Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is Emirates' (and flydubai's) frequent-flyer programme, earned directly through ENBD and Emirates Islamic co-branded credit cards — no separate transfer step required.
The earn rate advertised on a card is only half the picture. What actually matters is the redemption value: a Skywards Mile can be worth roughly double on an Emirates award flight compared with the lower-value cash option, so it pays to check both before deciding what your balance is really worth.
How Skywards works
Emirates Skywards is Emirates' (and flydubai's) frequent-flyer programme. Co-branded UAE credit cards credit Skywards Miles directly to your account every month based on your card spend — no separate transfer step. The earn rate (miles per AED spent) and the redemption value (AED per mile) are two different numbers: a card's "earn X Miles per AED" headline only turns into real money once you redeem those Miles, and the value you get back depends heavily on how you redeem them.
The Skywards card ladder
A side-by-side snapshot of annual fees, salary requirements, and standout benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Min. salary | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Premium | AED 30,000 | Top Skywards earn rate; Emirates flight bonuses; unlimited lounge access |
 | Paid | AED 12,000 | Mid-tier Skywards Miles earner; Emirates flight benefits |
 | Paid | AED 15,000 | Dnata-branded card with Skywards Miles on travel and dining |
 | Paid | AED 8,000 | Entry Dnata card earning Skywards Miles on everyday spend |
 | AED 525 | AED 15,000 | Up to 4% cashback — convertible to Skywards Miles in the Liv app any time |
 | Free | AED 5,000 | Free-for-life card — switch between cashback and Skywards Miles in the Liv app |
| Card | Annual fee | Min. salary | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | AED 30,000 | Top Skywards earn rate; Emirates flight bonuses; unlimited lounge access |
| Paid | AED 12,000 | Mid-tier Skywards Miles earner; Emirates flight benefits |
| Paid | AED 15,000 | Dnata-branded card with Skywards Miles on travel and dining |
| Paid | AED 8,000 | Entry Dnata card earning Skywards Miles on everyday spend |
| AED 525 | AED 15,000 | Up to 4% cashback — convertible to Skywards Miles in the Liv app any time |
| Free | AED 5,000 | Free-for-life card — switch between cashback and Skywards Miles in the Liv app |
ENBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
Annual feePremium
Min. salaryAED 30,000
HighlightTop Skywards earn rate; Emirates flight bonuses; unlimited lounge access
ENBD Skywards Signature Credit Card
Annual feePaid
Min. salaryAED 12,000
HighlightMid-tier Skywards Miles earner; Emirates flight benefits
ENBD Dnata World Credit Card
Annual feePaid
Min. salaryAED 15,000
HighlightDnata-branded card with Skywards Miles on travel and dining
ENBD Dnata Platinum Credit Card
Annual feePaid
Min. salaryAED 8,000
HighlightEntry Dnata card earning Skywards Miles on everyday spend
Liv Cashback+ Credit Card
Annual feeAED 525
Min. salaryAED 15,000
HighlightUp to 4% cashback — convertible to Skywards Miles in the Liv app any time
Liv Cashback Credit Card
Annual feeFree
Min. salaryAED 5,000
HighlightFree-for-life card — switch between cashback and Skywards Miles in the Liv app
Ways to transfer into Skywards
Reviewed routes are grouped by what actually happens: converting another rewards currency or moving an existing balance between linked loyalty accounts.
Convert rewards into Skywards
Bank and partner rewards become a different currency. The final rate combines every reviewed step in the route.
| Rewards route | Transfer type | Final rate |
|---|---|---|
| ADCB TouchPoints | Points conversionDirect | 22 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
| EI SmartMiles | Points conversionDirect | 10 miles → 1 Skywards Mile |
| ENBD Plus Points | Points conversionDirect | 1 point → 7 Skywards Miles |
| FAB Rewards | Points conversionDirect | 16 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
| Marriott Bonvoy Points | Points conversionDirect | 3 points → 1 mile |
| Mashreq Vantage Points | Points conversionDirect | 32 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
| Rewards route | Transfer type | Final rate |
|---|---|---|
| ADCB TouchPoints | Points conversionDirect | 22 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
| EI SmartMiles | Points conversionDirect | 10 miles → 1 Skywards Mile |
| ENBD Plus Points | Points conversionDirect | 1 point → 7 Skywards Miles |
| FAB Rewards | Points conversionDirect | 16 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
| Marriott Bonvoy Points | Points conversionDirect | 3 points → 1 mile |
| Mashreq Vantage Points | Points conversionDirect | 32 points → 1 Skywards Mile |
What your Skywards balance is worth
What your points are worth
Program
Skywards Miles
2,204AED
50,000 miles via Emirates / flydubai flights
Redemption method
Emirates / flydubai flights
Redeem for Emirates and flydubai award flights, cabin upgrades, Emirates Skywards partner travel
Based on the issuer’s published redemption rate; catalogue pricing and availability can still vary.
Emirates prices award flights and cabin upgrades in Skywards Miles, and the AED value you get back varies by redemption — a premium-cabin award flight typically returns close to the top of the range (~AED 0.044/mile), while the lower-value cash/statement-credit option via Skywards+ returns about half that. If you don't fly Emirates or flydubai regularly, a Skywards balance is worth less than the flight-redemption rate suggests — check what your actual balance converts to with the miles calculator before assuming the higher number.
Why Skywards cards are worth it
1.
Direct earn, no transfer step
ENBD and Emirates Islamic Skywards co-brand cards credit Miles straight to your Skywards account every statement cycle — there's no separate transfer or conversion to remember.
2.
Salary tier sets the earn rate
Skywards Signature (AED 12,000) and Infinite (AED 25,000+ for Emirates Islamic, AED 30,000+ for ENBD) earn at progressively higher rates, with Infinite adding unlimited lounge access and Emirates flight-spend bonuses.
3.
Value depends entirely on redemption
The same mile balance can be worth roughly double redeemed on an Emirates award flight versus cashed out via Skywards+ — always check both before deciding what your Miles are actually worth.
Skywards credit cards
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Skywards Signature Credit Card
- Salary: AED 12,000+
- Joining Fee: AED 1,573.95
- Annual Fee: AED 735
- Earn 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles.
- 1.5 Skywards Miles per USD on Emirates, flydubai
EMIRATES NBD
ENBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 30,000+
- Joining Fee: AED 3,148.95
- Annual Fee: AED 1,575
- Bonus: Up to 100,000 Skywards Miles
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver membership
EMIRATES ISLAMIC
Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature Credit Card
- Salary: AED 12,000+
- Annual Fee: AED 735
- Up to 1.5 Skywards Miles per USD spent
- Unlimited complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges
- 1 complimentary valet parking monthly
EMIRATES ISLAMIC
Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite Credit Card
- Salary: AED 20,000+
- No Annual Fee for the first year
- Up to 2 Skywards Miles per USD spent
- Unlimited complimentary access to over 1000+ airport lounges
- Automatic Skywards Silver Membership Upgrade
Compare head-to-head
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Emirates Skywards — FAQ
Get answers to common questions about credit cards, applications, and managing your finances in the UAE