Liv review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Liv suits UAE residents who want a family account with a kids account, a debit card and a no-annual-fee credit card side by side. The debit account carries a monthly fee of AED 0 and a currency conversion fee of 1.99%, so spending abroad is the cost to watch.
Key facts
- Best for
- A family in the UAE wanting kids accounts, multi-currency and crypto in one place, with an optional cashback credit card.
- Monthly fee
- AED 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 1.99% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free ATM withdrawals
- AED 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card type
- Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Emirates NBD Bank PJSC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Arab Emirates (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Multi-currency, Crypto
- Audience
- Kids
- Official website
- liv.me
Credit cards
- Annual fee
- AED 0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- APR
- 41.88% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Currency conversion fee
- 1.99% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Rewards type
- Cashback (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Rewards rate
- Up to 2% cashback (tiered: 2% for AED 10,000+, 1.5% for AED 5,000-10,000, 0.75% below AED 5,000) (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Perks
- Airport lounge access, Cinema tickets, Instalment payment plans, Loan on card, Balance conversion, Instant digital issuance (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Cashback rate
- 2% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Card kind
- Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Emirates NBD Bank PJSC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Arab Emirates (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- No annual fee
- Features
- Multi-currency, Crypto
- Audience
- Kids
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App Store
Pros and cons
Pros
- Monthly fee of AED 0 on the debit account, and an annual fee of AED 0 on the credit card
- Multi-currency and crypto are supported alongside the standard account features
- Aimed at kids, with a credit card on credit terms and instant digital issuance available
- Cashback of 2% on the credit card, with lounge access, cinema tickets and instalment plans
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 1.99% applies, which is high for a card used abroad
- The credit card charges an APR of 41.88% on balances
- Cashback rates are tiered, so the top tier depends on how much you spend
Who it suits
- Families in the UAE who want a kids account linked to a parent's account
- Anyone who needs multi-currency and crypto in a single bank account
- Households that want a no-annual-fee credit card with cashback alongside a debit card
Who should look elsewhere
- Frequent travellers who want a low or no currency conversion fee, where Wise is the cheaper pick
- Anyone who needs a secured credit card to build a score, where Varo Believe Secured Credit Card takes a deposit instead
- US residents looking for a US credit builder, where Chime Card is the better fit
Who runs it
Liv is the digital banking brand of Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, headquartered in United Arab Emirates and founded in 2015. The account holds debit cards for everyday spending and a credit card for borrowing, both issued under the same bank. The Central Bank of the UAE is the regulator listed for the brand.
How Liv compares
8.7 vs 9.4
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 9.2
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8.7 vs 8.5
8.7 vs 8.5
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8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.0
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8.7 vs 8.8
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8.7 vs 9.4
8.7 vs 9.4
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8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.8- 8.7 vs 8.8
- 8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.8- 8.7 vs 8.8
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8.7 vs 8.3
8.7 vs 8.2
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0
Where Liv is available
- Available
- United Arab Emirates
- Licence in United Arab Emirates
- Central Bank of the UAE, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the Liv debit account cost to keep?+
The debit account carries a monthly fee of AED 0, and there is no annual fee attached to the account. Cash withdrawals are free within an allowance of AED 0, so day to day banking costs nothing extra while you stay inside that.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
A currency conversion fee of 1.99% applies on the debit account, which is worth checking before you travel. The account supports multi-currency balances, so holding the currency you need can reduce how often the fee is charged.
Is the Liv credit card an annual fee card?+
The credit card has an annual fee of AED 0 and runs on credit terms, with an APR of 41.88% on balances you carry. Repaying the balance in full each month means no interest is added to your spending.
How does cashback work on the credit card?+
Cashback is earned at 2% on the top tier, and the rate is tiered by your spend level, so lower spenders earn less. The rewards type is cashback, credited straight back rather than as points.
Can I open an account for my children?+
Yes. The brand is aimed at kids, and the account pairs a parent's card with a child card under one banking relationship. It is designed for family use in the UAE rather than for individual adult customers only.
What other features come with the account?+
Multi-currency and crypto sit alongside the standard card features. The credit card adds airport lounge access, cinema tickets, instalment payment plans, a loan on card, balance conversion and instant digital issuance.
Who regulates Liv and is the money protected?+
Liv is issued by Emirates NBD Bank PJSC in United Arab Emirates, with the Central Bank of the UAE listed as the regulator. Cards are debit and a credit card, both issued by that bank rather than by a standalone fintech.
Sources
- kredit.ae/campaigns/2026-09-liv-new-to-uae checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free ATM withdrawals, Card type
“Withdrawals are free at Emirates NBD and Islamic ATMs”
- kredit.ae/credit-cards/liv-cashback-credit-card/details checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Cashback rate, Rewards rate
“Liv Cashback Card — 2% Cashback, Free for Life”
- realestateclubdubai.com/blog/relocation/best-dubai-bank-a... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“no monthly fee”
- emiratesnbd.com/en/about-emirates-nbd checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Emirates NBD, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, headquartered in Dubai, UAE”
- emiratesnbd.com/en/media-center/liv-and-union-coop-enter-... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Liv, the first digital bank of the UAE”
- liv.me/-/media/liv/website/pdf/2024/kfs/money-ahead-kfs-j... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Licences
“Liv is a brand owned by Emirates NBD Bank PJSC”
- liv.me/en checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Features
“Liv Lite : 8-18 Years Old”
- liv.me/en/charges checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, APR, Card kind, Currency conversion fee, Pricing model
“Liv Cashback Card: Free”
- liv.me/en/liv-credit-card checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Perks, Rewards type
“Standard card offers 25+ airport lounges and 2 cinema tickets monthly; Instalment Payment Plans (IPP) with zero-interest options; Loan on Card feature”
Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Protection.
Related by the facts
Liv
A family in the UAE wanting kids accounts, multi-currency and crypto in one place, with an optional cashback credit card.