Is Your Credit Card Giving The Maximum Bang For The Buck?
As global economies try to work around COVID-19 limitations imposed on free movement, you are trying to normalise your work and personal life as much as you can. Not only have you started venturing out within safety protocols, you are also looking to spend a little more than you did in the last year. It’s a good thing you have a credit card to manage your finances.
Credit cards: The best way to spend money
Credit cards offer ease of use, credit when you need it the most, protection from theft and fraud, and a range of rewards and incentives for swiping the card at various merchant outlets. If you are responsible with your expenses and pay your card bills every month, there is no reason why you cannot fund every purchase, big or small, using your credit card.
Indeed, using a credit card is a better way to keep track of your spends than using cash. A card leaves an electronic trail, while cash does not.
How to get the best credit card in UAE
There are several credit cards on offer in the UAE, but you cannot be sure about the best one. Here’s a guide on how to get the perfect one:
* Check the rewards it offers: Apart from offering credit in times of need, a good credit card offers several key rewards and benefits. For instance, platinum credit cards in UAE offer a spate of rewards across sectors, from travel to shopping. The card must offer annual travel credit, points on grocery shopping, points redeemable for flight tickets, access to cultural experiences and shopping fests, reservations at upmarket restaurants and priority access to fashion shows, among other benefits.
* Look for insurance and protection schemes: The best platinum credit cards in the UAE offer travel accident insurance, refund protection insurance, travel car rental insurance and purchase protection insurance, among other benefits. These are significant covers when you travel internationally and need help with your finances. What’s more, the best cards offer the same range of coverage to your family members and supplementary card holders (linked to your card) as well. The coverage must be high, for instance, USD 1 million for travel accident insurance. Please check if the bank allows online claim filing.
* 24/7 online presence: The best platinum credit cards also offer unlimited and free access to the card’s range of online services. You must be able to log on whenever you want after registering for the card, to do anything from card activation to requesting a supplementary card for a family member. The online suite of services also includes account access via the card’s Android and iPhone apps, membership reward points for referring friends, and SMS and email alerts for every transaction.
* Recreational experiences: The credit card must offer much more than just points on travel and shopping. Please check if the card offers benefits like concierge services at the best restaurants in the UAE – get recommendations for a range of outings for your family and even get a personal shopper and previews of new fashion collections. Meanwhile, the card can also get you access to various film, music and theatre performances around the world. The bank offers first access to tickets for these events as soon as they are announced, so you never miss out.
We hope the above points help you select the right credit card for your use in the UAE. It is all about picking the card that offers the maximum bang for your buck!
