Emirates Islamic and FC Barcelona have unveiled a co-branded payment card in the UAE, formalising a sponsorship that makes the Dubai-headquartered Sharia-compliant bank the club�s new partner in the Emirates through 2028 (per FC Barcelona and Emirates Islamic, announced 20 May 2026).
Up to 4% cashback for cardholders
The Emirates Islamic Barca Cashback Card offers up to 4 percent cashback on everyday spending, positioning it as a daily-use card rather than a niche fan product (per Fintech News UAE). The cashback structure applies across grocery, dining and online categories, with rates and category caps to be detailed at launch by Emirates Islamic.
Fan privileges built into the product
Beyond cashback, the card unlocks exclusive privileges tailored for Barca supporters, including access to match tickets, discounts on official merchandise and what the partners describe as once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences (per Zawya and Emirates Islamic). The structure is similar to other major sports co-brand cards but positioned specifically for the UAE market.
Targeting 1.7 million supporters
Emirates Islamic estimates there are around 1.7 million FC Barcelona supporters living in the UAE, representing more than 20 percent of the country�s total population (per Arabian Business). The bank views that fan base as a high-conviction acquisition pool for its retail card portfolio, which has been a growth focus alongside its broader Islamic banking franchise.
A sponsorship that extends to 2028
The card sits inside a wider sponsorship arrangement that runs until 2028, under which Emirates Islamic becomes FC Barcelona�s designated financial-services partner in the UAE (per iSportConnect). The agreement gives the bank rights to use FC Barcelona branding across marketing in the Emirates and access to club assets for customer activation.
Available exclusively in the UAE
The Barca Cashback Card will be available exclusively in the UAE. The bank has not yet confirmed an exact on-sale date but has begun customer pre-registration (per Bamboodt and Fintech News UAE). FC Barcelona, which has previously pursued targeted regional partnerships in the Gulf, said the UAE deal reflects the strength of its supporter base in the country and is part of a wider push to grow commercial revenues outside Europe.
