CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card (UAE): Complete Guide, Benefits, Fees, Rewards & Eligibility
In the UAE’s highly competitive loyalty credit card market, telecom-linked reward cards have quietly outperformed many traditional cashback products for everyday spenders. The CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card, issued by Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), was built around this exact insight—turning routine expenses like mobile bills, groceries, food delivery, and app-based purchases into Smiles points with tangible, local redemption value.
However, as the UAE card market matures, product rationalisation has become a clear trend. As of late 2024 / early 2025, CBD has communicated that the CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card is discontinued for new applicants, with existing customers typically offered an upgrade path to the CBD Smiles Visa Signature Credit Card. Despite this, the Platinum variant remains relevant for understanding CBD’s Smiles ecosystem, existing cardholders’ rights, and comparative decision-making in the UAE credit card space.
This guide consolidates all essential information into one authoritative resource—covering features, costs, rewards mechanics, eligibility, redemption logic, and real-world use cases—aligned with UAE banking regulations and consumer expectations.
What Is the CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card?
The CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card is a loyalty-driven UAE credit card that earns Smiles points on eligible spending. These points are managed through the Smiles UAE app, operated under the Etisalat ecosystem, and can be redeemed across telecom services, groceries, dining, travel bookings, and retail vouchers.
Core Entity Relationships
- Issuer: Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)
- Card Network: Visa (Platinum tier)
- Loyalty Platform: Smiles UAE (Etisalat-linked rewards ecosystem)
- Primary Use Case: High-frequency everyday spending, especially Etisalat and app-based transactions
Unlike airline miles cards or premium travel cards, this product prioritised local, frequent redemptions over aspirational travel rewards—making it especially relevant for UAE residents with predictable monthly expenses.
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Card Status Update: Availability in 2025
Important market update:
- ❌ Not available for new applications as of late 2024 / early 2025
- ✅ Existing cardholders may continue usage under original terms
- 🔄 CBD may offer an upgrade to CBD Smiles Visa Signature Credit Card, typically with similar annual fee logic and expanded benefits
For consumers researching legacy benefits, eligibility benchmarks, or comparing Signature vs Platinum tiers, understanding this card’s structure remains valuable.
Smiles Points Earning Structure Explained
The CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Card offered a tiered earning model based on merchant category and transaction geography.
Smiles Points Earning Rates
- 5 Smiles points per AED 1
- Etisalat channels
- Smiles UAE app
- elGrocer
- Up to 2 Smiles points per AED 1 on international retail spends
- Up to 1.5 Smiles points per AED 1 on domestic UAE retail spends
This structure heavily favoured digital, app-based, and telecom-linked consumption, aligning with UAE residents’ lifestyle patterns.
Quarterly Bonus Structure: Spend-Based Acceleration
To incentivise consistent usage, the card included a quarterly milestone reward:
- 7,500 bonus Smiles points
- Awarded upon reaching AED 7,500 cumulative spend per quarter
This effectively increased the blended earning rate for disciplined cardholders who used the card for recurring expenses.
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Welcome Benefits & Promotional Value
At launch and during active promotional windows, CBD bundled lifestyle incentives to drive early adoption.
Typical Welcome Offers (Valued at AED 400+)
- 1-year “Unlimited Buy 1 Get 1” subscription via the Smiles app
- Car insurance voucher (partner-dependent)
- Periodic 0% interest balance transfer or Quick Cash offers
Promotional benefits were usually time-bound and required activation within 30 days of card issuance.
Fees, Charges & Cost Structure
Annual Fee
- First year: AED 0
- From second year: AED 199
- Annual fee waiver: Typically applied if AED 12,000 annual retail spend is met
This placed the card firmly in the low-cost Platinum category, accessible to mid-income earners.
Interest & Key Charges
- Retail interest rate: ~3.45% per month on outstanding balances
- Cash advance fee: As per CBD tariff (percentage-based, minimum applies)
- Late payment & over-limit fees: Standard UAE banking charges
- Optional Credit Shield insurance: Charged as a percentage of the outstanding balance
Consumers carrying balances should note that revolving interest costs quickly outweigh rewards value.
Eligibility Criteria (UAE)
The CBD Smiles Visa Platinum followed standard UAE retail banking eligibility norms.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum monthly salary: Approx. AED 5,000
- Age: Typically 21+ (upper age limit usually early 60s)
- Residency: UAE residents or nationals
- Employment: Salaried or self-employed (documentation required)
Final approval was always subject to CBD’s internal credit assessment and the UAE Central Bank’s lending guidelines.
Lifestyle & Entertainment Benefits
Despite its loyalty focus, the card included select Visa Platinum lifestyle privileges.
Cinema & Dining Offers
- 50% off on 2 movie tickets per month at Novo Cinemas
- Requires AED 2,000 spend in the same calendar month
- 500+ dining, shopping, and lifestyle offers
- Accessible via the CBD Mobile App
These benefits added tangible monthly value, particularly for families and frequent mall-goers.
Smiles Points Redemption: Practical Use Cases
All rewards are managed through the Smiles UAE app, which acts as a unified redemption platform.
Popular Redemption Options
- Etisalat bill payments & prepaid recharges
- Food delivery, groceries, and pharmacy purchases
- Electronics and lifestyle products
- Flight bookings via Cleartrip
- Shopping vouchers (Amazon, Noon, and other partners)
The key strength of Smiles points lies in low-friction redemptions, avoiding blackout dates or complex transfer ratios common with airline miles.
Who Was This Card Best Suited For?
The CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card was particularly effective for:
- UAE residents with high Etisalat usage
- Families spending regularly on groceries and food delivery
- Consumers prefer instant, local rewards over long-term miles accumulation
- Mid-income earners seeking a low-fee Platinum card
For frequent travellers or premium lifestyle seekers, higher-tier cards generally offer better long-term value.
FAQs
Is the CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card still available in the UAE?
No. As of late 2024 / early 2025, CBD has discontinued new applications. Existing cardholders may continue or be offered an upgrade to the CBD Smiles Visa Signature Credit Card.
What is the first-year annual fee for the CBD Smiles Platinum card?
The first year’s annual fee is fully waived (AED 0).
What is the annual fee after the first year?
From the second year onward, the annual fee is AED 199, usually waived if AED 12,000 annual spend is achieved.
What is the minimum salary required for a Visa Platinum credit card in the UAE?
For this card, the minimum monthly salary was typically around AED 5,000, subject to CBD’s credit assessment.
How do Smiles points differ from airline miles?
Smiles points focus on local, everyday redemptions like telecom bills, groceries, and vouchers, whereas airline miles prioritise flight and travel rewards with higher redemption thresholds.
Can Smiles points be used for travel?
Yes. Points can be redeemed for flight tickets via Cleartrip, alongside non-travel options.
Is this card suitable for carrying a balance?
No. With interest rates around 3.45% per month, carrying balances can quickly negate any rewards earned.
Final Note
While the CBD Smiles Visa Platinum Credit Card is no longer open to new applicants, it remains a clear example of how UAE banks design hyper-local, ecosystem-driven credit cards. For existing cardholders—and for consumers comparing current CBD offerings—it provides valuable insight into reward economics, eligibility thresholds, and the evolution of loyalty-based banking in the UAE.
For up-to-date comparisons and regulatory-aware financial analysis, EmiratesBreaking.com continues to track UAE banking product changes as they happen.
