MoneyVS

DIB vs ADIB credit cards

Short answer: Choose DIB for more dedicated cashback cards and more Emirates Skywards cards; choose ADIB for a wider range, more Etihad Guest cards and more hotel points cards. Below, every Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) card open to new applicants, compared.

Dubai Islamic BankAbu Dhabi Islamic Bank

Key differences

  • ADIB has the wider range: 17 cards open to new applicants, against 13.
  • DIB has more dedicated cashback cards: 2 to 1.
  • DIB has more Emirates Skywards cards: 3 to 2.
  • ADIB has more Etihad Guest cards: 3 to 0.
  • ADIB has more hotel points cards: 3 to 0.
  • ADIB has more cards with a welcome bonus: 13 to 6.
  • Every DIB and ADIB card is Islamic (Shariah-compliant).
  • Both banks have cards from a AED 5,000 minimum salary.
  • DIB doesn't publish a minimum salary for 4 of its cards.
  • ADIB doesn't publish a minimum salary for 15 of its cards.

Side by side

DIBADIB
Cards open to new applicants1317
Free for life11
Islamic cards1317
Annual feesFree to AED 2,500Free to AED 4,500
Lowest published salaryAED 5,000AED 5,000
Cashback / travel / rewards / shopping2 / 3 / 8 / 01 / 8 / 2 / 6
Emirates Skywards cards32
Etihad Guest cards03
Hotel points cards03
No foreign transaction fee00
Cards with airport lounge access612
Cards with a welcome bonus613

Counts cover cards open to new applicants, checked against each bank's own pages. Updated 2 Nov 2026. Information only, not financial advice.

Best cards from each bank

Top DIB cards

  1. 1 Dubai Islamic Bank DIB SHAMS Signature Covered Card

    Dubai Islamic Bank

    DIB SHAMS Signature Covered Card

    5% back on dining, flights and hotels, convertible to Etihad Guest Miles or Avios.

    Fee: Free year 1Salary: Not published

  2. 2 Dubai Islamic Bank Consumer Cashback Platinum Card

    Dubai Islamic Bank

    Consumer Cashback Platinum Card

    4% on supermarkets, school fees, fuel and bills for households spending AED 4,000+ a month.

    Fee: AED 261.45 from yr 2Salary: AED 15,000Top rate needs: AED 4k/mo

See all 13 DIB cards →

Top ADIB cards

  1. 1 Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cashback Visa Covered Card

    Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

    Cashback Visa Covered Card

    4% cashback on groceries, fuel, education, dining and utilities for a small AED 99 fee.

    Fee: AED 99Salary: Not published

  2. 2 Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Visa Signature Card

    Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

    Emirates Skywards Visa Signature Card

    2.5 Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai, with Skywards Silver in year one.

    Fee: AED 1,500Salary: Not published

See all 17 ADIB cards →

Questions people ask

Is DIB or ADIB better for credit cards?

It depends on what you want from the card. Choose DIB for more dedicated cashback cards (2 to 1) and more Emirates Skywards cards (3 to 2); choose ADIB for a wider range (17 cards to 13), more Etihad Guest cards (3 to 0), more hotel points cards (3 to 0) and more cards with a welcome bonus (13 to 6). Every DIB and ADIB card is Islamic (Shariah-compliant). Both banks have cards from a AED 5,000 minimum salary.

Which has more free for life credit cards, DIB or ADIB?

They have the same number: 1 each.

What salary do I need for a credit card from DIB or ADIB?

DIB's lowest published minimum salary is AED 5,000 and ADIB's is AED 5,000 a month. DIB doesn't publish a minimum salary for 4 of its cards; ADIB doesn't publish a minimum salary for 15 of its cards.

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