Not only is buying a credit card in the UAE a breeze,
there are several benefits of owning one.
The UAE has been rolling out the red carpet for potential
credit card users in the country for years now. Every year, banks in the
country come up with innovative ways to attract customers and retain them.
Since procuring a credit card is one of the simplest tasks in the UAE, almost
every salaried or self-employed person has a credit card today.
As per a research report, the volumes of credit card
payments will show a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) to reach 28.4 million
credit cards in the UAE in the year 2018. The numbers are being calculated over
the period 2014 to 2018.
The staggering popularity of credit cards can be attributed
to low charges and annual fees, as well as a host of benefits and freebies
tacked to the credit card usage. However, banks are moving beyond offering mere
discount coupons and cash back offers on credit cards. It is not premature to
say that the best credit card offers are to be found in the UAE. These
cards are now being viewed through the lens of ‘everyday companions’, viz.
their usage is being made integral to a customer’s daily spends. Credit cards
are being used for every payment from utilities bills to making the down
payment for a car.
Since customers use credit cards for a variety of daily
purposes, it is only fitting that banks in the UAE customise their usage
further. Merging their cards with unusual, more interactive experiences, some
of the best credit card offers in UAE cover the gamut of benefits from
reward points to live enjoyment of spaces. For instance, while some customers
may get reward points for paying utility bills before the due date, others can
get points when shopping at duty free outlets in UAE and abroad. Meanwhile,
some banks offer customers discounts on booking tickets to blockbuster films
while also getting the chance to preview them with a select few people before
the rest of the country.
Adding to this list of experiences, some credit cards now
allow customers a free pass to experience the lounges of international
airports, while others let customers accumulate points to redeem in exchange
for an activity, such as a free session of golf at a high-end golf course in
the UAE. Included in this list of best credit card offers in UAE is the
chance to redeem points for a short vacation or a concierge service.
Personalising the credit card experience further, a leading
bank in the country now offers to post ‘selfies’ on customers’ credit cards
instead of the usual passport size photographs – customers can send their
selfie to the bank and get them printed on their credit card. Other banks offer
scented cards or high quality premium cards to be used only in expensive
establishments.
