Dubai First vs Deem
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dubai First
Manage your credit card with ease through a mobile-first digital experience. Track spending, view rewards, access statements, and control your card with instant updates and security features. Apply for a new card in minutes with a seamless, paperless onboarding process.
- Digital onboarding
- Transaction tracking
- Rewards management
- Card bill payment
- Instant transaction updates
- Card activation and PIN setup
- Freeze/unfreeze card
Read full descriptionHide full description
SEAMLESS DIGITAL ONBOARDING JOURNEY Dubai First offers a mobile-first experience, now with a seamless digital onboarding journey. No in-person meetings. No paperwork. Just your mobile and Emirates ID. Download the app and apply in less than two minutes. Apply today through the app and get exciting welcome offers. For the latest offers, visit dubaifirst.com. MOBILE BANKING FOR SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE Track spending, view rewards, access monthly statements, and enjoy many other features available only in the App. Digital Onboarding Journey Dubai First offers a mobile-first experience, now with a seamless digital onboarding journey. No in-person meetings. No paperwork. Just your mobile and Emirates ID. Download the app and apply in less than two minutes. Card Management • Instant updates on your transactions. • View your digital card • Review of purchases by category. • Easy check of available spending limit. • Monthly statements in the App. Rewards At A Glance • Real-time update of Cashback earnings • Up-to-date information on your rewards. • Instant redemption of Cashback. Card Services • Card bill payment directly from the App. • Application for supplementary card • Instant conversion of transactions into installments. • Instant booking of Balance Transfer and Quick Cash. • Payment plans progress overview In-App Control & Security • In-app card activation • instant PIN setup/ change • Freeze and unfreeze card function • Login with biometrics for extra security. To enjoy Dubai First Mobile App, you must be an existing Dubai First customer. Apply for your Dubai First Card today WARNING If you make only the minimum repayment/payment each period, you will pay more in interest/profit/fees and it will take you longer to pay off your outstanding balance.
Deem
Manage your credit card and personal loans with this intuitive app. Apply for new credit cards, track benefits and rewards, and access customer support. Enjoy a secure and convenient digital financial experience.
- Manage credit card and personal loans
- Apply for new credit cards
- Access benefits and rewards
- Receive customer support
- Secure financial data management
Read full descriptionHide full description
Introducing the all-new Deem Mobile App, a new digital experience to effortlessly manage your Deem Credit Card or Personal Loan. We've completely transformed the way you engage with your finances, delivering an unparalleled & intuitive user experience, with access to a wider range of Deem products and services. Features: Take Control: Seamlessly manage and control your finances with a few taps. You're in charge. Effortless Credit Card Applications: New customers can effortlessly apply for credit cards directly through the app, streamlining the onboarding process. Unlock a world of possibilities at your fingertips. All-in-One Hub: Access all your benefits and rewards in one place, making your financial experience truly comprehensive. Exceptional Customer Support: Our app is designed to provide help when you need it, ensuring you're never alone on your financial journey. Top-tier Security: Your financial data's security is our utmost priority. With state-of-the-art security measures, your information is safeguarded like never before. Download the new Deem Mobile App today and take hold of your financial future. Immerse yourself in the convenience, efficiency, and unwavering reliability of a financial companion that prioritizes your needs. Your path to an effortless digital experience is just a download away.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Dubai First at 4.6 against Deem's 2.6. Dubai First also leads on ratings volume (412 vs 5). Deem's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Dubai First holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dubai First has 412 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Dubai First's written reviews are positive against 13% of Deem's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dubai First | Deem |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (412 ratings) — better | 2.6 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 21.1% of reviews — better | 13.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 412 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 344 MB | 62 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | First Abu Dhabi Bank | Deem |
Customer experience
Dubai First
Deem
User reviews
Dubai First
From 412 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Convenient and easy to use
- 🚀 Immediate balance updates
- 💡 Good cashback facility
- ✨ App has new features and is nice to use
- 👍 Simple to use and shows needed information
Room to improve
- 🐛 App is always freezing or very slow
- ❌ Push notifications stopped working
- 🐛 App freezes when trying to open
- ⚠️ Deceptive practices regarding fees
- 🔄 App constantly asks to scan EID and card
Deem
From 5 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👨💼 Helpful individual staff members (Akbar Ali, Syed Akbar Naqvi, Wasay, Soul Thomas)
- ✅ Some app improvements in newer versions
- 💳 User-friendly interface for checking card details
- 📊 Real-time card usage tracking
- 🎯 Improved navigation in recent updates
Room to improve
- 📞 Extremely poor customer service responsiveness
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes frequently
- ❌ Unresponsive to cancellation requests
- 💰 Unauthorized charges and hidden fees
- 🔐 Login and authentication issues
Bugs and requests
Dubai First
Reported bugs
31 issues- Push notifications not working
- App freezing or very slow
- App freezing when trying to open
- App asks to scan EID and card every time
- App asks for credentials repeatedly
Show 26 moreShow fewer
- App unrecognisable as new device requiring verification
- App needs updating every time it's used
- Buggy update causing new device detection
- Constant login bugs and failures
- App timeout too short
- App has many bugs
- Cannot pay credit card bill through debit card from another bank
- Rewards not available most of the time
- App is basic compared to other banks
- Terms changed from free for life to annual paid
- Incorrect balance shown
- Hidden amounts not visible until statement
- Cannot pay with foreign debit cards
- App not working after update
- Horrible, amateur, and lousy app
- Login is a pain, messages have errors
- Cannot access statements
- Impossible to use service properly
- App not signing in
- Cannot see statement on web
- Zero access to credit card statement
- Very poorly designed and tested
- Online website no longer exists
- Many options log the user out
- Password creation and login character mismatch
- No option to view older statements
Requested features
7 requests- Spread update releases
- Test app properly before releasing updates
- Fix constant login bugs and failures
- Increase app timeout duration
- Allow payment of utility bills
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Allow payment with foreign debit cards
- Bring back the online website
Deem
Reported bugs
20 issues- App not opening or loading after updates
- Login stuck or session expiration errors
- Password change functionality broken
- Credit card not displaying in app after activation
- Card unlock option showing blank white screen
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- KYC update failing repeatedly
- EID updation showing persistent errors
- Payment transaction rejection despite available balance
- Incorrect balance display and statement information
- Duplicate transactions appearing
- App showing wrong card or no card at all
- Registration page stuck on blank white page
- Excess limit fees charged incorrectly
- Cashback points not reflecting in balance
- Payment not showing in real-time
- App laggy and slow performance
- Error messages: 'Something is wrong, please try again later'
- Buffering issues on payment portal
- Downloaded wrong user statement
- App incompatible with iOS 15.5
Requested features
11 requests- Real-time balance updates after payments
- Current month outstanding amount visibility
- Statement download functionality
- Apple Wallet integration
- Dark mode option
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Direct manager escalation option in IVR
- Cashback details visibility in app
- Card full limit display in dashboard
- SMS notifications for account deductions
- Auto-logout disable option in settings
- Previous statements and due dates visibility
In-app purchases
Dubai First
No in-app purchases
Deem
No in-app purchases
