What does taking cash on your credit card cost?
Taking cash on a credit card costs a fee of about 3% with a minimum of AED 103.95 to AED 210 at most banks, plus interest from the day you take the cash, even if you pay your statement in full. Buying foreign currency, money transfers and betting can count as cash.
A cash withdrawal on a credit card carries a fee when you take it and interest from that day until you repay it. Central Bank standards stop interest on a balance paid in full by the due date, but that rule excludes cash advance transactions.1
How much is the cash advance fee?
| Bank | Fee per withdrawal | Cash limit |
|---|---|---|
| ADCB | 3.15% or AED 105, whichever is higher | 60% of the credit limit (80% on Betaqti) |
| Dubai Islamic Bank | 3.15% of the amount, plus AED 26.25 at a Visa or Mastercard ATM abroad | Not stated on the schedule |
| Emirates Islamic | 3.15% or AED 103.95, whichever is higher | AED 10,000 per transaction or 50% of the limit, whichever is lower |
| Emirates NBD | 3.15% or AED 103.95, whichever is higher | 50% of the credit limit (75% on business cards) |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | 3.15% or up to AED 157.50, whichever is higher | Not stated in the key facts statement |
| HSBC | 3.15% or AED 105, whichever is higher (none on HSBC Zero) | Not stated in the tariff |
| Mashreq | 3.15% or AED 210, whichever is higher | Not stated in the key facts statement |
| RAKBANK | 3.31% or AED 105, whichever is higher | 80% of the credit limit |
| Standard Chartered | 3.15% or AED 105, whichever is higher | Not stated in the key facts statement |
Each figure is from the bank’s own document.2345678910
How much interest do you pay on the cash?
Interest runs on the full amount from the day you withdraw it until it is paid off, at the card’s cash rate. FAB’s key facts statement says interest on a cash advance is charged on the full amount from the transaction date until the full outstanding amount is paid.6 At Emirates NBD the cash rate is the same as the purchase rate, up to 3.69% a month.5
Example: AED 3,000 at Emirates NBD’s fee of 3.15% or AED 103.95, repaid after 30 days at 3.69% a month, costs AED 103.95 in fees and about AED 109 in interest. That is AED 3,000 × 3.69% × 12 ÷ 365 × 30.
Which purchases count as cash?
More than ATM withdrawals. FAB treats money orders, foreign currency, traveller’s cheques from a non-bank, person-to-person transfers, betting, lottery tickets and casino chips as cash advances.6 HSBC charges cash rates on purchases at exchange houses and any purchase of foreign currency.7 Emirates Islamic adds crypto currency exchanges.4 RAKBANK treats an international remittance from the card as a cash advance.9
Check the cost of your withdrawal with the cash advance calculator before you take it.
The small print
- The exclusion of cash from the no-interest rule is Consumer Protection Standards clause 7.1.5.14.1
- FAB says a transfer abroad using its card’s international transfer feature is treated as a retail transaction, not a cash advance, with a fee of up to AED 105.6
- The interest in the example is arithmetic on Emirates NBD’s published rate; the bank’s own figure depends on its statement dates.
Sources
10
1Central Bank of the UAE, Consumer Protection Standards, Notice 1158/2021, in force. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Consumer Protection Standards
2Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Schedule of Fees. Effective 1 Sept 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Schedule of Fees
3Dubai Islamic Bank, Schedule of Charges, Effective 12 October 2026. Effective 12 Oct 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Schedule of Charges
4Emirates Islamic, Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards
5Emirates NBD, Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards, Effective 1 March 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards
6First Abu Dhabi Bank, Conventional Cards Key Facts Statement, September 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Conventional Cards Key Facts Statement
7HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, UAE Schedule of Services and Tariffs. Effective 26 Oct 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: UAE Schedule of Services and Tariffs
8Mashreq, Mashreq Cards Key Facts Statement, VA080526. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Mashreq Cards Key Facts Statement
9RAKBANK, Consumer Credit Card Service and Price Guide. Effective 13 May 2025. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Consumer Credit Card Service and Price Guide
10Standard Chartered, Key Facts Statement for Your Standard Chartered Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Key Facts Statement for Your Standard Chartered Credit Card
- Owner
- Comparecreditcards.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
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- Published