Raqma

Corporate cards for ad spend in the UAE

Every platform here issues instant virtual cards — the differences for ad spend are per-card limits, how many cards you can run in parallel, and reported acceptance on Google/Meta/TikTok billing. Alaan, Pemo and Qashio are the most common picks in UAE marketing teams; Xpence and Volopay are the leaner alternatives.

Catalogue updated

Raqma's pick
Alaan
  • No monthly fee
  • Stated approval from 2 days
  • Accepts free-zone licences
  • Fully remote onboarding

The top catalogue-ranked product in this list — reasons cite the published fields below, not a paid placement. Methodology

Products to compare

5 products

Products are shown in catalogue order, not as a personalised recommendation. Compare the details and confirm current terms with the provider. Methodology

Alaan

Alaan

Mature GCC spend platform — deep per-card limits, receipt OCR and direct integrations. Strong for finance teams that want policy enforcement baked in.

1% cashbackFree-zone friendlyFully digital onboardingMulti-currency: AED, SAR, USD
Monthly fee
AED 0
Cashback
up to 1%
Approval
2–5 days
Free zone
Yes
Reviewed
Apply

Starter plan AED 0/mo (10 users). Premium/Enterprise cards can earn unlimited 2% cashback on international transactions. Card issued by NymCard (CBUAE-authorised, Visa licence). Per alaan.com/pricing, verified Oct 2026.

Pemo

Pemo

Unlimited virtual cards on the free plan, receipt matching and accounting integrations (Zoho, QuickBooks, Xero). Cashback on card spend makes the free tier genuinely usable.

2% cashbackFree-zone friendlyFully digital onboardingMulti-currency: AED, USD
Monthly fee
AED 0
Cashback
up to 2%
Approval
1–3 days
Free zone
Yes
Reviewed
Apply

Kickoff plan AED 0/mo (2 card users, +AED 29/user); Essential AED 58/mo; Business+ custom (min 20 card users). Per Pemo help centre, verified Oct 2026.

Qashio

Qashio

Emirates NBD-backed corporate cards with strong merchant-category controls — good fit for ad spend and SaaS subscriptions where cashback compounds.

2% cashbackFree-zone friendlyFully digital onboardingMulti-currency: AED, USD
Monthly fee
AED 0
Cashback
up to 2%
Approval
2–5 days
Free zone
Yes
Reviewed
Apply

Qashio Points convert to cashback or Emirates Skywards miles (no conversion fee; cashback credited ~3–5 business days). Prepaid corporate card issued by NymCard (CBUAE-authorised). Per qashio.com, verified Oct 2026.

Xpence

Xpence

SME-friendly card + spend platform — simple onboarding for mainland and free-zone companies, virtual and physical Visa cards.

Free-zone friendlyFully digital onboardingMulti-currency: AED, USD
Monthly fee
—
Cashback
—
Approval
2–5 days
Free zone
Yes
Reviewed
Apply

Pricing is per-plan; check current card and platform fees on Xpence, Sep 2026.

Volopay

Volopay

Unlimited virtual cards, bill pay, reimbursements and multi-currency wallets in one platform — card fee scales with monthly spend and is waived above a threshold.

Fully digital onboardingMulti-currency: Multi-currency wallets
Monthly fee
—
Cashback
—
Approval
3–5 days
Free zone
—
Reviewed
Apply

UAE plan pricing not published on the site — request a quote. Operates via licensed partners; not a bank.

Side-by-side

ProductMonthly feeCashbackApprovalFree zone
AlaanAED 0up to 1%2–5 daysYes
PemoAED 0up to 2%1–3 daysYes
QashioAED 0up to 2%2–5 daysYes
XpenceNot publishedNot published2–5 daysYes
VolopayNot publishedNot published3–5 daysNot published

How to choose a Corporate cards by your situation

  • startups watching fixed cost: compare monthly fee and minimum balance first — lowest published monthly cost: Alaan and Pemo and Qashio.
  • a free-zone company: shortlist first — free-zone onboarding on published criteria: Alaan and Pemo and Qashio.
  • founders outside the UAE: All products onboard remotely — no branch visit needed.
  • anyone needing it live soon: fastest stated approval: Pemo — still subject to compliance review.
  • import-export and multi-currency flows: widest published currency coverage: Alaan.

Fact sources: alaan.com · help.pemo.io · pemo.io · qashio.com · volopay.com

Frequently asked questions

How to choose a Corporate cards service for your situation?

For startups watching fixed cost: compare monthly fee and minimum balance first — lowest published monthly cost: Alaan and Pemo and Qashio. For a free-zone company: shortlist first — free-zone onboarding on published criteria: Alaan and Pemo and Qashio. For founders outside the UAE: All products onboard remotely — no branch visit needed. For anyone needing it live soon: fastest stated approval: Pemo — still subject to compliance review. For import-export and multi-currency flows: widest published currency coverage: Alaan.

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