Can you get a credit card on your salary?
The Central Bank sets an income floor of AED 60,000 a year, AED 5,000 a month, for a credit card, or a pledged deposit of the same amount. Banks set their own minimum for each card, from AED 5,000 to AED 35,000 a month on the cards listed here, and all your repayments must stay within 50% of your income.
You need an income of at least AED 60,000 a year for a UAE credit card, unless you pledge a deposit instead. That is the Central Bank’s rule, and each bank then sets its own minimum for each card.
What does the Central Bank require?
Regulation 29/2011 says banks provide credit cards to people whose annual income is AED 60,000 or more, or against a pledged deposit of at least AED 60,000.1 The Central Bank’s clarification calls the AED 60,000 a mandatory minimum income level, set so that cards go to creditworthy people. Someone below it can pledge the deposit, and any card limit plus other credit must then stay within 50% of that deposit.1
Your repayments on all loans and cards together, including the card, must not exceed 50% of your gross salary and regular income.2 Banks must assess whether you can afford the card against this debt burden ratio and your living costs, verify your income from reliable sources, and give you a copy of their affordability calculation.3
What salary do banks list for their cards?
| Bank | Card | Minimum monthly salary |
|---|---|---|
| ADCB | Essential Cashback | AED 5,000, or eligibility for a limit of at least AED 3,000 |
| ADIB | Smiles Visa Classic | AED 5,000 |
| Commercial Bank of Dubai | Super Saver | AED 5,000 for salaried applicants |
| Dubai Islamic Bank | Consumer Cashback Reward Card | AED 5,000 |
| Emirates NBD | Mastercard Platinum | AED 12,000 |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | FAB Cashback | AED 5,000 |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | Etihad Guest cards | From AED 8,000 |
| RAKBANK | RED | AED 5,000 |
| RAKBANK | Elevate | AED 35,000 |
| Standard Chartered | Lowest listed on its cards page | AED 8,000 |
Each figure is from the bank’s own card page.45678910111213 Emirates NBD’s cards page says applicants must be at least 21 and that the income requirement varies by card.14 Standard Chartered and RAKBANK also list 21 as the minimum age.1311
What else does the bank check?
Your credit report. Before offering a higher limit on an existing card a bank must run a new check with the Al Etihad Credit Bureau, and it reports your card’s repayments there.3 See your AECB credit score.
If the bank turns you down, it must tell you the reason, unless the reason relates to financial crime checks or the law prevents it.3
Check your salary against published minimums with the minimum salary checker, then read how to apply.
The small print
- The AED 60,000 rule is Article (5)(c) of Regulation 29/2011, with clarifications in Notice 2901/2011. The rulebook showed it as in force on 12 November 2026.1
- The 50% limit is Article (7)(a). Banks may take post-dated cheques up to 120% of the debit balance, Article (7)(c).2
- Affordability is Consumer Protection Standards section 7.1.4. Reasons for rejection are clause 2.1.1.26.3
- In November 2025 Khaleej Times reported that the Central Bank told banks to drop the AED 5,000 minimum salary for personal loans. The report does not mention credit cards.15
Sources
15
1Central Bank of the UAE, Regulation No. 29/2011 Regarding Bank Loans and Other Services Offered to Individual Customers, Article (5) Credit Cards. Effective 23 Mar 2011. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Regulation No. 29/2011 Regarding Bank Loans and Other Services Offered to Individual Customers, Article (5) Credit Cards
2Central Bank of the UAE, Regulation No. 29/2011 Regarding Bank Loans and Other Services Offered to Individual Customers, with Notice 2901/2011 clarifications. Effective 23 Mar 2011. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Regulation No. 29/2011 Regarding Bank Loans and Other Services Offered to Individual Customers, with Notice 2901/2011 clarifications
3Central Bank of the UAE, Consumer Protection Standards, Notice 1158/2021, in force. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Consumer Protection Standards
4Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Essential Cashback Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Essential Cashback Credit Card
5Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, ADIB Smiles Visa Classic Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: ADIB Smiles Visa Classic Card
6Commercial Bank of Dubai, CBD Super Saver Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: CBD Super Saver Credit Card
7Dubai Islamic Bank, Consumer Cashback Reward Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Consumer Cashback Reward Card
8Emirates NBD, Mastercard Platinum Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Mastercard Platinum Credit Card
9First Abu Dhabi Bank, FAB Cashback Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: FAB Cashback Credit Card
10First Abu Dhabi Bank, Credit cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Credit cards
11RAKBANK, RED Credit Card. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: RED Credit Card
12RAKBANK, Credit cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Credit cards
13Standard Chartered, Credit cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Credit cards
14Emirates NBD, Credit cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Credit cards
15Khaleej Times, UAE Central Bank removes minimum salary requirement for personal loans. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: UAE Central Bank removes minimum salary requirement for personal loans
- Owner
- Comparecreditcards.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
- Status
- Published