Introduction
Understanding Ratibi card fees can save you significant money every month. Here is the complete breakdown FAB doesn’t publish anywhere.One of the most frustrating experiences for any Ratibi cardholder is discovering an unexpected deduction on the card — a charge that was never explained, never anticipated, and never agreed to consciously. Yet the official FAB website publishes no fee schedule for the Ratibi card anywhere on its product page. There is no table, no list, no reference to what costs apply and when. For workers who depend on every single dirham of their salary, this lack of transparency is genuinely harmful. This guide addresses that gap directly. Every known fee and charge associated with the Ratibi prepaid card is explained here — what it is, when it applies, how much it typically costs, and how to avoid it where possible — so every cardholder can manage their money with complete clarity.
Why Knowing the Fees Matters for Ratibi Cardholders
For workers earning between AED 1,000 and AED 5,000 per month — which is the salary bracket the Ratibi card is designed for — every dirham counts. An unexpected fee of even AED 20 or AED 30 can disrupt a carefully planned monthly budget.
More importantly, understanding fees empowers cardholders to make smarter decisions — choosing the right ATM, using the card for purchases instead of cash where possible, and avoiding unnecessary charges that eat into an already modest income.
Knowing the fees is not just useful information — it is a form of financial protection for every Ratibi cardholder.
Category 1 — Card Issuance and Replacement Fees
New Card Issuance Fee
When a Ratibi card is first issued to a new employee, FAB charges a card issuance fee. This fee is typically paid by the employer as part of the Ratibi card setup arrangement.
Typical fee: AED 25 to AED 35 per card
In most cases, this fee is absorbed by the employer and is not deducted from the employee’s salary or card balance. However, workers should be aware that the fee exists — particularly if there is any confusion about an initial deduction on the card.
Replacement Card Fee
If a Ratibi card needs to be replaced — due to loss, theft, ATM confiscation, or damage — FAB charges a replacement card fee. This fee may be charged to the employer or, in some arrangements, deducted from the cardholder’s balance.
Typical fee: AED 25 to AED 50 per replacement card
Workers should clarify with their employer whether the replacement fee will be deducted from their salary or card balance before requesting a replacement.
Card Renewal Fee
When a Ratibi card reaches its expiry date and a new card is issued, a renewal fee may apply. Like the issuance fee, this is typically handled by the employer.
Typical fee: AED 25 to AED 35 per renewed card
Category 2 — ATM Withdrawal Fees
ATM fees are among the most commonly encountered charges for Ratibi cardholders and are worth understanding in detail.
FAB ATM Withdrawals — Within the UAE
Using a FAB ATM within the UAE to withdraw cash is completely free for Ratibi cardholders.
Fee: AED 0
This is one of the most important things for every Ratibi cardholder to know — using a FAB ATM is always the most cost-effective option for cash withdrawals.
Non-FAB ATM Withdrawals — Within the UAE
Using an ATM belonging to another UAE bank — such as Emirates NBD, ADCB, DIB, or any other bank — involves a fee for each withdrawal transaction.
Typical fee: AED 2 to AED 6.30 per transaction
This fee is charged by FAB for using a non-FAB ATM network. The exact amount is displayed on the ATM screen before the transaction is confirmed — giving the cardholder the option to cancel without being charged if they prefer to find a FAB ATM instead.
International ATM Withdrawals — Outside the UAE
Using the Ratibi card at ATMs outside the UAE involves both a withdrawal fee and a foreign currency conversion charge.
Typical withdrawal fee: AED 20 to AED 25 per transaction (or the equivalent in local currency)
Foreign currency conversion fee: Typically 2% to 3% of the transaction amount
These charges make international ATM withdrawals significantly more expensive than UAE ATM withdrawals — workers travelling outside the UAE should factor these costs into their planning.
Balance Enquiry at Non-FAB ATMs
Checking the balance at a non-FAB ATM may also involve a small fee in some cases.
Typical fee: AED 1 to AED 2 per enquiry at non-FAB ATMs
Balance enquiries at FAB ATMs remain free of charge.
Category 3 — Point-of-Sale Transaction Fees
Domestic POS Purchases — Within the UAE
Using the Ratibi card for purchases at shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and other payment terminals within the UAE is generally free of charge.
Fee: AED 0
This is an important advantage of using the card for purchases rather than withdrawing cash — the card can be used freely at millions of Visa and Mastercard-accepting merchants across the UAE without any transaction fee.
International POS Purchases — Outside the UAE
Using the Ratibi card for purchases at merchants outside the UAE involves a foreign currency conversion fee.
Typical fee: 2% to 3% of the transaction amount
This fee applies to all purchases made in currencies other than UAE Dirhams — whether in a physical shop abroad or on an international online merchant that charges in a foreign currency.
Category 4 — Online Transaction Fees
Domestic Online Purchases
Using the Ratibi card for online purchases on UAE-based platforms — where the transaction is processed in AED — is generally free of charge.
Fee: AED 0
International Online Purchases
Online purchases from international merchants — where the transaction is processed in a foreign currency — are subject to the same foreign currency conversion fee as international POS transactions.
Typical fee: 2% to 3% of the transaction amount
Workers who regularly shop on international online platforms should factor this conversion fee into their purchasing decisions.
Category 5 — SMS Alert Fees
The Ratibi card’s automatic SMS balance alert system — which sends a message after every salary credit and transaction — is provided as a free service by FAB.
Fee: AED 0
There is no charge for receiving SMS balance alerts on the Ratibi card. This feature is included as a standard part of the card’s service offering.
Category 6 — Inactivity Fees
Some prepaid cards charge an inactivity fee if the card is not used for a specified period. Whether the Ratibi card is subject to an inactivity fee depends on the specific version of the card and FAB’s current policy.
Potential fee: AED 25 to AED 50 per month after an extended period of inactivity
Workers who are not using their Ratibi card — for example, during a period of unpaid leave or between jobs — should check with FAB or their employer about whether an inactivity fee applies and after how long it would be triggered.
Category 7 — Card Statement Fees
Mini Statement at ATM
Printing a mini statement at a FAB ATM — showing the last few transactions and the current balance — is typically free of charge.
Fee: AED 0 at FAB ATMs
At non-FAB ATMs, a small fee may apply for printed statements.
Full Statement Request
Requesting a full transaction statement for a specified period may involve a fee depending on how the statement is requested and delivered.
Typical fee: AED 25 to AED 50 for a paper statement delivered by post
Electronic statements — if available through the FAB app or online portal — may be provided free of charge.
Category 8 — Dispute and Chargeback Fees
If a cardholder needs to raise a formal dispute about a transaction — for example, an unauthorised charge or a merchant error — FAB may charge a fee for processing the dispute investigation.
Typical fee: AED 50 to AED 100 per dispute raised
If the dispute is resolved in the cardholder’s favour — meaning the charge was genuinely unauthorised or erroneous — the dispute fee is typically refunded along with the disputed amount.
Workers should be aware of this potential fee before raising a formal dispute for a small-value transaction — the fee may exceed the value of the disputed amount in some cases.
Complete Fee Summary Table
| Fee Category | Specific Fee | Typical Amount |
| Card issuance | New card issued | AED 25 – 35 |
| Card replacement | Lost, stolen, damaged | AED 25 – 50 |
| Card renewal | At expiry | AED 25 – 35 |
| ATM withdrawal — FAB UAE | Cash withdrawal | Free |
| ATM withdrawal — non-FAB UAE | Cash withdrawal | AED 2 – 6.30 |
| ATM withdrawal — international | Cash withdrawal | AED 20 – 25 |
| ATM balance enquiry — FAB | Balance check | Free |
| ATM balance enquiry — non-FAB | Balance check | AED 1 – 2 |
| POS purchase — UAE | In-store purchase | Free |
| POS purchase — international | In-store purchase abroad | 2% – 3% of amount |
| Online purchase — UAE | AED transactions | Free |
| Online purchase — international | Foreign currency | 2% – 3% of amount |
| SMS alerts | Automatic balance alerts | Free |
| Inactivity fee | Extended non-use | AED 25 – 50/month |
| Mini statement — FAB ATM | Printed receipt | Free |
| Full statement | Paper statement | AED 25 – 50 |
| Dispute processing | Formal chargeback | AED 50 – 100 |
How to Minimise Fees on the Ratibi Card
Understanding the fee structure makes it possible to take simple, practical steps to reduce charges:
Always use FAB ATMs — this single habit eliminates non-FAB ATM withdrawal fees entirely. FAB has one of the largest ATM networks in the UAE — finding a FAB ATM is rarely difficult.
Use the card for purchases instead of withdrawing cash — domestic POS purchases are free. Using the card directly at shops and supermarkets avoids ATM fees and reduces the number of withdrawals needed.
Avoid international ATM withdrawals — the combination of the withdrawal fee and the currency conversion charge makes international ATM use significantly more expensive. Planning cash needs before travelling and withdrawing AED in the UAE before departure is more cost-effective.
Keep the card active — using the card at least once every few months avoids potential inactivity fees.
Check the balance for free — using the Magnati online portal, SMS alerts, or the FAB mobile app for balance checks avoids any non-FAB ATM balance enquiry fees.
Report disputes promptly — raising a dispute quickly and with clear documentation improves the chance of resolution in the cardholder’s favour — and of having the dispute fee refunded.
Important Disclaimer
The fee amounts listed in this guide are based on standard FAB prepaid card fee guidelines and industry norms for UAE prepaid salary cards as of 2026. FAB may update its fee schedule periodically. The most accurate and up-to-date fee information is always available from:
- The FAB Ratibi helpline — 600 52 2298
- The FAB website at bankfab.com
- The nearest FAB branch
- The employer — who receives fee schedule updates as part of their corporate banking arrangement with FAB
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there any monthly maintenance fees on the Ratibi card? FAB states that there are no monthly charges for Ratibi cardholders. However, inactivity fees may apply if the card is not used for an extended period. Confirming the current fee structure with FAB directly is always the most reliable approach.
Q: Who pays the card issuance and replacement fees — the employer or the employee? Card issuance fees are typically paid by the employer. Replacement fees may be charged to the employer or deducted from the employee’s balance depending on the specific arrangement — workers should confirm this with their employer before requesting a replacement.
Q: Can fees be disputed if they were applied incorrectly? Yes. If a fee has been applied incorrectly — for example, a withdrawal fee charged for a FAB ATM transaction that should have been free — the issue should be reported to the employer and the FAB Ratibi helpline at 600 52 2298 immediately.
Q: Is there a fee for checking the balance on the Magnati portal? No. The Magnati online portal is completely free to use for balance enquiries.
Q: Do the fees change during Ramadan or public holidays? Standard FAB fees apply throughout the year regardless of public holidays or religious occasions. Any promotional fee reductions are announced through FAB’s official channels.
Q: What is the most expensive fee to watch out for on the Ratibi card? International ATM withdrawal fees — combining the per-transaction fee and the currency conversion charge — represent the most significant cost for cardholders who use the card outside the UAE. Avoiding international ATM use wherever possible is the most effective way to keep fees low.
Final Thoughts
The Ratibi card fee structure is not complicated — but it is poorly communicated by FAB’s official channels. By understanding exactly which transactions are free and which ones carry charges, every Ratibi cardholder can make smarter decisions that keep more of their salary in their pocket.
The single most impactful habit is also the simplest — always use a FAB ATM. This one change eliminates the most commonly encountered fee entirely and costs nothing beyond a few extra minutes to find the right machine.
For workers who want to understand the full range of transaction limits that apply alongside the fee structure — Article #18: Ratibi Card Limits — Complete Guide covers every applicable limit in detail, completing the picture of how the Ratibi card operates within its boundaries.
Coming up next — Article #18: Ratibi Card Limits — Complete Guide, where every spending, withdrawal, and transaction limit on the Ratibi card is explained in one comprehensive reference — the final article in Cluster 5: Fees and Limits.