5 Best Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in 2024
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Thank you for providing your details.List of Best Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in UAE - 2024
Benefits
- Sign up for the Emirates-Citibank Ultima Credit card and get 25,000 welcome bonus Skywards Miles, and 10,000 Skywards Miles annually upon payment of annual fee
- Earn up to 2.5 Skywards Miles per $ spend with a 100% exclusive Metal Card
- Exclusive 100% metal card + Skywards Silver Membership
- The annual fee applicable on this card is AED 3,000
Benefits
- Sign up for the Emirates-Citibank Ultima Credit card and get 25,000 welcome bonus Skywards Miles, and 10,000 Skywards Miles annually upon payment of annual fee
- Earn up to 2.5 Skywards Miles per $ spend with a 100% exclusive Metal Card
- Exclusive 100% metal card + Skywards Silver Membership
- Unlimited golf on weekdays and 1 free round on weekends per month
- Complimentary Valet Parking twice a month with Valtrans
- Insurance cover for online purchases up to $1,000 per year, at no additional cost
- 6 complimentary airport rides per year (up to AED 110 each) using code "MAUAE6“ on the Careem app.
- ‘Buy 1 Get 1 free’ movie tickets at VOX & REEL cinemas
- Get access to hundreds of Buy 1 Get 1 offer with the free Mastercard® priceless specials app
- Fast, safe and effortless purchases, with Apple Pay & Google Pay.
- Complimentary Silver Bronze Meet & Greet service once a year at Dubai International Airport.
- Complimentary International Concierge Service
- Complimentary Travel Insurance
- Enjoy complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership giving you 12kg extra baggage and Emirates lounge access in Dubai Airport. Plus get unlimited access to 1100+ airport lounges worldwide for you and a guest with MasterCard Travel Pass app. Also enjoy unlimited golf on weekdays and 1 free round on weekends per month.
- Earn 2.5 Skywards Miles per USD spent on www.emirates.com in AED; 1.5 Skywards Miles per USD on non-AED spend and 1 Skywards Mile per USD on other AED spend.
- Redeem your Skywards Miles for reward flights and upgrades with Emirates
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Advantages
- 5 Salaam points on every 1 AED
- AED 2000 cashback as a welcome bonus
- 20% cashback on Zomato
Overview
- Can get 2 free access to airport lounges worldwide
- Maximum 8 free entries are provided to the airport lounges per year
- A minimum spend of AED 7000(pm)in the last billing cycle is required to get 2 free access to airport lounges and free pickup and drop service to the airport
Overview
- Can get 2 free access to airport lounges worldwide
- Maximum 8 free entries are provided to the airport lounges per year
- A minimum spend of AED 7000(pm)in the last billing cycle is required to get 2 free access to airport lounges and free pickup and drop service to the airport
- Can get free visits to FitnessFirst centers at selected locations
- Earn 1 Salaam points on purchases made in the UAE using the card
- Earn 3 Salaam points on purchases made outside the UAE using the card
- Can get up to 50% on dining, entertainment, leisure and much more
- AED 156.45 is charged as annual fee on supplementary card
Benefits
- Get 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles as guaranteed one-time bonus on spending a minimum AED 5,000 on your FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card (Offer valid till 21 September 2021)
- Get 55,000 Etihad miles as a welcome bonus
- Earn Etihad miles on every expense made anywhere in the world
- The interest of cash advance will be charged at 3.5% per month until 14 May 2023 & from 15th May 2023 onwards 3.99% per month will be charged.
The interest on Retail purchases will be charged at 3.50% per month until 14 May 2023 & from 15th May 2023 onwards 3.85% per month will be charged. - A minimum salary of AED 30,000 is required
- Annual fees of AED 2500 is charged
Benefits
- Get 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles as guaranteed one-time bonus on spending a minimum AED 5,000 on your FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card (Offer valid till 21 September 2021)
- Get 55,000 Etihad miles as a welcome bonus
- Earn Etihad miles on every expense made anywhere in the world
- Earn 6 Etihad miles per 10 AED spent on foreign transactions
- Earn 3.5 Etihad miles per 10 AED spent on local transactions
- Earn 7 Etihad miles per 10 AED spent on Etihad bookings
- Can earn 2.5 Etihad miles per 10 AED on balance transfer
- 75% Etihad Guest Miles discount voucher every year when you spend AED 200,000 or more on your card
- Avail Meet and greet services as complimentary
- Get 8 free airport transfer facility
- Get free access to airport lounges worldwide via Lounge Key
- Get access to fitness first clubs for AED 30 per visit
- Get movie tickets for AED 10 at Reel Cinemas, Cine Royal and Oscar Cinemas
- Get discounts at selected golf clubs
- Can get accident travel insurance and purchase protection
- Limited Offer Get up to 200,000 Etihad Guest Miles with a FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card using the FAB Mobile app. Conditions apply.
Features
- Provides high range of skywards miles
- Can get several travel benefits
- Can avail balance transfer facility
Features
- Provides high range of skywards miles
- Can get several travel benefits
- Can avail balance transfer facility
- Interest rate of 3.33% is charged
- A minimum salary of AED 25,000 is required
- Annual fees of AED 4500 is charged
Benefits
- Get 50,000 Skyward miles as a welcome bonus
- Can get Emirates Skywards Silver-tier Membership for free
- Can get silver-tier membership upgraded to Gold tier on spending AED 5500 with Emirates
- Can earn up to 3 miles per 1 USD spent using the card
- Can check-in to Emirates flights from your location itself for free
- Can get airport transfers for free from anywhere in the UAE
- Can get unlimited access to 900+ airport lounges for free
- Free Valtrans valet parking service at selected locations in the UAE
- Free access to golf clubs
- Can get travel inconvenience and medical cover
Advantages
- 100,000 welcome bonus Smiles Points
- 50% off on movies
- Free access to airport lounges
Features
- Get high Smiles points and a welcome bonus
- Discounts on movie tickets
- Access to airport lounges
Features
- Get high Smiles points and a welcome bonus
- Discounts on movie tickets
- Access to airport lounges
- Enjoy a Free subscription to Smiles ‘Unlimited Buy 1 Get 1’ offers
- Get Unique Smiles and CBD deals, Etisalat bill payment
- Interest rate of 3.85% is charged
- Minimum salary of AED 12,000 is required
- Free For the First year & from the second year onwards Annual fee of AED 1048.95 is charged ( fee waiver option available. T&Cs apply)
Benefits
- Enjoy the complimentary airport lounges across the world at more than 1,000 airports.
- Get a 50% discount on movie tickets at Novo, Reel & VOX cinemas.
- Enjoy complimentary valet parking across 30 locations.
- Enjoy complimentary rounds of Golf at Trump International Golf Club
- Get Your travel Insurance with Multi-trip travel insurance with coverage of up to USD 500,000
- Enjoy the benefits of a 0% Easy Payment Plan, Balance Transfer & Quick Cash at competitive prices.
- Get a welcome bonus 100,000 smile points on min. spending criteria till 31st March 2024. T&Cs apply.
- Earn 10 Smiles per AED on spending on Etisalat Spends, Smiles App elGrocer
- Earn Up to 3 Smiles per AED on International Spends
- Earn Up to 2 Smiles per AED on Domestic Spends
- Earn 15,000 Smiles on achieving a cumulative spend of AED 55,000 in a quarter
- Earn rewards and redeem them for Etisalat bill payments, Food delivery, Airline tickets, Shopping vouchers, Discount voucher, Electronics and a lot more
Joining Bonus Credit Cards
Credit cards are popular for the rewards provided on different purchases. Apart from the rewards that are gained after making purchases, one factor that entices a new credit card holder is the welcome bonus.
What is a welcome bonus on the credit card?
The joining bonus is also known as a welcome bonus or sign up bonus. When a person applies and gets approved for a credit card, the card providers offer bonuses, discounts, etc. as a welcome bonus. Apart from the regular rewards and deals on the card, the welcome bonus acts as a quick benefit for the cardholder. Many credit cardholders offer a joining bonus on credit cards.
Usually, there is a minimum spend required to be eligible for the welcome bonus. For example, if a cashback of AED 5000 is provided, then the cardholder needs to spend at least AED 3000 on the card within 6 months of the card activation or pay the annual fee of AED 1500. The welcome bonus availing rule can vary from provider to provider.
Best Welcome Bonus Credit Cards in UAE
Some of the best welcome bonus that can be highly beneficial for credit cardholders are,
Mashreq Platinum Elite Credit Card
Mashreq Platinum Elite Credit Card offers a cash bonus as a joining bonus also other cashback and rewards are offered
- AED 1500 is provided as a cash bonus on joining for new customers
- Get 50% discount on up to 4 Movie Tickets at VOX, Reel and Novo Cinemas
- AED 200 cash bonus is provided for existing customers as a welcome bonus
- 20% cashback on e-commerce expenses like Zomato, Netflix, Du, Etisalat, noon, iTunes, etc.
- Access to fitness first clubs
- Earn up to 5 Salaam points per AED spent on international and domestic expenses
- No annual fee in the first year
- A minimum salary of AED 7000 is needed
CBD Smiles Visa Signature
CBD Smiles Visa Signature Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for lifestyle privileges.
- Can earn 50,000 Smiles Points as a welcome bonus
- Smiles Points can be redeemed for Utility bills, electronics, dining, travel purchases, shopping and entertainment on the Smiles UAE app
- Earn 15,000 Smiles points as a quarterly bonus on spending USD 15,000 (equivalent AED) using the card
- 100 Smiles points are worth 1 AED
- Earn 10 Smiles points on Etisalat expenses
- Up to 3.5 Smiles points on international and domestic expenses
- 50% off on Vox movie tickets
- Access to 1000 airport lounges worldwide
- A minimum salary of AED 12,000 is needed
- An annual fee of AED 999 is charged
Emirates - CITIBANK Ultima
The Citibank Emirates Ultima Credit Card offers high travel benefits and rewards as a welcome bonus.
- Earn 25,000 Skyward miles as a welcome bonus
- Earn 10,000 Skyward miles annually on renewal
- Earn up to 1.25 miles per 1 USD on expenses made using the card
- Skyward miles can be redeemed for travel tickets, ticket upgrades, car rental, retail and lifestyle, etc.
- 1 Skyward mile equals up to 2 USD
- Buy 1 Get 1 free movie tickets
- A minimum income of AED 36,750 is required
- AED 3000 is charged as an annual fee
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card provides high travel benefits.
- Earn 55,000 joining miles on the primary card
- Earn 5000 joining miles on supplementary card
- Up to 7 Etihad Guest miles are earned per AED 10 spent
- Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed for travel tickets and ticket upgrades
- Free access to airport lounges
- Free airport transfer facility
- Movie tickets start from AED 15
- Discounts at golf clubs
- A minimum income of AED 30,000 is required
- AED 2000 is charged as an annual fee
ADIB Emirates Skywards World Elite Card
ADIB Emirates Skywards World Elite Credit Card offers high travel reward points which can be redeemed for various benefits
- Earn 50,000 Skyward miles as a welcome bonus
- Skyward miles can be redeemed for travel tickets, ticket upgrades, car rental, retail and lifestyle, etc.
- Free access to airport lounges
- Complimentary airport transfer facility
- Get free Emirates Skywards silver tier membership
- Free golf club and valet parking privileges
- A minimum income of AED 25,000 is required
- AED 4500 is charged as an annual fee
Apart from these, many other credit cards offer a welcome bonus. The credit card applicant needs to check how beneficial the welcome rewards can be for them. High travel miles for a person who travels less or not at all can be useless. Hence you must check how worthy the rewards are and proceed further accordingly.
FAQs
Q. Are there any charges levied to avail the welcome bonus?
A. No. Welcome rewards are provided as a gift on getting the credit card.
Q. Is the signup bonus provided on applying for the credit card?
A. No. Sign up bonus is provided only on getting approved and usage of the card.
Q. Will the welcome bonus have any impact on credit score?
A. No. The welcome bonus is a reward offered by the credit card company hence there is no effect on the credit report or score.
Q. Is the welcome bonus provided on supplementary cards as well?
A. Some credit card provides a welcome bonus on supplementary cards as well.
Q. Is there any validity on the welcome bonus?
A. There is a criterion to earn the welcome bonus on some credit cards like the cardholder needs to spend a certain amount using the card in a specific time to avail the welcome bonus. But once the welcome bonus is earned the validity depends on the bonus type.
Q. Can we make use of the welcome bonus and close the credit card?
A. On most credit cards, the welcome bonus is provided after spending a certain amount on the card or after the payment of annual fees. Also, applying and closing a credit card can have a bad impact on the credit score.
Q. What if we don’t meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus?
A. The spending requirement to avail the welcome bonus is mandatory on some of the credit cards. If failed to meet the spending requirement, you may not be able to get the welcome bonus.
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