Best Cashback Credit Cards in the UAE 2026: Compared by Category
By Thasmiya
Cashback credit cards can return a meaningful amount of money on expenses UAE residents already have every month — groceries, fuel, dining, school fees, utilities, Salik and online subscriptions.
But a card advertising 5% or 10% cashback is not automatically the most rewarding option.
Minimum monthly spends, category limits, annual fees and cashback caps can significantly change the actual value you receive.
Here’s a practical 2026 comparison of some of the [UAE’s major cashback credit cards](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/best-cashback-credit-cards-uae-2026-top-picks), organised by what you spend on most.
## **For groceries: FAB Cashback Credit Card**
The FAB Cashback Credit Card currently offers **5% cashback on supermarket spending**.
It also gives 5% on dining and fashion, 3% on eligible non-AED spending and 1% on other eligible spending.
The supermarket cashback is capped at **AED 150 per month**, while the overall rewards cap is AED 1,000. Customers need to have spent at least **AED 3,000 in the previous month** to qualify for FAB Rewards.
The card has a listed minimum monthly salary of AED 5,000 and an annual fee of AED 300. Cashback is awarded as equivalent FAB Rewards, which can be redeemed through the FAB Mobile app.
**Useful for:** Residents whose regular spending is concentrated on supermarkets, dining and fashion.
## **For fuel and RTA spending: Emirates Islamic RTA Credit Card**
Dubai motorists should look closely at the Emirates Islamic RTA Credit Card terms.
It currently offers **10% cashback on fuel-station spending** and **10% on eligible RTA transport payments**.
There is an important catch: each of those two categories has a maximum cashback of **AED 75 per month**.
The card also requires at least **AED 1,000 in retail spending per statement cycle** to earn cashback.
Outside those categories, it offers 2.25% on eligible international spending and 1.25% on eligible domestic spending, with lower rates applying to certain categories.
**Useful for:** Dubai residents who regularly spend on petrol and RTA transport.
## **For dining: HSBC Live+**
The HSBC Live+ Credit Card currently offers **6% cashback on dining**.
It also provides **5% cashback on fuel** and **2% on supermarket and entertainment spending**, subject to the card’s terms and cashback conditions.
The annual fee is waived for the first year. After that, HSBC says it can continue to be waived when annual spending reaches at least AED 12,000.
There is also a current welcome cashback promotion of up to AED 800 for qualifying new customers, with the offer scheduled to run until December 31, 2026.
**Useful for:** Residents who spend heavily at restaurants while also wanting fuel and grocery cashback.
## **For dining without an annual fee: Mashreq Cashback Credit Card**
The Mashreq Cashback Credit Card provides another interesting option for restaurant spending.
It offers **5% cashback on local and international dining**, 1% on other international spending and up to 1% on general local spending.
The card is **free for life**, and Mashreq says there is no minimum spend required to start earning cashback.
However, categories including fuel, utilities, education, rent, government payments and telecom currently earn only **0.15%**, making this much more dining-focused than an all-round household card.
**Useful for:** Frequent diners who want a straightforward card without an annual fee.
## **For a mix of dining, fuel and subscriptions: ADCB 365**
The ADCB 365 Cashback Credit Card has a broad everyday cashback structure.
As of July 1, 2026, it offers:
**6% cashback on dining and online food orders.**
**5% cashback on fuel and Salik.**
**5% cashback on eligible home digital entertainment subscriptions.**
**5% cashback on eligible AI subscriptions.**
**3% cashback on groceries and supermarkets.**
**1% on other eligible retail spending.**
The major condition is the **AED 5,000 minimum monthly spend** required to unlock cashback. The maximum total cashback is AED 1,000 per month.
The card has no annual fee for the first year, after which the listed fee is AED 383.25 including VAT.
**Useful for:** Higher monthly spenders whose expenses are spread across restaurants, fuel, Salik and digital subscriptions.
## **For school fees and family expenses: ADIB Cashback Visa Covered Card**
Families with significant school expenses may want to consider the ADIB Cashback Visa Covered Card.
The Sharia-compliant card currently provides **4% cashback across five major categories**:
Groceries and supermarkets.
Fuel and automobile spending.
School and education payments.
Dining and restaurants.
Utility payments.
The monthly category caps vary: groceries, fuel/automobile and education are each capped at AED 300; dining at AED 200; and utilities at AED 100. ADIB currently lists the annual fee at AED 99.
**Useful for:** Families spending across school fees, groceries, fuel and utilities.
## **For school fees, groceries, bills and Salik: DIB Consumer Cashback Platinum**
The DIB Consumer Cashback Platinum Card is another broad household-spending option.
It currently offers **4% cashback** on eligible UAE spending across supermarkets and hypermarkets, automobile servicing, Etisalat and du bills, fuel, utility bills, Salik and nol recharges, and school fees.
The overall cashback ceiling is **AED 1,000 per billing cycle**. DIB requires at least **AED 4,000 in monthly retail purchases** to qualify for cashback on the Platinum card.
There is an upcoming change worth noting: from **October 10, 2026**, the monthly cashback caps for supermarket/hypermarket spending and school fees will each fall to AED 300.
**Useful for:** Households wanting one card covering groceries, education, utilities, telecom, fuel and transport.
## **For simpler general spending: ADCB Essential Cashback**
Not everyone wants to track different merchant categories.
The ADCB Essential Cashback Credit Card takes a simpler approach.
It currently offers **1.25% cashback when monthly spending reaches AED 5,000 or more**, and 1% on eligible monthly spending below AED 5,000, with selected categories earning 0.75%.
At least AED 1,000 must be spent in a calendar month to qualify for cashback, and the maximum cashback is AED 1,000 per month.
**Useful for:** People who prefer a straightforward cashback structure rather than managing several bonus categories.
## **If you shop heavily at Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim**
The ADIB SHARE cards are worth knowing about, although the benefit comes as **SHARE Points rather than conventional cash credited directly to the card**.
Until December 31, 2026, qualifying new ADIB SHARE Visa Platinum Card customers can receive **6% back in SHARE Points** instead of the standard 3% at Carrefour and Majid Al Futtaim destinations.
The premium ADIB SHARE Visa Infinite Card currently doubles its corresponding rate to **12% back in SHARE Points**instead of 6% during the same promotion.
SHARE Points can be redeemed across participating Majid Al Futtaim brands and destinations.
**Useful for:** People who already spend heavily at Carrefour, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre malls and other Majid Al Futtaim brands.
## **Quick category comparison**
For **groceries**, look closely at FAB Cashback at 5%, while ADIB and DIB offer 4% within broader household cashback structures.
For **fuel**, Emirates Islamic RTA offers 10% subject to its AED 75 monthly fuel cap, while ADCB 365 and HSBC Live+ offer 5% under their respective conditions.
For **dining**, HSBC Live+ and ADCB 365 currently advertise 6%, while Mashreq and FAB offer 5%.
For **school fees**, ADIB Cashback and DIB Consumer Cashback Platinum both offer 4% on eligible education spending, subject to their respective caps and conditions.
For **Salik and nol**, DIB offers 4% on eligible recharges, while ADCB 365 offers 5% on Salik. Emirates Islamic RTA provides 10% on qualifying RTA transport payments.
For **subscriptions**, ADCB 365 stands out with 5% on eligible home digital entertainment and AI-powered subscriptions.
For **no annual fee**, Mashreq Cashback is currently free for life for primary and supplementary cards.
## **Don’t choose a card based only on the biggest percentage**
A 10% cashback headline can look much better than a 4% offer, but the monthly cap may completely change the calculation.
For example, the Emirates Islamic RTA card’s 10% fuel cashback is capped at AED 75 per month. Someone spending significantly more on fuel will stop earning the headline rate once that cap is reached.
Minimum-spend requirements matter too. ADCB 365 requires AED 5,000 per month to unlock its cashback, while DIB Consumer Cashback Platinum requires AED 4,000 per statement cycle. Mashreq says its Cashback Credit Card has no minimum spend requirement to start earning.
## **How to choose a cashback card in the UAE**
Start by looking at your last three months of spending rather than the card advertisements.
Calculate how much you actually spend on groceries, fuel, dining, utilities, school fees, Salik, online shopping and travel.
Then compare the cashback you would realistically receive after applying each card’s monthly caps, minimum-spend requirements and annual fee.
Also check how the reward is paid. Some products provide cashback against the card, while others award bank reward points with an equivalent redemption value.
Most importantly, cashback only makes financial sense when the credit-card balance is paid in full and on time. Finance charges on an unpaid balance can easily exceed the value of the rewards earned.
## **Why this matters**
UAE households can spend thousands of dirhams each month on groceries, fuel, dining, utilities, transport and education.
Using a cashback card that matches those existing expenses can return part of that money without requiring additional spending.
The key is not chasing the largest advertised percentage. It is matching the card’s categories, caps, fees and minimum-spend requirements to your actual monthly budget.
Rates and card terms can change, so always check the bank’s current Key Facts Statement and terms before applying.
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