What happens if you pay only the minimum on your card?
The minimum payment is usually 5% of your balance or AED 100, whichever is higher. Paying it avoids the late fee but not interest. On Emirates NBD's own example, AED 2,000 cleared with minimum payments takes 36 months and about AED 1,500 in interest.
The minimum payment is the least you must pay by the due date to avoid a late fee. It does not stop interest: anything you leave unpaid is charged at your card’s monthly rate.1
How does your bank set the minimum?
| Bank | Minimum payment |
|---|---|
| ADCB | 5% or AED 100, whichever is higher |
| Emirates Islamic | 5% of the closing balance or AED 100, whichever is higher. A balance under AED 100 must be paid in full |
| Emirates NBD | 5% of the total payment due or AED 100, whichever is higher, plus any instalments, insurance, overdue amount and over-limit amount |
| First Abu Dhabi Bank | 5% of the total outstanding balance plus the full over-limit amount, or AED 100, whichever is higher |
| HSBC | Instalment plan payments and any over-limit amount, plus for each type of balance the greater of 5% or the lower of the balance and AED 100, or the month’s interest and fees, plus any unpaid minimums |
| Mashreq | 5% of the statement balance in its worked example |
| RAKBANK | 4% or AED 100, whichever is higher |
| Standard Chartered | 1% of the principal plus all fees and interest, or AED 110, whichever is higher |
Each rule is quoted from the bank’s own document.23145678
What does paying only the minimum cost you?
Time and interest. Emirates NBD’s key facts statement gives two examples. An AED 2,000 balance at 44.28% a year, paying 5% or AED 100 each month, takes 36 months to clear with about AED 1,500 in interest. At 39% a year it takes 32 months with about AED 1,200 in interest.1
Your own statement must show the same calculation for your balance. Central Bank standards require every credit card statement to show how long your current balance would take to clear if you paid only the minimum and made no new transactions, with the total interest, the minimum due and this warning:9
Warning: If you make only the minimum repayment/payment each period, you will pay more in interest/profit/fees and it will take you longer to pay off your outstanding balance.
What happens if you miss the minimum?
You pay a late fee, AED 241.50 including VAT at most banks, and some banks raise your interest rate while you are past due.14 The bank must write to you once a payment is more than 30 days late, and when you are two payments behind it must tell you the possible consequences, including legal action and negative reporting to the credit bureau.9
Run your own balance through the minimum payment calculator.
Sources
9
1Emirates NBD, Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards, Effective 1 March 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards
2Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Schedule of Fees. Effective 1 Sept 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Schedule of Fees
3Emirates Islamic, Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Key Facts Statement, Credit Cards
4First Abu Dhabi Bank, Conventional Cards Key Facts Statement, September 2026. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Conventional Cards Key Facts Statement
5HSBC 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
6Mashreq, Mashreq Cards Key Facts Statement, VA080526. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Mashreq Cards Key Facts Statement
7RAKBANK, 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
8Standard 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
9Central Bank of the UAE, Consumer Protection Standards, Notice 1158/2021, in force. Last checked 12 Nov 2026. Source document: Consumer Protection Standards
- Owner
- Comparecreditcards.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 11 May 2027
- Status
- Published