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Citi Cashback Credit Card

On the surface, Citi Cashback World Credit Card might look like a below average credit card, offering relatively low cashback of 2% on groceries, 1% on everything else and a respectable 3% on international spending. ​​But there are real treats hidden under the surface with this card perks, making it a real gem. 

Card Snapshot:

Annual Fee: ​ ​ ​AED 315 (Free upon AED 9000 spend per year)
Card Type: ​ ​ ​MasterCard - World®
Income Required: ​ ​AED 8,000 per month

Valet parking: ​ ​​ ​✘               
Airport Lounge: ​ ​ ​ ​​✔
Per Trans. Rewards Tracking: ​✘
Discounted Airport Transfer: ​​​​✔ (Careem)
Cinema Offer: ​ ​ ​​​✘ 
No Min. Qualifying Spend:​ ​​ ​✔
​No Annual Fee: ​ ​ ​​ ​✔ (Upon spending AED 9000)​
Insurance: ​ ​ ​ ​​​✘
Golf:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​​✘


Earning Rates

  • 3% cashback on international spending. This cashback is earned on any all non-AED spending, including spending in the EU. 
  • 2% cashback on groceries. 
  • 1% cashback on everything else, including government and utilities. ​​​

Cashback is deposited in your credit card, typically a day after your statement for the month is issued. You can only early cashback up to your credit limit.


Perks

  • Unlimited airport lounge access, no minimum spend required. 
  • Up to AED 110 discount on Careem rides, to and from any airport in the UAE, twice a year. 
  • No annual fee after spending AED 9,000 per year. 
  • Up to 20% discount of up to AED 14 on Talabat orders. 
  • Access to offers on Priceless.com with MasterCard®.
  • This is a World MasterCard®.

Details

Here in the UAE, we're spoiled for options when it comes to cashback credit cards. From 10% on gas to 35% on food orders. In such a rewarding space, it is easy for a card like the Citi Cashback credit card with a maximum cashback rate of a measly 3% to go unnoticed. But I'd argue that the 3% is not even the best part.

Earn rate:

3%: All non-AED spending qualify for a 3% cashback, but you should know that Citi Bank, like most credit card issuers, charges a fee for processing international payments. Citi charges 2.99%. Effectively, when you spend internationally, you're not paying any fees. 
2%: Cashback on groceries. There are better cards to use for groceries. ​
1%: on everything else is what makes this card special. ​It really does offer cashback everything, including insurance, real estate, and even government, making it the only card I know of that rewards its full cashback on these pesky spend categories without requiring a minimum spend. 

Perks:

Airport Lounge: With eight access to airport lounges passes worldwide, Citi Cashback has one of the lowest income requirements of any card that offering this feature. This access is not conditioned to a minimum spend, however, you have to spend equivalent to unlock access to second airport lounge access. Each foreign currency spend unlocks access for three months. Click here for up-to-date info. 

Careem Airport Ride: this card offers a AED 110 discount on all rides to and from airports within UAE, twice a year. To avail this offer, use code "MAUAE2" in the "Discounts" field on Careem app. Note that this discount will not work when paying with Apple or Google Pay. This discount does not apply Hala rides.


My Take

In a market full of credit cards with complicated reward structures and hidden exclusions, the Citi Cashback credit card stands out for its simplicity and value.

There are no lower earn rates on EU spending, no exclusions on categories like government services or real estate, and no hoops to jump through. You even earn 1% cashback when buying property from a developer that accepts card payments—up to your monthly credit limit.

Despite its generous perks, like airport lounge access and discounted airport transfers, the card has a low income requirement and doesn’t demand a minimum spend to unlock benefits.

Best of all, by spending just AED 9,000 per year (that’s AED 750 a month), the annual fee is waived, making it effectively free.

With its no-nonsense cashback and travel benefits, this might just be the most overlooked card in the UAE.

Citi Bank

Citi Bank UAE

Citi Bank is one of the oldest international banks operating in the UAE. In recent years, it has decreased its branch footprint substantially in this country. But that is not really a problem, since Citi Bank's mobile app is fairly intuitive and does most things you'd need to visit a branch for. 

See our overview of Citi Bank UAE, its security practices and other details you won't find elsewhere. 


 

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