UAE. Emirates NBD, the UAE’s leading bank announced at a press conference the launch of its landmark Emirates Business Credit Card in partnership with Emirates airline’s Business Rewards programme and Visa. 

The co-branded card is targeted specifically at small and medium enterprises in the UAE. Designed for the discerning business person, the card provides a convenient and flexible tool to help businesses manage expenses easily and effectively and at the same time offer the additional value of earning money saving rewards.  The press conference was led by Jamal Bin Ghalaita, Emirates NBD General Manager Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, Keith Longstaff, Emirates Divisional Senioer Vice President Commercial Operations Worldwide, and Kamran Siddiqi, General Manager Middle East, Visa International.

Jamal Bin Ghalaita said: “Our recent partnership with Emirates airlines has resulted in the launch of a truly valuable and rewarding business credit card product. The Emirates Business Card offers small and medium enterprises a combination of benefits and features that include reward miles, business insurance, flexible payment options and expense management support while offering them a flexible cash flow solution. We anticipate that the card will become an indispensable ‘business partner’ to the business community.  We see great synergy between Emirates NBD and Emirates airline, with both organizations modeling innovation and leadership in their respective domains and we are very pleased to be combining our efforts to offer our clients a distinctive co-branded business card.”

Keith Longstaff, said: “We are delighted to partner with Emirates NBD on the Emirates Business Credit Card. Business Rewards is Emirates airline’s new online programme for small and medium sized businesses. The Emirates Business Card being launched today fits perfectly with Emirates Airline’s own Business Rewards programme. Small and medium sized businesses now have the perfect payment solution for our online programme, and benefit from even more opportunities to earn Business Reward miles.”

Kamran Siddiqi, General Manager Middle East, Visa said: “Visa continuously strives to develop payment solutions that offer value to our cardholders while rewarding them with unique benefits. Operating the world’s largest retail electronic payment network Visa offers the global acceptance business travellers have come to know and expect from their card transactions. The Emirates Business Credit Card is another example of this.”

The Emirates Business Credit Card features a number of unique benefits that deliver real value to businesses in the areas where they need it the most. 

Cardholders will earn one Business Rewards Mile for every one dollar equivalent spend which can be accumulated and redeemed for award flights on Emirates. As an introductory offer customers will get unsurpassed value in the form of 25,000 Bonus Business Rewards Miles and also get Double Miles for all their spending on the card until December 2008. 

With a very attractive interest rate of 0% per month for the first 90 days and a low interest rate of 1.49% per month thereafter the Emirates Business Credit Card provides almost 40% savings through lower interest costs from day one.

To help manage sudden unplanned business expenses cardholders can get a loan over the phone for up to 75% of their credit limit. This loan can also instantly be converted to an easy installment plan at a very low interest rate of just 0.8% per month. 

Emirates Business Credit Card customers will automatically be entitled to free office contents Insurance of AED 100,000 to cover their office premises and contents in the event of loss or damage, due to fire, flooding or other natural causes.

Furthermore, the Emirates Business Credit Card comes packed with a number of other privileges including access to airport lounges (Dubai International Hotel first class lounge, and Abu Dhabi International Airport hotel lounge), Autoassist, a unique business savings programme that offers a wide range of merchant discounts and savings, a vast array of exclusive dining privileges plus complimentary rounds of golf.

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