HSBC Live+ Credit Card
Best for: dining and fuel spenders who want lounge visits without opening an HSBC account.
Why it ranks
- Strong dining and fuel rates at a modest fee
- Fee waiver needs only AED 1,000 a month of spend
- 12 lounge visits a year included
What holds it back
- AED 200 cap per category per statement limits heavy spenders
- Bonus rates need AED 3,000 of spend each month
- Published salary requirement differs between HSBC's page and its KFS
Advertiser disclosure: we may be paid if you apply through our links. Ratings are editorial. Confirm today's terms on the issuer's site — offers change.
Why the HSBC Live+ Credit Card ranks where it does
HSBC Live+ is a well-balanced dining and fuel card with a fee that is easy to avoid. It pays 6% on dining, 5% on fuel and 2% each on groceries and entertainment, with each category capped at AED 200 per statement and a requirement of AED 3,000 of monthly spend; other spending earns 0.5%. HSBC says you do not need an HSBC account to apply.
The fee is AED 313.95 including VAT from the second year, waived on AED 12,000 of annual spend, which is only AED 1,000 a month and below the AED 3,000 needed for the bonus rates anyway. Anyone using the card properly will never pay it. The caps are the limit for heavy spenders: AED 200 is reached at about AED 3,333 of dining or AED 4,000 of fuel a month.
Extras are strong for the price: 12 lounge visits a year for you and supplementary cardholders once you make a USD 1 international purchase within 15 days before travel, Zomato Gold and Careem Plus, and travel insurance up to USD 500,000. The foreign currency fee of 2% plus a scheme fee of up to 1.21% is typical. HSBC's page and key facts statement list different salary requirements, so confirm yours before applying.
Good fit if
- Diners and drivers spending AED 3,000 or more a month
- Travellers who want 12 lounge visits without a high fee
- People who do not bank with HSBC but want its card
Skip it if
- Heavy spenders who will hit the AED 200 category caps
- Anyone who wants a good rate on general spending, which earns 0.5%
Assume AED 1,500 a month on dining, AED 800 on fuel, AED 1,200 on groceries and AED 1,000 on other spends, AED 4,500 in total. Dining earns 6%, AED 90; fuel 5%, AED 40; groceries 2%, AED 24; other spends 0.5%, AED 5. That is AED 159 a month, AED 1,908 a year, with every category under its AED 200 cap. Annual spend of AED 54,000 is far above the AED 12,000 needed to waive the AED 313.95 fee.
How it stacks up
The ADCB 365 Cashback matches the dining and fuel rates, adds 3% on groceries and allows up to AED 1,000 a month, but needs AED 5,000 of monthly spend and has no fee waiver or lounge access. The HSBC Cash+ suits higher earners who prefer a flat, uncapped 1% and lounge access that includes a guest. For moderate spenders, Live+ is the easiest of the three to use well.
HSBC Live+ is a dining and fuel cashback card with 12 lounge visits a year and a fee that is easy to waive, and HSBC says you do not need an HSBC account to get it. Figures are as of September 2026.
HSBC Live+ Credit Card at a glance
| Issuer | HSBC Bank Middle East (UAE) |
| Card network | Visa |
| Annual fee | Free in year one, then AED 313.95 (incl. VAT); waived if you spend AED 12,000 a year |
| Welcome bonus | See issuer for the current offer |
| Rewards rate | 6% dining, 5% fuel, 2% groceries and entertainment, each capped at AED 200 per statement and needing AED 3,000 monthly spend; 0.5% on other spend |
| Intro APR | None |
| Regular APR | 44.28% APR fixed on purchases and cash (about 3.69% per month) |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2% (2.1% incl. VAT) plus a scheme fee of up to 1.21%; 1% (1.05% incl. VAT) on international spend billed in AED |
| Airport lounge access | 12 complimentary visits a year for you and supplementary cardholders at 1,200+ lounges; needs a USD 1+ international purchase within 15 days before travel |
| Credit needed | AED 5,000 monthly salary if your employer is on HSBC's approved list, otherwise AED 12,500 (HSBC's KFS lists AED 10,000; confirm with HSBC) |
| Best for | Dining and fuel spenders who want lounge visits without opening an HSBC account |
Key features
- 6% on dining and 5% on fuel, each up to AED 200 per statement
- 2% on groceries and 2% on entertainment, each up to AED 200 per statement
- No HSBC bank account needed to apply, according to HSBC's key facts statement
- Complimentary Zomato Gold and Careem Plus subscriptions
- Multi-trip travel insurance up to USD 500,000
Before you apply: confirm the current fee, reward rates and eligibility on the issuer's official site. BestCreditCards is an independent ranking site, not the card issuer, and this is not financial advice.
How it ranks against similar UAE cards
| Rank | Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Welcome offer | Foreign fee | Who qualifies | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HMHSBC Bank Middle East (UAE)HSBC Live+AED 313.95/yr · AE HSBC Live+ Credit CardDining and fuel spenders who want lounge visits without opening an HSBC account |
AED 313.95/yr | 6% dining, 5% fuel, 2% groceries and entertainment, each capped at AED 200 per s… | See issuer for the current offer | 2% (2.1% incl. VAT) plus a… | AED 5,000 monthly salary if your… | |
| 2 | ADAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)ADCB TouchPoints InfiniteAED 1,050/yr · AE ADCB TouchPoints Infinite Credit CardAffluent UAE residents who value lifestyle privileges |
AED 1,050/yr | Up to 4 TouchPoints per AED4 spent (category dependent) | Welcome TouchPoints bonus after activation and spend | Foreign currency markup ap… | High income, UAE residency | |
| 3 | MMashreq BankMashreq SolitaireAED 1,575/yr · AE Mashreq Solitaire Credit CardHigh-net-worth UAE residents wanting top-tier perks |
AED 1,575/yr | Mashreq Vantage points (which replaced Salaam Points) on all spending | Generous welcome points bonus after activation and spend | 2.89% spread on internatio… | Very high income, UAE residency | |
| 4 | ADAbu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)ADCB 365 CashbackAED 383.25/yr · AE ADCB 365 Cashback Credit CardDining, fuel and grocery spenders who put AED 5,000+ a month on one card |
AED 383.25/yr | 6% dining (incl. online orders), 5% fuel and Salik, 5% home digital entertainmen… | See issuer for the current offer | See issuer | Minimum monthly salary AED 5,000… |
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