Is American Express (Amex) Credit Card available in the UAE?

28 Apr 2023

Yes, you can use American Express in the UAE. American Express offers various financial services in the UAE, including credit cards, charge cards, and traveler's cheques. There are also American Express-branded products and services from other banks in the UAE, such as Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. 

All financial institutions in the UAE, including banks and finance houses, issue credit cards, such as those provided by American Express, a global payments company, and credit card issuer. Along with its credit cards, American Express offers various third-party Amex-powered cards, which customers can select from their bank or the American Express website. However, obtaining a credit card is not enough; cardholders must activate it before they can start using their American Express credit card.

How to activate Amex in the UAE

The majority of credit card holders prefer to conduct all banking transactions online. Online services provide bank account holders with convenient access to their accounts at any time and from any location. Similarly, Amex provides online American Express credit card activation services. Users in the UAE can activate their Amex credit cards through an easy-to-use online activation portal.

The following are the steps involved in activating an American Express in the UAE through the official online portal:

1. Open the link to the activation portal in your internet browser - https://www.americanexpress.ae/wps/portal/uae/PinSetup
2. Enter your 12-digit PIN setup ID and the captcha. The setup ID will be sent to you by SMS or personalized letter from American Express.
3. Enter the captcha provided and continue.
4. Click on the "Next" button and enter your registered phone number for user authentication.
5. You will receive an authentication code on the mobile number entered.
6. Enter the verification code for authorisation.
7. Generate a new PIN and complete the process by following the rest of the instructions on the screen.

156. Is Amex available in Dubai?/Does amex work in Dubai?

Yes, there is American Express in Dubai. American Express (Amex) is a payment method available in more than 130 countries, with over 100 million cards in circulation. Amex cardholders spend three to four times more than Visa and Mastercard cardholders, making it appealing to premium and high-end brands. 

American Express was accepting applications for 17 consumer credit cards for travel, dining, and everyday spending as of February 2023. If you pay your credit card bill to avoid interest charges, American Express in Dubai can add value to your spending. They aren't ideal if you carry a balance because, like most rewards credit cards, they have high-interest rates. 

If you want to pay off small or large purchases in installments, Amex has the Pay It Plan It feature, but not all are eligible. If you carry a monthly balance, you can save more money with a credit union's low-interest credit card, even if it doesn't earn rewards.

There are American Express in Dubai cards that have no annual fee or have $0 introductory annual fees for the first year. To be approved for an American Express® credit card, you must have a credit score of 700 or higher and no history of payment defaults. A low credit score indicates a higher likelihood of bill payment failure, so approval chances are limited.