Emirates Islamic Emarati Credit Card
Up to 150,000 welcome bonus EI SmartMiles
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
UAE nationals only. Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"Free cards aren't supposed to come with unlimited lounge access, monthly valet, half-price talabat and a 1,500 welcome bonus — that's premium-card territory with the fee deleted. Emirates Islamic can afford it because the audience is fenced: UAE nationals only. If you hold the passport, take the card; just route your groceries, fuel and bills elsewhere, because the penalty categories earn almost nothing."
Earning and spending EI SmartMiles
The engine is simple at the top: 3.75 SmartMiles per 1 internationally, 2.5 domestically — and since a SmartMile is worth about a fils (the bank's own example: 1,000 abroad returns 3,750 SmartMiles worth 37.50), that is 2.5–3.75% in value back on general spending. The grid underneath is less kind: supermarkets 1, fast food 0.31, insurance and car dealers 0.18, and a 0.12 floor for education, fuel, real estate, government, utilities, telecom and charity. EEA/UK spends earn 0.33. Miles post monthly and last two years.
Redemption is the programme's strength. Instant Purchase wipes any transaction worldwide as statement credit within 5 days; the travel channel books 300+ airlines and 180,000+ hotels from 4,000 SmartMiles; the EI Rewards marketplace issues Amazon.ae and Noon e-vouchers instantly; and 7 transfer partners include Etihad Guest (10,000 → 1,500), Marriott Bonvoy (10,000 → 2,500) and Skywards (10,000 → 1,000) — ratios weak enough that Instant Purchase is usually the better deal.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 0 — no annual membership fee
- Welcome offer
- Up to 150,000 EI SmartMiles ( 1,500) on 30,000 spend within 60 days of opening — advertised until 31 Aug 2026
- Profit rate
- 3.59% per month on carried balances — slightly below EI's usual 3.69%
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.30% on non- spends (vs 2.54% on most EI cards), plus the network's ~1.15%
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95)
- Late payment
- 131.25 'Commitment to Donate' — paid to charity under Shariah supervision
- Minimum payment
- 5% of the outstanding balance
- Card replacement
- 210 (higher than the 78.75 standard on other EI cards)
- Supplementary cards
- Up to 4, free
- Minimum salary
- Not published by the bank
Fees verified against Emirates Islamic's online Schedule of Charges for cards (VAT-inclusive) and the card's EI SmartMiles details page. No card-specific Key Facts Statement PDF or minimum salary is published — confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
Airport lounge access
Lounge access is part of the card's privileges — advertised as unlimited on the bank's campaign page.
Valet parking, twice a month
Two complimentary valet services monthly at select premium locations including Mall of the Emirates and d3.
50% off talabat
Half-price talabat food orders twice a month — an easy 100+ of monthly value on its own.
BOGO cinema tickets
Buy one, get one complimentary movie ticket at Roxy Cinemas.
Travel takaful & protection
Multi-trip travel takaful, purchase protection and extended warranty on eligible purchases.
Concierge & airport Meet & Greet
Global concierge service plus airport Meet & Greet Silver service and Visa Luxury Hotel Collection privileges.
Pros and cons
- No annual membership fee with a genuinely premium benefits stack
- Strong earn: 3.75 SmartMiles per 1 abroad, 2.5 at home — roughly 2.5–3.75% value back
- Up to 150,000 SmartMiles ( 1,500) welcome bonus on 30,000 spend in 60 days
- Lower-than-usual 2.30% FX fee and 3.59% profit rate versus 2.54%/3.69% on sister cards
- Flexible redemption: 7 transfer partners, 300+ airlines, Instant Purchase statement credit
- UAE nationals only — residents and expats cannot apply
- Supermarkets earn just 1 SmartMile per 1, and fuel, education, government, utilities and telecom drop to 0.12
- EEA and UK spends earn almost nothing (0.33 SmartMiles per 1)
- SmartMiles transfer ratios are weak (10,000 → 1,000 Skywards Miles)
- The lounge programme, visit terms and minimum salary are not published
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You are a UAE national — the card is exclusive to Emaratis and free to hold.
- You spend broadly at home and abroad, where 2.5–3.75% value back applies.
- You'd actually use the lifestyle stack: lounges, valet, talabat, Roxy cinema, Sharjah Ladies Club.
Consider skipping it if
- You are not a UAE national — eligibility is closed, full stop.
- Your spending is dominated by groceries, fuel, utilities or school fees — 0.12–1 SmartMile per 1 there.
- You want airline miles specifically — transfer ratios lose most of your value versus Instant Purchase.
Alternatives to consider
The same 3.75 SmartMiles ceiling with unlimited lounge access, open to residents — for a conditional 735 fee that two bonus tranches can offset.
Flex Elite review →
Direct Skywards Miles at up to 2 per USD beat converting SmartMiles at 10:1 — the better Islamic card for committed Emirates flyers.
Skywards Infinite review →
Up to 10% on groceries, education, dining and telecom — exactly the categories the Emarati card's penalty grid punishes at 0.12–1 SmartMile.
Cashback Plus review →Not sure which way to go? Put them side by side in our card comparison tool or browse the full ranked list.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Emarati Credit Card?+
The card is exclusively for UAE Nationals — it celebrates Emaratis with premium lifestyle privileges and SmartMiles rewards. Residents who are not UAE nationals cannot apply.
Is there an annual fee on the Emarati Card?+
No — there is no annual membership fee. The Schedule of Charges confirms it, alongside a 3.59% monthly profit rate that is slightly lower than most Emirates Islamic cards.
What is the welcome bonus?+
Up to 150,000 EI SmartMiles worth AED 1,500 when you spend AED 30,000 or more within 60 days of the card opening date. The offer is advertised until 31 August 2026 — terms and conditions apply.
How do EI SmartMiles work?+
You earn up to 3.75 SmartMiles per AED 1 internationally and 2.5 domestically, with lower rates on supermarkets (1), QSR (0.31), insurance/auto (0.18) and education, fuel, government, utilities, telecom and real estate (0.12). SmartMiles are worth about AED 0.01 each and stay valid for two years.
How can I redeem my SmartMiles?+
Four ways: Instant Purchase (statement credit against any transaction worldwide), travel redemption across 300+ airlines and 180,000+ hotels from 4,000 SmartMiles, e-vouchers and electronics on the EI Rewards marketplace, or transfers to 7 partners including Etihad Guest, Skywards, Marriott Bonvoy and Qatar Airways Avios.
What lifestyle benefits are included?+
50% off talabat food orders twice a month, two complimentary valet parking services monthly, Buy 1 Get 1 movie tickets at Roxy Cinemas, complimentary Sharjah Ladies Club access, airport lounge access, global concierge, multi-trip travel takaful and airport Meet & Greet Silver service.
Is the Emarati Card Shariah compliant?+
Yes — it is fully compliant with Shariah principles. The card charges no interest; the bank charges a fixed profit for the features and benefits it extends, and no additional profit is ever charged on accrued profit.
What is the foreign transaction fee?+
2.30% on non-AED transactions — lower than the 2.54% charged on most Emirates Islamic cards — plus the card network's ~1.15% processing fee.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.