Zero-interest instalment plans extend up to 24 months, with processing fees and eligibility criteria varying by bank.
Dubai: UAE parents facing hefty school-fee bills this month can turn to a variety of credit-card instalment options, though costs, repayment terms and eligibility requirements vary significantly across banks.
The payment deadline comes just ahead of the start of the 2026–2027 academic year. Students at UAE public schools and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum are due to return on August 31, while other private schools operate according to calendars approved by their respective local education authorities.
Many schools are asking parents to pay the first tuition instalment this week, although deadlines vary by school and emirate. In Dubai, re-enrolment deposits of up to 5% of annual tuition fees, or Dh500, whichever is higher, are typically deducted from the first-term fee.
An independent review identified publicly advertised school-fee instalment facilities from 13 UAE banks as of August 13. However, the list is neither exhaustive nor a ranking, as other lenders may provide unpublished or customised payment arrangements.
What each bank offers
ADCB
ADCB allows eligible credit-card customers to split school-fee payments over three, six or 12 months at zero interest. Each converted transaction carries a Dh50 processing fee, plus VAT.
The offer is available until October 31, 2026. Parents can make payments directly using an ADCB credit card or through the bank’s bill-payment facility on its digital channels. An early settlement fee of Dh200 applies if the instalment plan is closed before its scheduled end date.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
ADIB allows eligible school and university payments of Dh500 or more to be converted into three-, six- or 12-month instalment plans. There is no processing fee, and the bank proportionately waives the Murabaha profit on the amount converted.
Most retail ADIB Covered Cards are eligible, while No Murabaha, Fast, Football, Business and ISIC cards are excluded. The payment must be processed under an eligible education merchant code and converted through the bank’s app or contact centre within 30 days of the transaction.
Ajman Bank
Ajman Bank offers three- and six-month instalment plans at selected educational institutions. Its published list includes City University College of Ajman, City School and Ajman Academy, with a minimum transaction amount of Dh3,000 at each institution.
This is a participating-merchant facility rather than a general instalment plan available at every UAE school. The bank’s current public page does not clearly specify an expiry date or separate processing fee, so customers should confirm both details before making a payment.
Al Hilal Bank
Al Hilal Bank’s School Fees Instant Cash facility allows customers to transfer the requested amount directly from their credit-card account to the school’s UAE bank account. Customers can access up to 80% of their available credit-card limit at a zero-profit rate.
The minimum amount is Dh5,000, with a one-time processing fee charged upfront. However, Al Hilal Bank does not currently disclose the applicable fee or repayment tenures on its offer page, so customers need to contact the bank for the latest pricing and terms.
CBD Al Islami
CBD Al Islami allows eligible purchases of Dh1,000 or more to be converted into three-, six- or 12-month instalment plans. The bank advertises no processing fee and permits customers to convert up to Dh100,000 or 90% of their available credit limit, whichever is lower.
The bank also has a participating-merchant programme covering selected schools and universities, with eligible transactions starting from Dh500. Parents should check the current merchant list to determine whether their institution qualifies or whether the broader purchase-conversion facility can be used.
Dubai Islamic Bank
DIB is offering selected Visa Covered Card customers a six-month instalment plan with no profit or processing fee. The promotion covers school and university payments of Dh1,000 or more made in the UAE or overseas between August 1 and September 15, 2026.
The offer is available only to selected customers and excludes DIB corporate and charge cards. Eligible cardholders can request the conversion by SMS or through DIB’s phone-banking service.
Emirates Islamic
Emirates Islamic allows eligible education payments of Dh1,000 or more to be converted into instalments of up to 12 months at zero profit. The 12-month option is available only for transactions above Dh10,000, and the payment must have been made within the previous 30 days.
The offer is valid until December 31, 2026. While the bank states that no monthly profit is charged under its school-fee offer, it does not separately specify a processing fee, so cardholders should confirm the total cost before converting a transaction.
Emirates Islamic is also running a separate promotion for new Amazon Credit Cards issued between July 28 and August 15. Eligible education payments can be converted into three-, six- or 12-month instalments at zero profit with no processing fee.
School-fee payments made between July 28 and September 10 are also eligible for 10% cashback in Amazon Reward Points, capped at Dh750. The 12-month instalment option requires a minimum eligible transaction of Dh10,000.
Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD allows eligible education payments of Dh1,000 or more to be converted into six- or 12-month instalments at zero interest, with a one-time processing fee of Dh49 per conversion.
For transactions of Dh5,000 or more, customers can opt for a 24-month instalment plan, although the processing fee increases to 3% of the transaction amount. For example, a Dh20,000 school-fee payment would incur a Dh600 processing fee under the two-year plan.
The campaign is valid until January 31, 2027. Cardholders can also use Plus Points to cover part or all of an eligible education payment, subject to the bank’s redemption terms.
First Abu Dhabi Bank
FAB’s seasonal school-fee offer allows eligible credit-card payments to be converted into three-, six-, nine- or 12-month instalment plans. The bank advertises zero interest and no processing fee.
The campaign runs from July 15 to September 30, 2026. Parents must make the school-fee payment using an eligible FAB credit card and request the instalment conversion through the FAB Mobile app.
HSBC UAE
HSBC allows eligible credit-card customers to convert school-fee payments into interest-free instalments for up to 12 months. A processing fee of 2.10%, inclusive of VAT, applies.
For example, converting a Dh30,000 school-fee payment would result in a Dh630 processing fee. Eligibility depends on the transaction, information available to HSBC and the bank’s internal policies. The public offer does not specify an expiry date for the education instalment facility.
National Bank of Fujairah
NBF allows eligible education payments ranging from Dh3,000 to Dh100,000 to be converted into three-month instalments, with no interest or processing fee.
The facility covers transactions processed under merchant codes assigned to schools, universities, online learning providers, vocational institutes, tutoring centres, preschools and childcare providers. Transactions must be converted by August 30, 2026. An early settlement fee of Dh50 applies.
RAKBANK
RAKBANK allows eligible school-fee payments of Dh1,000 or more to be converted into three-, six- or 12-month instalments at zero interest. The applicable processing fee depends on the payment method.
Payments made through Skiply between August 5 and 31 are eligible for the instalment plan with no processing fee. For payments made through other channels, RAKBANK charges 1% for three months, 2% for six months and 4% for 12 months.
A Dh20,000 transaction converted into a 12-month plan outside Skiply would therefore incur an Dh800 processing fee. Islamic, business, SME and corporate credit cards are excluded from the promotion.
Sharjah Islamic Bank
Sharjah Islamic Bank’s Easy Cash facility allows customers to use the funds for school-fee payments. Eligible Smiles and Cashback Covered Card holders can access amounts starting from Dh1,000, up to 80% of their available card limit.
Three-month plans carry zero profit and a 1% administration fee, while six-month plans also have no profit but carry a 2% administration fee. Longer tenures attract monthly profit rates of 0.89% for 12 months, 0.79% for 18 months and 0.69% for 24 months, along with a 1% administration fee.
Banks are listed alphabetically, with only publicly verified facilities that explicitly cover education payments included. In most cases, parents need sufficient available credit to pay the school bill in full before converting the transaction into instalments.
Zero interest doesn’t always mean free
A zero-interest or zero-profit offer refers only to the rate charged on the instalment balance. It does not necessarily mean the facility is free, as processing, administration, VAT or early-settlement fees may still apply.
These charges can add up significantly on large tuition payments. For example, a 4% processing fee on a Dh40,000 school bill would add Dh1,600 to the overall cost, even if no interest is charged on the instalments.
Parents should therefore compare the total cost in dirhams, rather than focusing solely on the advertised interest or profit rate. In some cases, a shorter instalment plan with a small fixed fee may be cheaper than a longer zero-interest option that carries a percentage-based charge.
Check how the payment is classified
Eligibility often depends on the merchant category code assigned to the transaction by Visa or Mastercard. A payment may not qualify if the school, payment platform or intermediary processes it under a category other than education.
Parents should ask their bank to confirm the transaction’s eligibility before making the payment. They should also check whether the school accepts the card directly or requires payment through a specific platform, such as Skiply.
In most cases, the full payment immediately reduces the card’s available credit limit, even if the bank subsequently converts the transaction into monthly instalments. The available limit is gradually restored as the customer repays the outstanding balance.
Each instalment forms part of the cardholder’s monthly payment obligation. Missing a payment could result in standard card charges, affect the customer’s credit record or lead to the remaining instalment balance being treated as a regular card transaction.
Offer terms were checked against publicly available bank information on August 13, 2026. Banks may change, withdraw or extend promotions, and individual eligibility remains subject to the card type, available credit limit, transaction classification and the bank’s approval.
