Introduction
Picture this — payday has arrived, the salary is on the Ratibi card, and there are bills to pay, money to send home, and groceries to buy. A trip to the ATM is the first stop — but the machine declines the withdrawal request. The balance is there, the PIN is correct, but the transaction simply will not go through. For thousands of Ratibi cardholders across the UAE, this frustrating experience happens because of withdrawal limits — and nobody told them these limits existed. The official FAB website mentions nothing about limits anywhere on the Ratibi card page. This guide fills that gap completely. Every withdrawal and transaction limit applicable to the Ratibi prepaid card is explained here clearly — so cardholders always know exactly how much they can access, when they can access it, and what to do when a limit is reached.
Why Prepaid Cards Have Withdrawal Limits
Before diving into the specific limits, it helps to understand why withdrawal limits exist on prepaid cards like the Ratibi card in the first place.
Withdrawal and transaction limits serve several important purposes:
Fraud protection — if a card is stolen or cloned, limits restrict how much an unauthorised person can take before the cardholder notices and reports the issue.
Regulatory compliance — the UAE Central Bank sets guidelines for prepaid card transaction limits as part of its financial regulations. All licensed prepaid card issuers — including FAB — must comply with these guidelines.
Risk management — limits help FAB manage the financial risk associated with prepaid card products, particularly for cards issued to large volumes of lower-income workers.
Worker protection — limits also serve a protective function for the cardholders themselves, preventing impulsive spending of the entire salary in a single transaction.
Understanding these reasons helps cardholders accept the limits as a feature rather than a frustration — and plan their withdrawals and spending accordingly.
Ratibi Card ATM Withdrawal Limits
The specific withdrawal limits for the Ratibi prepaid card are not publicly published on the FAB website — which is one of the key content gaps this guide addresses. The following limits are based on standard FAB prepaid card guidelines and industry norms for UAE prepaid salary cards:
Daily ATM Withdrawal Limit
The standard daily ATM cash withdrawal limit for the Ratibi prepaid card is typically:
AED 5,000 per day
This means that regardless of the total balance on the card, no more than AED 5,000 can be withdrawn in cash from ATMs within a single calendar day.
The daily limit resets at midnight — so if the full AED 5,000 has been withdrawn on one day, the full limit becomes available again from midnight onwards.
Per Transaction ATM Withdrawal Limit
In addition to the daily limit, individual ATM transactions are subject to a per-transaction limit. This is typically:
AED 2,000 to AED 3,000 per transaction
This means that even if the daily limit has not been reached, each individual ATM withdrawal may be capped at AED 2,000 or AED 3,000. To withdraw a larger amount, multiple transactions at the same or different ATMs may be needed — subject to the overall daily limit.
Important Note on Limits
Specific limits may vary depending on the version of the Ratibi card issued, the employer’s account arrangement with FAB, and any updates to FAB’s prepaid card policy. Cardholders who need to confirm the exact limits applicable to their specific card should:
- Call the FAB Ratibi helpline at 600 52 2298
- Ask their employer to confirm the limits with FAB
- Visit the nearest FAB branch for clarification
Ratibi Card Point-of-Sale (POS) Transaction Limits
In addition to ATM withdrawal limits, the Ratibi card also has limits for purchases made at shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and other payment terminals.
Daily POS Transaction Limit
The standard daily limit for point-of-sale purchases using the Ratibi card is typically:
AED 10,000 per day
This is the total amount that can be spent across all POS transactions in a single day — whether at a single shop or multiple merchants.
Per Transaction POS Limit
Individual point-of-sale transactions are typically limited to:
AED 5,000 per transaction
For purchases exceeding this amount — such as furniture, electronics, or large grocery shops — splitting the payment across multiple transactions or using an alternative payment method may be necessary.
Ratibi Card Online Transaction Limits
The Ratibi card can be used for online purchases wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Online transaction limits are typically:
Daily Online Transaction Limit
AED 5,000 per day
Per Transaction Online Limit
AED 3,000 per transaction
These limits apply to all online purchases — including shopping platforms, bill payment portals, airline ticket bookings, and any other online merchant.
Monthly Transaction Limits
In addition to daily limits, the Ratibi prepaid card may also be subject to monthly overall transaction limits. These are designed to comply with UAE Central Bank regulations for prepaid salary cards.
The standard monthly transaction limit for Ratibi prepaid cards is typically:
AED 40,000 to AED 50,000 per month
This is the total combined value of all transactions — ATM withdrawals, POS purchases, and online payments — that can be made within a single calendar month.
For workers earning up to AED 5,000 per month — which is the salary bracket the Ratibi card is designed for — this monthly limit is more than sufficient to cover all normal spending and transfer needs.
Summary Table — Ratibi Card Limits at a Glance
| Transaction Type | Per Transaction Limit | Daily Limit | Monthly Limit |
| ATM cash withdrawal | AED 2,000 – 3,000 | AED 5,000 | Part of monthly total |
| POS purchase (shop) | AED 5,000 | AED 10,000 | Part of monthly total |
| Online purchase | AED 3,000 | AED 5,000 | Part of monthly total |
| Overall all transactions | — | — | AED 40,000 – 50,000 |
What to Do When a Withdrawal Limit Is Reached
Hitting a withdrawal limit can be frustrating — particularly around payday when there are multiple financial needs to address. Here are the practical options available when the daily limit has been reached:
Option 1 — Wait until midnight The daily ATM withdrawal limit resets at midnight every day. If the limit has been reached during the day, waiting until after midnight allows the full limit to be accessed again.
Option 2 — Use the card for purchases instead of cash Rather than withdrawing cash for every expense, using the Ratibi card directly for purchases at shops and supermarkets preserves the ATM withdrawal limit for situations where cash is specifically needed. The POS daily limit is higher than the ATM daily limit.
Option 3 — Use an exchange house for large transfers As covered in Article #13 and Article #14, exchange houses accept direct Ratibi card payments for transfers. This means large amounts can be moved to a bank account or sent overseas through the exchange house’s payment terminal — without counting against the ATM withdrawal limit.
Option 4 — Split the withdrawal across multiple days For workers who need to access a large portion of their salary in cash — for example, to pay rent or send a large remittance — planning the withdrawals across two or three days avoids the daily limit becoming an obstacle.
Option 5 — Contact the employer for a limit review In some cases, employers can request FAB to adjust the withdrawal limits for specific employees — particularly those with demonstrated financial reliability. This is not guaranteed but is worth discussing with the employer if the current limits are consistently causing difficulties.
How Withdrawal Limits Interact With the Balance
It is important to understand the relationship between the card balance and the withdrawal limits:
- The withdrawal limit and the card balance operate independently
- Even if the card has AED 10,000 on it, the daily ATM withdrawal limit of AED 5,000 still applies
- Conversely, if the card balance is only AED 500, the ATM will only allow withdrawal of up to AED 500 — regardless of the daily limit
- The lower of the two figures — the available balance or the applicable limit — always determines how much can actually be withdrawn
Contactless Payment Limits
The Ratibi card supports contactless payments — also known as tap-to-pay — at compatible payment terminals. Contactless transactions are subject to a separate per-transaction limit:
AED 300 per contactless transaction
For transactions above AED 300, the card must be inserted into the terminal and the PIN entered. This limit is set by the UAE Central Bank as a security measure for contactless payments.
International ATM Withdrawal Limits
The Ratibi card can be used at ATMs outside the UAE wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted. International ATM withdrawals are subject to:
- The same daily withdrawal limit as UAE ATM withdrawals — typically AED 5,000 or the equivalent in the local currency
- International ATM fees — which vary by country and ATM operator
- Foreign currency conversion fees — applied by FAB for transactions in currencies other than AED
Workers planning to use the Ratibi card at ATMs outside the UAE should check with FAB or the employer about any additional international usage conditions before travelling.
How to Check Remaining Daily Limit
Unfortunately, most ATMs do not display the remaining daily withdrawal limit directly on the screen. However, cardholders can track their daily usage by:
- Reviewing the SMS alerts received throughout the day — each ATM withdrawal triggers an SMS showing the transaction amount and remaining balance
- Checking the transaction history on the FAB mobile app
- Calling the FAB Ratibi helpline at 600 52 2298 and asking the agent to confirm the remaining daily limit
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if the daily ATM withdrawal limit is reached but more cash is needed urgently? The most practical options are to use the card for direct purchases at shops rather than withdrawing cash, visit an exchange house to make a card payment for any transfer needs, or wait until midnight when the daily limit resets.
Q: Can the withdrawal limit be temporarily increased for a specific need? Temporary limit increases are not a standard feature of the Ratibi prepaid card. However, speaking to the employer — who can raise the request with FAB — is the best course of action if a specific situation genuinely requires a higher limit.
Q: Does checking the balance at an ATM count towards the daily withdrawal limit? No. Balance enquiries at ATMs do not count as withdrawal transactions and do not affect the daily withdrawal limit.
Q: Are the limits the same for all Ratibi cards? Limits may vary slightly depending on the version of the Ratibi card, the employer’s arrangement with FAB, and any updates to FAB’s prepaid card policy. Calling the FAB Ratibi helpline at 600 52 2298 is the best way to confirm the exact limits for a specific card.
Q: What if the ATM declines a withdrawal even though the balance is sufficient and the daily limit has not been reached? Check whether the card is blocked, whether the PIN is being entered correctly, and whether the ATM is compatible with the Ratibi card. If none of these explain the decline, call the FAB Ratibi helpline for assistance.
Q: Do the daily limits apply to transactions made on weekends and public holidays? Yes. The daily limits apply every day of the year — including weekends, public holidays, and Ramadan. The limits reset at midnight regardless of the day.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the withdrawal and transaction limits on the Ratibi card is not just useful information — it is essential financial planning knowledge for every cardholder. By understanding the daily ATM limit, the POS spending limit, the online transaction limit, and the monthly cap, workers can plan their spending, transfers, and remittances without ever being caught off guard by a declined transaction.
The key is to plan ahead — particularly around payday, when multiple financial needs compete for access to the same funds within the same day.
For workers who need to understand all the methods available for transferring money from the Ratibi card — including exchange house options and the cash withdrawal and deposit method — Article #13: How to Transfer Money From Ratibi Card to Bank Account and Article #14: International Remittance From Ratibi Card cover everything in detail.
next — How to Deposit Money Into the Ratibi Card, where every method of adding funds to the Ratibi card balance is explained — including whether top-ups are possible and what options are available for workers who need to add money beyond their salary.