Relocating to UAE

[mcd3388]

I’m sure this is a well trodden path but couldn’t find anything specific. I’m relocating to the UAE shortly and amongst many other logistics I am trying to workout a strategy to continue to collect points as I have done so in the UK.

For additional context:
– Amex Platinum, Gold and BA Premium Card
– Hilton Barclaycard
– Curve (Basic)
– I will still own a UK property (will be rented and I will pay UK tax)
– UAE tax resident

I am also an Etihad Platinum, BA Silver and Hilton Diamond.

Looking to keep my Amex Platinum (or transfer to UAE), cancel Gold. Will still have enough UK expenditure to get a companion voucher so may keep BA.

I’m looking at local UAE cards and my preference is to stick with Etihad as I prefer them significantly to Emirates. My travel will be biased to Gulf region and not UK-UAE (maybe 5 times per year). I can open quite generous credit cards in the UAE but have noticed they restrict certain items e.g. school fees, supermarkets, utilities etc.

My thought process in the short term was to upgrade my curve and push spend through my non-Amex cards for certain categories and use a local Etihad card for everything else. I would consider my spending to also be quite high from a personal standpoint and with my business so another thing to factor.

Looking for anyone with a similar story or if they have any recommendations on a good approach. I’m still early into the research but want to make sure I have time to apply/close accounts etc. before I officially move to the UAE.

Any help would be much appreciated..

[andiron]

No idea, but whatever you get there -link to Curve and make most of GBiT functionality.

For example use Curve with UK card and spend 1000 AED (worth £205) and then in 90 days if currency exchange changes and 1000 AED = £185 go back in time to local card, release £205, get charged 1000 AED to local card, and send yourself from UK 1100 AED (£205 at new rate).

[executiveclubber]

Do Amex still do Global Transfer, and does this still involve moving your MR balance across? Something worth investigating!

[BBbetter]

andiron wrote:

No idea, but whatever you get there -link to Curve and make most of GBiT functionality.

For example use Curve with UK card and spend 1000 AED (worth £205) and then in 90 days if currency exchange changes and 1000 AED = £185 go back in time to local card, release £205, get charged 1000 AED to local card, and send yourself from UK 1100 AED (£205 at new rate).

You cannot move the expense from a UK card to non-uk/eu card.