The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card, issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), is designed to provide everyday rewards, travel benefits, and lifestyle perks to its users. It caters to a broad range of earners and offers a balanced mix of benefits that make it an attractive option for individuals seeking value from their credit card usage. This review covers the card’s features, benefits, fees, and other key aspects.
Key Features and Benefits
1. Cashback and Rewards: The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card provides a straightforward rewards program:
- Cashback on Purchases: Cardholders earn up to 1% cashback on all purchases. This feature makes it easy to accumulate rewards on everyday spending without the need for complex calculations or tracking specific categories.
- Flexible Redemption: Cashback earned can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including statement credits, gift vouchers, or purchases at participating merchants.
2. Travel Benefits:
- Airport Lounge Access: The card offers complimentary access to select airport lounges, enhancing the travel experience by providing a comfortable place to relax before flights.
- Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance coverage for cardholders, offering protection during trips. This includes coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage.
3. Lifestyle Perks:
- Dining Discounts: Cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts and offers at various restaurants, making dining out more affordable.
- Shopping Benefits: Access to special promotions and discounts at participating retail outlets.
- Entertainment Offers: Discounts on movie tickets and other entertainment options, providing value-added benefits for leisure activities.
4. Additional Benefits:
- Purchase Protection: Coverage against theft or damage on eligible purchases, offering peace of mind when shopping.
- Double Warranties: Get an extra year of repair coverage on top of the manufacturer’s warranty, giving your purchased items longer life and more value.
- Concierge Services: 24/7 concierge services to assist with travel bookings, dining reservations, event tickets, and other personal arrangements.
Fees and Rates
- Interest Rate: The card comes with a competitive interest rate, making it a cost-effective option for cardholders who carry a balance.
- Minimum Salary Requirement: The card has a moderate minimum salary requirement, making it accessible to a broad range of earners.
- Annual Fee: The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card has a low annual fee, justified by the variety of benefits and rewards offered.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Straightforward Cashback Program: The simple cashback structure makes it easy for cardholders to earn and redeem rewards.
- Travel and Lifestyle Benefits: Comprehensive travel insurance, airport lounge access, and various dining and shopping discounts add significant value.
- Additional Protections: Purchase protection and extended warranties offer extra security on purchases.
- Low Annual Fee: The low annual fee makes this card a cost-effective option for many users.
Cons:
- Limited High-End Benefits: While the card offers good value, it lacks some of the high-end perks found in premium cards, such as unlimited lounge access or luxury travel services.
- Moderate Cashback Rate: The 1% cashback rate, while beneficial, is lower to other cards that offer higher rates in specific categories.
Point-by-Point Comparison of the FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card with ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card, Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard, and Mashreq Cashback Credit Card
1. Cashback and Rewards
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card offers up to 1% cashback on all purchases, with flexible redemption options for statement credits, gift vouchers, or purchases at participating merchants.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: This card offers 5% cashback on supermarket and grocery purchases, 2.5% cashback on fuel spends, and 1% cashback on all other spends. Cashback is automatically credited to the cardholder’s account, simplifying the redemption process.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: Cardholders earn up to 7% cashback on spends at LuLu stores, 4% on fuel, and 2% on utility bill payments. Cashback can be redeemed directly at LuLu stores, making it highly convenient for regular shoppers.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: Provides up to 5% cashback on dining and entertainment, 2% on international spends, and 1% on all other purchases. Cashback is automatically credited to the account, offering straightforward rewards accumulation and redemption.
2. Welcome Bonus
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: New cardholders receive a welcome bonus of 10,000 SHARE points upon meeting the initial spending criteria.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: Offers a welcome bonus of AED 300 cashback after the first spend of AED 1,000 within the first 30 days.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: Provides a welcome bonus of AED 200 worth of LuLu vouchers upon card activation and first spend.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: No specific welcome bonus is provided, but the card offers competitive cashback rates from the start.
3. Travel Benefits
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: Includes complimentary access to select airport lounges and comprehensive travel insurance coverage for cardholders.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: Does not include airport lounge access or travel insurance, focusing primarily on cashback rewards.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: No travel benefits such as airport lounge access or travel insurance are provided, as the card is tailored towards cashback on everyday spends.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: Offers complimentary access to select airport lounges but lacks comprehensive travel insurance.
4. Lifestyle Perks
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: Cardholders enjoy exclusive discounts at restaurants, special promotions at retail outlets, and discounts on movie tickets, along with 24/7 concierge services.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: Provides discounts on dining and entertainment, with various offers available through the SimplyLife Rewards program.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: Focuses on cashback at LuLu stores and fuel purchases, with limited lifestyle perks such as dining discounts or concierge services.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: Offers significant lifestyle perks including discounts on dining, entertainment, and access to a variety of exclusive offers through Mashreq’s partner network.
5. Fees and Rates
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: Comes with a competitive interest rate and a low annual fee, making it accessible to a broad range of earners.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: Features a lower interest rate with a minimum salary requirement of AED 5,000 and an annual fee of AED 315, which is waived for the first year.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: Has a moderate interest rate with a minimum salary requirement of AED 5,000 and an annual fee of AED 250, waived for the first year upon reaching certain spend thresholds.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: Offers a competitive interest rate and a minimum salary requirement of AED 7,000, with an annual fee of AED 350, which is waived for the first year upon reaching the spend threshold.
6. Additional Benefits
- FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card: Includes purchase protection against theft or damage, extended warranties for up to one year, and global emergency assistance services.
- ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card: Provides purchase protection and extended warranty services, but lacks global emergency assistance.
- Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard: Offers purchase protection and extended warranty services, but no additional global assistance services.
- Mashreq Cashback Credit Card: Includes purchase protection, extended warranty services, and access to global emergency assistance services, making it comprehensive for frequent travelers.
How does it compare?
The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card offers a straightforward 1% cashback on all purchases, which simplifies the rewards process, making it better in terms of ease of use compared to the ADCB SimplyLife Cashback Credit Card, Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard, and Mashreq Cashback Credit Card, which have more complex structures. However, it is worse in terms of specific category rewards, as the ADCB SimplyLife card offers higher cashback rates of 5% on groceries and 2.5% on fuel, and the The Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard hooks you up with up to 7% cashback when you shop at LuLu stores and 4% cashback when you fill up your car with gas. The Mashreq Cashback card offers up to 5% cashback on dining and entertainment, making these cards more rewarding for category-specific spending. The FAB SHARE card is on par with competitors regarding flexible redemption options, allowing cardholders to use their cashback in various ways.
For travel benefits, the FAB SHARE card includes complimentary airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance, which is better than the ADCB SimplyLife and Emirates NBD LuLu 247 cards that do not offer these benefits, but on par with the Mashreq Cashback card that also provides lounge access. The FAB SHARE card also offers lifestyle perks such as dining discounts and entertainment offers, which is comparable to the ADCB SimplyLife and Mashreq Cashback cards but better than the Emirates NBD LuLu 247 Mastercard, which focuses more on cashback at LuLu stores and less on lifestyle perks.
In terms of fees and rates, the FAB SHARE card has a low annual fee and a competitive interest rate, which is better for users seeking cost-effective options compared to the higher annual fees of Mashreq Cashback and Emirates NBD LuLu cards. However, the ADCB SimplyLife card offers an even lower annual fee waived for the first year, making it slightly better for budget-conscious users. Additionally, the FAB SHARE card includes purchase protection, extended warranties, and global emergency assistance, which is on par with the Mashreq Cashback card but better than the ADCB SimplyLife and Emirates NBD LuLu cards that offer fewer additional protections.
Conclusion
The FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card is a well-rounded option for individuals looking for a credit card that offers a good mix of rewards, travel benefits, and lifestyle perks without a high annual fee. Its straightforward cashback program and additional protections make it a practical choice for everyday use. While it may not offer the high-end benefits of premium cards, its accessibility and comprehensive benefits make it a valuable addition to any wallet. Whether you are dining out, traveling, or shopping, the FAB SHARE Standard Credit Card provides reliable rewards and protections that enhance your spending experience.