How would you like to own a credit card with a solitaire diamond embedded in it? Can you imagine the look on the faces of your fellow diners when you casually whip it out and hand it over to the waiter to pay the bill? And, to make things even better, there is no pre-set spending limit on the card.

Before you go running to apply, here’s the catch – the Dubai First Royale MasterCard is by invitation only and as the name “Royale” suggests is only for the VVIPs of UAE society and the movers and shakers of the business world.

Ravi Bhardwaj, country corporate officer, Dubai First, told Emirates Business: “Our Royale MasterCard is by invitation only and it is for a select group of people, who represent the upper echelons of the business and social community.

“More than the income level, we look at prospective card holders as people who must possess the right criteria in terms of social standing and profile. People who meet these attributes are then invited to enjoy the benefits of our Royale card.”

Due to the exclusive nature of the Royale card only a limited number of them will be issued each year and only a privileged few will then be able to join this elite group.

Bhardwaj said: “Our aim is to invite a limited number of high net worth individuals each year to benefit from the elite lifestyle support that is an inherent proposition of the card.”

So what was the idea behind launching such a card? Bhardwaj said: “Since Dubai First’s inception, we have been working to position the company as a dominant player in the financial services industry.

So what better way to do it than by launching the Royale which is the first of its kind in the world and the first in the Middle East to use a certified diamond that has been embedded within its crest.”

The card is black and has a golden metallic border. It has a crest in the middle and the diamond is embedded within this crest.

Bhardwaj said: “The card was designed by an internationally acclaimed design consultancy called Inno Design. The Royale Mastercard is the first of its kind in the world to use a certified diamond and metal implant technology.

“The card is handcrafted and only nine cards are produced in a day. The manufacture involves 36 processes from metal casting to diamond setting by a jeweller.”

The million-dirham question is what privileges will the Royale cardholder have?

Well, for one, all transactions will be processed regardless of their size and amount of available credit. Second, holders will have preferential access to the Burj Al Arab hotel, special yacht charter deals in Dubai and around the world and will also have a personal relationship manager to meet all their financial and lifestyle needs.

Bhardwaj said: “The card will become a part of the members’ everyday lives as our personal relationship managers and lifestyle managers will be involved in every lifestyle aspect, from booking jets to arranging invitations to exclusive openings around the world.

“Royale will offer personalised services on an international level through numerous worldwide affiliations such as hospitality brands, yacht charters, polo clubs, VIP restaurant services and others.
One innovative example is the Royale City Business Package by which customers can order a set of four key personal services in more than 13 international business gateways, from Los Angeles to Shanghai.

“For a person on the go, it will meet last-minute requests, while offering insider information on select events through its global network. In other words, the ‘Royale’ card is an all-in-one package catering to the needs of distinguished individuals.”

Via business24-7