is a premium co-branded credit card designed for frequent flyers. It’s designed for frequent flyers to earn loyalty rewards, fast-track elite status, and access luxury travel perks.

Please note that overseas transactions made with your Emirates Skywards Card are subject to a 1.99% currency conversion fee (subject to terms and conditions and the latest pricing information).^3a

Key rewards and perks:

Eligibility requirements:

To apply for this card, you’ll need to be a UAE resident, hold a valid Emirates ID, and be over the age of 18. You’ll also need to earn a minimum of 30,000 AED per month, and pay a one-time joining fee of 3,148.95 AED.^3a

Annual cost: It costs 1,575 AED to maintain this card each year.^3a

Might be the right fit for: Frequent flyers and high-income earners in the UAE who want premium travel perks (such as airport lounge access).

Note: Emirates NBD also offers another travel card, the Skywards Signature Credit Card^3b, which offers lower annual fees and lower annual income requirements than the Skyward Visa Infinite card.

The FAB Travel Credit Card⁴ is a premium travel rewards credit card issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) in the United Arab Emirates that waives international transaction fees and bank charges when you use your card abroad.

Key rewards and perks:

Eligibility requirements:

To open a FAB Travel Credit Card, you’ll need to be a UAE resident, be over 18 years old, hold a valid Emirates ID, and meet the minimum salary requirement of 20,000 AED per month.

Annual cost: It costs 1,500 AED per year to maintain this credit card, though you’ll also pay 241.50 AED for any late payments you make.^4a

Might be the right fit for: Frequent flyers looking for flight and travel insurance benefits.

As a UAE resident, it can be tricky to find a card that offers:

That’s why we’ve stacked up the features and fees of travel cards in the UAE, so you can easily compare and choose the right one for you. We’ve also shared how Ziina can help you spend abroad without letting fees eat into your travel budget.

And if you have a Ziina Violet account, you’ll also receive special deals from our 12 partner brands, including a Nord VPN subscription (which you can use either at home or while traveling), 15 free credits every month with ClassPass, 100 AED cashback every month with Ounass, and more.

Ready to start spending abroad without worrying about fees?

*Disclaimer: All information relating to third-party products and companies featured in this article has been sourced solely from their respective public websites and official publications at the time of writing. Ziina makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. Product features, positioning, and company details may have changed since publication. Readers should refer to each provider's official website for the most up-to-date information before making any purchasing decisions.

**Disclaimer: Availability of Ziina products and features is subject to eligibility, successful verification, device compatibility, applicable transaction limits, Ziina’s terms and conditions, and regulatory requirements. Customers are responsible for ensuring they hold any trade license, permit, tax registration, or other approval required for their business activities. Fees, limits, payout timelines, and product features may vary and are subject to change. Please refer to Ziina’s latest terms and pricing for full details.

This article was published in August, 2026.