Best Etihad Guest credit cards

Updated July 17, 2026 Fact checkedEditorial integrity

For Abu Dhabi–based flyers: the cards that earn Etihad Guest Miles on everyday spend and fast-track you to elite tiers.

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How Etihad Guest credit cards work

Etihad Guest co-brands earn miles on every purchase and add tier-mile accelerators that pull Silver and Gold status within reach for Abu Dhabi–based flyers.

Focus on two numbers: the earn rate on international spend and the annual fee after year one. Etihad runs frequent transfer and status promotions, and that is when co-brand cardholders extract the most value.

Pair the co-brand with a no-fee backup card for the categories where it earns poorly — groceries and fuel are the usual gaps.

Yajool's top picks at a glance
AADIBEEtihad Guest
#1Best Etihad co-brand

ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Signature

Travel Min. salary AED 10,000/mo
Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.3 / 5Go to review

Our take: The strongest Etihad Guest earner in the market, with tier-mile accelerators for Abu Dhabi flyers.

Heads up: Accelerated miles apply to Etihad bookings and international spend; local AED spend earns at the base rate.

Annual fee

AED 999AED 0/year
First year waived
Offer
Welcome offer60,000 Etihad Guest Miles
How to unlockSpend AED 5,000 · 3 statements

Rewards rate

3xEarn 3 Guest Miles per AED 1 on Etihad bookings.
2xEarn 2 Guest Miles per AED 1 on international spend.
1xEarn 1 Guest Mile per AED 1 on everything else.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone
Lounge access8 visits / year
Installments0% for 12 months
1st year valueAED 4,100
Apply now

Why we chose it

Up to 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles as a welcome bonus, strong ongoing earn on international spend and Etihad tier-mile accelerators.

Pros

  • 60,000-mile welcome bonus
  • First-year annual fee waived (AED 999 value)
  • Tier-mile accelerators toward Silver and Gold
  • 8 lounge visits per year
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Sharia-compliant structure

Cons

  • AED 999 annual fee from year two
  • Base earn rate on local spend is modest
  • Best value requires flying Etihad regularly
  • Welcome bonus requires AED 5,000 spend in 90 days
Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived
Annual fee (year 2+)AED 999
Minimum salaryAED 10,000/month
Foreign transaction feeNone
0% installment planUp to 12 months
Lounge access8 visits / year
Welcome offer60,000 Etihad Guest Miles · Spend AED 5,000 · 3 statements
Interest rate3.09% per month
NetworkVisa Signature
RRAKBANKRRAK Rewards
#2Best no-fee backup

RAKBANK World Credit Card

Travel Min. salary AED 3,000/mo
Yajool Editor’s Rating ?Card Rating is based on the opinion of Yajool’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.4.4 / 5Go to review

Our take: Great entry-level card with solid travel rewards and no annual fee.

Heads up: No annual fee, but no lounge access, and the 4x travel rewards are capped at 2,000 points a month.

Annual fee

AED 0/year
Offer
Welcome offer15,000 RAK Rewards
How to unlockSpend AED 3,000 · 2 statements

Rewards rate

4xEarn 4x rewards on travel and airline purchases.
2xEarn 2x rewards on dining and restaurants.
1xEarn 1x rewards on all other purchases.

Key benefits

Foreign feesNone
Lounge accessNot included
Installments0% for 6 months
1st year valueAED 800
Apply now

Why we chose it

Pair it with the co-brand: free for life, low salary requirement, and points that can be redeemed against any airline booking including Etihad.

Pros

  • No annual fee — ever
  • 15,000 RAK Rewards welcome bonus
  • 4x rewards on travel and airlines
  • 2x rewards on dining
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Low AED 3,000 minimum salary

Cons

  • No complimentary lounge access
  • Lower reward rates than premium travel cards
  • Welcome bonus requires AED 3,000 spend in 60 days
  • Rewards less flexible than transferable points
  • Interest applies if you carry a balance
Annual fee (year 1)AED 0 — waived
Annual fee (year 2+)AED 0
Minimum salaryAED 3,000/month
Foreign transaction feeNone
0% installment planUp to 6 months
Welcome offer15,000 RAK Rewards · Spend AED 3,000 · 2 statements
Interest rate3.25% per month
Earning cap2,000 / month
NetworkMastercard World

Frequently asked questions

Co-brand cards earn Guest Miles on every purchase, with accelerated rates on international spend and Etihad bookings, plus a welcome bonus on approval.

Miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity — but any earning or redemption resets the clock, including card spend.

Yes — co-brand cards include tier-mile accelerators that count toward Silver and Gold status. Check the current promotion terms.

How we chose these cards

Yajool's editors score every UAE card on the same four pillars — rewards value, travel benefits, fees & costs, and eligibility. Category winners are re-checked monthly against current public offers. Read our full ratings methodology and see how the top pick performed in our Skywards Infinite editorial review.

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