As the national carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airlines flies to 69 destinations across 44 countries, connecting Abu Dhabi International Airport with the world. Much like to the beloved Emirates Skywards programme, frequent Etihad fliers from Abu Dhabi will earn Etihad Guest points, points that allow you to upgrade travel class (gaining access to Ethad’s new range of cabins, including the new A350 on flights to New York, Paris and London), access lounges and receive extra baggage, to name just a few. Having an Etihad Guest credit card is a great way to earn miles and fast-track your tier status, without the need to fly (it’s also a notoriously little easier to avail upgrades on Etihad over Emirates, with fewer miles needed an more options for Guest members). Here are the seven best in the UAE for February 2024.
The best Etihad Guest credit cards
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
Annual fee: AED2,500
Minimum monthly salary: AED30,000
Get it now: bankfab.com
FAB’s Etihad Guest credit cards are some of the best around, offering many joining benefits and great points per spend. The Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card. When using the card, cardholders will earth 3.5 miles per AED10 spend on domestic transactions, a generous 6 miles per AED10 on international transfers and 7 miles earned per AED10 spend on Etihad and Etihad Airways partners. There’s also the option to pay a fee of AED250 per month to fast-track your points earning and earn 7.5 points per AED10 on all transactions.
Cardholders will be able to benefit from a generous 55,000 miles joining bonus (5,000 for a supplementary card) and, for those, spending AED200,000 or more on their card each year, a 75% Etihad Guest Miles discount voucher every year. The voucher offers a useful 75% discount on any Etihad Guest Miles needed for a reward flight to any destination in any class.
Outside of the airline and travel, the FAB Etihad Guest Credit Card allows for six transfers per year to Abu Dhabi airport from just AED40 and complimentary airport lounge access for 12 visits in over 1,000 lounges across the world in 300 cities. You’ll also get 20% off on three airport transfers booked using your card with Careem.
Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card
Annual fee: AED1,500 for 25,000 welcome bonus miles, AED2,500 for 55,000 welcome bonus miles
Minimum monthly salary: Flexible
Get it now: emiratesislamic.ae
Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card is one of the most flexible and tailored Etihad Guest credit cards on the market, allowing different annual charges to avail different welcome bonuses, and various awards available with varying monthly spend.
The credit card allows cardholders to earn 2 Etihad Guest Miles per US$1 spend on local transfers, rising to 3 on international spend, 3.5 on spend with Etihad Airline itself and 2.5 miles per $1 spend on two nominated categories (including dining, car rental, supermarkets, hotels, jewellery/watches and apparel shopping). There’s also the opportunity to get 50% back on all miles when booking or upgrading a flight with Etihad Guest Miles.
Other benefits with Etihad Airlines itself include four complimentary Wi-Fi vouchers every membership year, fast-track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier status (simply by completing one return flight or two one-way flights with Etihad Airways during your first six months paid for by your Etihad credit card) and four complimentary airport transfers per year.
Alhilal Etihad Guest Signature Credit Card
Annual fee: AED1,050
Minimum monthly salary: AED8,000
Get it now: alhilalbank.ae
Coming in an attractive brushed silver, Alhilal’sEtihad Guest Signature Credit Card is a great fuss-free Etihad Guest credit card with low annual fees and an approachable minimum monthly salary. New cardholders will get 40,000 Etihad Guest miles as a welcome bonus, 5,000 quarterly bonus miles when spending AED37,000 on the card and 20,000-anniversary bonus miles for every subsequent year or subscription on payment of the annual fee.
Points aside, this is a great card for lifestyle, with unlimited airport lounge access and two complimentary airport transfers per year, plus up to 25% back on hotels and restaurants, buy one, get one free on the Entertainer app and a discount at various golf clubs across the world. Fast-track Gold status is also available, with instant Gold status granted when completing two economy return flights or one business class return flight in the first six months of card membership.
Alhilal Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
Annual fee: AED2,100
Minimum monthly salary: AED15,000
Get it now: alhilalbank.ae
For those willing to pay a higher annual fee, Alhilal has its Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card, coming in a sleek brushed jet black. This card raises the stakes with a welcome bonus of up to 120,000 Etihad Guest miles, a 10,000 quarterly bonus on the same spend of AED 37,000 and a 40,000 bonus miles anniversary gift, on payment of the renewed annual fees.
Much like signature, it comes with benefits at the airport and away: unlimited airport lounge access, four complimentary airport transfers per year, and the same up to 25% on hotels, restaurants and buy one, get one free on the Entertainer app. Etihad Guest Gold Status is also possible to achieve through a fast-track option of taking two return economy class flights in the first six months or one business class lunch. Golf discounts, concierge services and VAT refund with Global Blue are also perks of this Etihad Guest credit card.
ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card
Annual fee: AED2,625
Minimum monthly salary: AED40,000
Get it now: adcb.com
ADCB’s Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card is a solid option for someone looking to accrue some serious Etihad Guest miles and enjoy a host of other benefits. On top of earning up to three Etihad Guest Miles and one Etihad tier mile per US$1 spend, cardholders will get a 5,000 monthly bonus of Guest Miles and enjoy a handy 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles as a welcome bonus.
Other travel benefits include up to four class upgrade vouchers, Etihad Guest Gold Tier membership, complimentary airport chauffeur rides with Careem and complimentary airport lounge access across a network of global lounges, along with multi-trip travel insurance and VISA luxury hotel collection privileges and Avis Rent a Car benefits. Lifestyle-wise, cardholders can enjoy complimentary gold access, buy one, get one free at Caribou Coffee, a Visa experience with the Entertainer offer and plenty of dining and lifestyle discounts, plus global concierge services.
Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Inspire Credit Card
Annual fee: AED727
Minimum monthly salary: AED15,000
Get it now: emiratesnbd.com
An affordable and hard-working Etihad Guest credit card, Emirates NBD’s Inspire card gives you up to 60,000 in bonus miles throughout the year (along with a 40,000 welcome bonus if hitting the card’s spending requirements). Cardholders will earn up to seven Etihad Guest Miles for every AED10 spent and have fast-track to Silver Tier upon completing one return flight with Etihad. Other perks include 10% back on purchases made with Etihad Airways (flights, extras, upgrades, in-flight services), and a 25% discount voucher on redeeming miles. Outside of flying, cardholders can enjoy buy-one-get-one-free on movie tickets at Vox Cinemas, complimentary inter-city airport transfers, lounge access to over 1,000 airports and golf and concierge benefits
Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Elevate Credit Card
Annual fee: AED1,575
Minimum monthly salary: AED35,000
Get it now: emiratesnbd.com
With one of the the most generous welcome bonuses around, customers can earn up to 200,000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles when signing up to Emirates NBD’s Elevate credit card. A competitive 10 miles per AED10 spend on Etihad Airways, hotels and dining are awarded, alongside six miles on all other AED10 spends, and cardholders can also earn 2.5 Etihad Tier Miles for every AED10 they spend. Perks include complimentary airport lounge access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide with LoungeKey, concierge services and valet parking in selected locations in Abu Dhabi. There’s even the chance to earn Get 50% more miles when you sign up for the Express Miles programme for AED250 per month.
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