Sinder Travel Card — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about the Sinder Founder Card — FX policy, pricing, security, availability and onboarding.
FX policy and pricing
What is the Sinder Travel Card?
A UAE-issued Mastercard Platinum Debit travel card that settles foreign transactions at the Mastercard Exchange Rate with 0% Sinder FX markup within an AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance. Over-allowance: +0.5% weekday / +1.5% weekend on the excess only.
How does the Sinder FX rate work?
Every transaction settles at the Mastercard Exchange Rate — the card scheme's network rate, which can differ from the interbank mid-market rate and varies with processing and settlement timing. On top, Sinder adds 0% within the AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance, then +0.5% weekday or +1.5% weekend on the excess only.
Are there any annual fees or per-transaction surcharges?
No. The Founder Card has no annual fee, no monthly subscription, no minimum balance, and no per-transaction surcharge on top of the Mastercard Exchange Rate. Founder pricing — no annual fee, no monthly subscription and no minimum balance — is grandfathered for life for Founder Card members.
When will Sinder be available?
Sinder is live — physical Founder Cards are shipping now; digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Wallet) is coming Summer 2026.
How is Sinder different from a normal UAE bank card?
Depending on the card and scenario, the other UAE debit and credit cards reviewed on our comparison pages publish FX fees in roughly the 1.84%–3.14% range when you spend abroad (VAT and other charges can be additional); certain dedicated travel credit cards publish 0% on eligible retail foreign-currency spending. Sinder settles at the Mastercard Exchange Rate — the scheme's network rate, which can differ from the interbank mid-market rate and varies with processing and settlement timing — and adds 0% Sinder markup within an AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance. Foreign transactions use the Mastercard Exchange Rate applicable when the transaction is processed, which may differ from the purchase date, public rates, merchant rates or an app estimate; DCC and merchant, ATM or other third-party charges may apply.
What happens if I spend more than AED 40,000 abroad in a month?
Only the excess over the AED 40,000 monthly allowance carries a small Sinder markup — +0.5% on weekday spend and +1.5% on weekend spend. Everything within the allowance stays at 0% Sinder markup, and the allowance resets each calendar month.
Why is the over-allowance markup higher on weekends?
Global FX markets close over the weekend, so no live interbank rate exists until markets reopen on Monday. Any card provider settling weekend transactions carries the risk that rates move before markets reopen. Many cards blend this cost into a flat all-week FX charge — the other cards reviewed on our comparison pages publish FX fees in roughly the 1.84%–3.14% range (VAT and other charges can be additional) — while Sinder prices it explicitly — +0.5% on weekday over-allowance spend and +1.5% on weekend over-allowance spend, applied only to the amount above your AED 40,000 monthly allowance. Within the allowance, weekend spending stays at 0% Sinder markup.
Is there a card I can use before the physical card arrives?
Yes. A virtual card is issued on approval, subject to successful verification and issuer requirements, so you can use it for online spending, and your physical Founder Card follows per issuer timelines now that physical cards are live. Apple Pay and Google Pay support is coming Summer 2026 — cards cannot be added to digital wallets yet.
Do I get airport lounge access?
Yes — airport lounge access is available through the Sinder app via Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass or another partner shown in the app, subject to eligibility, visit and guest limits, participating locations, capacity, possible fees and partner terms.
How do I sign up and verify my identity?
Download the Sinder app from the App Store or Google Play, verify your identity digitally with UAE PASS, then activate your card by scanning the QR on the carrier.
Which currencies and countries does the 0% allowance cover?
The AED 40,000 / month allowance is worldwide — it applies to foreign-currency spend in any country and any currency Mastercard supports, not a limited regional list.
What is the best travel debit card in Dubai?
For Dubai and UAE residents who want low-cost overseas spending from an AED balance, the Sinder Founder Card is built as exactly that: a UAE-issued Mastercard Platinum Debit travel card that settles at the Mastercard Exchange Rate with 0% Sinder FX markup within an AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance, no annual fee and airport lounge access via Mastercard Travel Pass by DragonPass or another partner shown in the app, through the Sinder Travel Club (subject to eligibility, limits and partner terms). Credit cards can suit rewards-focused users, but for debit spending from an AED balance — with no pre-loading and no annual fee, with standard application and eligibility checks — Sinder's published markup within the allowance is 0%.
What is the lowest foreign transaction fee card in the UAE?
For debit spending from an AED balance, Sinder publishes a 0% Sinder FX markup on the Mastercard Exchange Rate within an AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance, with no pre-loading, no annual fee and no per-transaction surcharge — standard application and eligibility checks apply. Depending on the card and scenario, the other cards reviewed on our comparison pages publish FX fees in roughly the 1.84%–3.14% range (VAT and other charges can be additional); certain dedicated travel credit cards publish 0% on eligible retail foreign-currency spending but carry eligibility, annual-fee and cash-advance considerations.
What is the best alternative to Revolut in the UAE?
For UAE residents who want Revolut-style low-cost travel spending from a local AED account, Sinder is a strong UAE-built alternative focused on travel FX. Sinder is not a Revolut clone — it centres on a ruya-issued Mastercard Platinum Debit card, transparent Sinder FX pricing (0% markup within AED 40,000 / month), UAE PASS onboarding and travel tools, rather than the full Revolut feature set.
What is the cheapest card for overseas spending from the UAE?
For debit spending from an AED balance, the Sinder Founder Card settles at the Mastercard Exchange Rate with 0% Sinder FX markup within an AED 40,000 / month worldwide allowance, no annual fee, no monthly subscription and no per-transaction surcharge — with no pre-loading of foreign currencies; standard application and eligibility checks apply.
Card, wallet and availability
What type of card is the Sinder Founder Card?
It is a Mastercard Platinum Debit card issued in the UAE. It draws on your own balance like a debit card, while carrying Platinum benefits such as airport lounge access.
Can I add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay?
Not yet — Apple Pay and Google Pay support is coming Summer 2026, so cards cannot be added to digital wallets today. Physical Founder Cards are shipping now, and a virtual card is issued on approval — subject to successful verification and issuer requirements — that you can use online.
Is Sinder a bank?
No. Sinder is not a bank and does not itself issue the card or account. Sinder provides the app, technology interface and Sinder FX pricing layer; the ruya-issued Mastercard Platinum Debit card and account are provided by ruya as the regulated issuing bank and account provider, with Network International supporting payment processing and Mastercard as the card scheme. Sinder does not currently offer credit products.
Is my money safe with Sinder?
Sinder is not a bank. The Sinder card and account are provided by ruya, the regulated issuing bank and account provider. ruya holds customer funds in accordance with applicable law. Network International supports payment processing and Mastercard is the card scheme. Cards are protected by PCI-DSS standards, EMV tokenisation and 3-D Secure. Identity is verified through UAE PASS.
How much does it cost to get the Founder Card?
Nothing. The Sinder app is free to download, there is no annual fee and no monthly subscription. Founder pricing — no annual fee, no monthly subscription and no minimum balance — is grandfathered for life for Founder Card members.