Imagine enjoying a refreshing drink, gourmet snacks, or a super comfortable seat while waiting for your flight to board. Amazing, right? That’s exactly what you can get with airport lounge access credit cards.

These small yet powerful tools transform your travel experiences and offer serene escapes from the hustle and bustle of busy airport terminals.

Need a lounge access credit card in UAE to elevate your travel comfort? Check out key selection considerations below and read on for our carefully curated list of the top 10 options.

Note: The minimum age of eligibility for each of these credit cards is 21 years old. Also, you need to be a UAE resident to apply for them.

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Factors to consider when choosing an airport lounge access credit card in the UAE

What lounge access benefits does the card offer?

Many credit cards provide complimentary access to airport lounges, but the specifics can differ significantly.

For example, some cards offer unlimited global access to a wide network of lounges. Meanwhile, others may limit the number of visits per year or require a minimum spending threshold to qualify for lounge access.

How much are the card’s annual fees and extra charges?

Research the annual fees associated with each card. Some may offer free lounge access but have higher fees elsewhere, like for foreign transactions or cash advances. So, weigh the card’s overall cost against its benefits to determine if it is worth it for your travel habits.

What other perks come with the card?

Many lounge access credit cards include extra benefits like travel insurance, concierge services, or cashback on purchases so assess them before making a decision. For example, a card that offers complimentary travel insurance provides peace of mind during your trips so it can be a valuable addition to your travel toolkit.

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What are the best airport lounge access credit cards in the UAE?

1. American Express Platinum Card
2. Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
3. FAB Rewards Elite Credit Card
4. Citibank PremierMiles Elite Card
5. HSBC Black Credit Card
6. RAKBANK World Credit Card
7. Mashreq Solitaire Credit Card
8. ADIB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
9. Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card
10. Dubai Islamic Bank Prime Infinite Card

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1. American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card offers you complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries. This premium card also gives you travel insurance coverage of up to AED 1,800,000 and exclusive entry to American Express Centurion Lounges globally.

• Annual fee: AED 3,100
• Foreign transaction charges: AED 0
• Guest policy: Free lounge access for up to two guests and children under 12 in certain locations. Other guests may need to purchase a day pass.
• Spending requirements: Minimum of AED 40,000 within 12 months of getting the card
• Rewards: AED 900 welcome credit once you spend AED 37,000 on your card, AED 1,100 annual travel credit, enrolment to loyalty programs at leading hotels, and more.
• Shariah-compliance: ✅
• Minimum income/salary: AED 30,605/month if employed or AED 551,000/year if self-employed

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2. Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card

The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card gives you unlimited complimentary access to 1000+ airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion App. It also offers concierge services to handle your time-consuming errands.

• Annual fee: AED 1,500
• Foreign transaction charges: 1.99% conversion fee
• Guest policy: Unlimited access for you and one guest.
• Spending requirements: AED 0
• Rewards: Up to 100,000 bonus Skywards Miles and complimentary Rotana Rewards membership for one year among others.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 30,000/month if employed or an AED 50,000 bank balance over the last 3 months if self-employed.

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3. FAB Rewards Elite Credit Card

The FAB Rewards Elite Credit Card comes with exclusive travel benefits, including free airport transfers, free meet-and-greet service, and of course, complimentary airport lounge access in over 1000 locations globally.

• Annual fee: AED 600 for salary transfer customers and AED 800 for non-salary transfer customers
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.61%
• Guest policy: Free access for you and one guest.
• Spending requirements: Not specified
• Rewards: Benefits and discounts from Visa’s partners like YQ Meet & Assist, Booking.com, Avis Car Rental, and others.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 50,000

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4. Citi Premier Credit Card

The Citi Premier Credit Card provides unlimited complimentary access to over 1100 airport lounges across the globe—via the MasterCard Travel Pass app. With the card and app, you’ll also get 3 fast-track services so you can skip long queues and get through airport security checks faster.

• Annual fee: AED 750
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.99%
• Guest policy: You and supplementary cardholders can bring one guest per visit. Subsequently, there will be a $32 direct charge to your card for all extra guests. Children over 1 year old count as paying guests.
• Spending requirements: AED 15,000 in 90 days
• Rewards: Citi Miles you can redeem at various partner airlines, 4 airport rides yearly (up to AED 84 each) using code "MAUAE6“ on the Careem app, etc.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 15,000/month

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5. HSBC Black Credit Card

The HSBC Black Credit Card offers you and a guest complimentary access to over 1,200 VIP airport lounges worldwide via the Mastercard Travel Pass app. If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll also enjoy exclusive benefits like room upgrades, 15% off shopping at Bicester Villages worldwide, and late hotel checkouts.

• Annual fee: AED 1,500
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.10%
• Guest policy: Available to you and a guest. Additional guests cost $32 each.
• Spending requirements: Minimum spend of AED 10,000
• Rewards: 15% off car rentals, up to AED 800 cashback, 150,000 sign-up Air Miles, international concierge, and over 11,000 Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals via the HSBC Entertainer app.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 35,000

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6. RAKBANK World Credit Card

The RAKBANK World Credit Card gives you unlimited access to over 1,200 airport lounges in more than 135 countries. Other travel perks like complimentary snacks, late checkouts, and 2 airport rides yearly are also included.

• Annual fee: AED 950 from the 2nd year of usage (This can be waived if you spend a minimum of AED 100,000 in the first year).
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.2% fee
• Guest policy: Complimentary access is only available to primary and supplementary cardholders.
• Spending requirements: Minimum monthly spend of AED 10,000
• Rewards: 10% cashback on hotel bookings with Booking.com, 1 GB global data roaming yearly, 10% off car rentals in 60,000 locations using Rentalcars.com, and more.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 20,000 monthly

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7. Mashreq Solitaire Credit Card

The Mashreq Solitaire Credit Card gets you and the supplementary cardholder 12 airport lounge visits yearly at over 900 lounges globally. It also comes with an AED 2500 welcome bonus for new customers and 6 Marhaba Silver Meet & Greet services in Dubai yearly.

• Annual fee: AED 1,500
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.89% of the transaction
• Guest policy: Access to one guest per visit
• Spending requirements: Minimum spend of AED 9,000 for the first two months
• Rewards: 2 complimentary valet parking services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, 6 airport pick-ups or drop-offs yearly, 20% cash back for select merchants, premium golf privileges, etc.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 25,000 monthly

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8. ADIB Etihad Guest Platinum Credit Card

The ADIB Etihad Guest Platinum Credit Card offers you 4 free yearly visits to over 850 VIP airport lounges globally through Lounge Key. You also get a free companion ticket to fly to any destination—via Etihad Airways—when you spend AED 150,000 in one year.

• Annual fee: AED 2,000
• Foreign transaction charges: 1.99% fee
• Guest policy: $32 fee per guest
• Spending requirements: Not stated
• Rewards: Welcome bonus of 50,000 Etihad Guest Miles, complimentary valet parking, free roadside assistance, etc.
• Shariah-compliance: ✅
• Minimum income/salary: AED 10,000

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9. Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

The Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card provides priority access to 1000+ airport lounges yearly, and discounts on flights, hotels, and dining. You also get unlimited supplementary cards with no fee for family members.

• Annual fee: AED 1,500 (100% fee waiver in the first year when you spend AED 10,000 in the first 60 days)
• Foreign transaction charges: 2.99%
• Guest policy: One guest
• Spending requirements: AED 10,000
• Rewards: Up to AED 2,000 cashback, multi-trip travel insurance, 4 free airport rides yearly, gym access, 360° reward points for every spend, etc.
• Shariah-compliance: ❌
• Minimum income/salary: AED 30,000

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10. Dubai Islamic Bank Prime Infinite Card

The Dubai Islamic Bank Prime Infinite Card gets you exclusive access to 1,200+ airport lounges 12 times yearly. It also comes with personalized concierge services and automatic entry into the bank’s Wala’a Rewards loyalty program.

• Annual fee: AED 0
• Foreign transaction charges: 3.70% of the transaction amount
• Guest policy: Complimentary access for you and a guest
• Spending requirements: Minimum of AED 8,000 monthly
• Rewards: Multi-trip travel insurance, 2 valet parking services monthly, and rewards redemption for flight tickets, hotel stays, retail purchases, and more.
• Shariah-compliance: ✅
• Minimum income/salary: AED 20,000

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Learn the fees for your lounge access credit card on Daleel

The above has given you a good idea of which card offers more travel benefits. But, to get details like late payment fees, cash advance charges, and more, use Daleel. Our app also lets you do side-by-side card comparisons so you can pick the best option.

Simply download it, input a few details—like your salary range and employment status—and our Magic Match tool will give you personalized credit card recommendations.

Get the Daleel app now, secure the credit card you need, and start enjoying more convenient travel experiences!