Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium
Up to 55,000 Etihad Guest Miles when you pay the annual fee
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"This card's math is refreshingly honest: 2,625 in, 55,000 Etihad Guest Miles out, every single year you pay the fee — under 5 fils a mile before you've swiped once. The trap is trying to have it both ways: chase the spend-based fee waiver and the bonus evaporates. Decide which side of that trade you're on before applying."
Earning and redeeming Etihad Guest Miles
The Premium earns 3.5 Etihad Guest Miles per USD 1 on Etihad Airways, up to 3 internationally, 2 in the EEA/UK and up to 2 at home — the strongest published rates of Emirates Islamic's four Etihad cards. Every purchase also earns 1 Etihad Guest Tier Mile per USD 1 (capped at 50,000 a year), which is the currency that moves you up the Silver–Gold–Platinum ladder, on top of the 4,500 Etihad-spend Gold fast-track.
Redemption is standard Etihad Guest — flights and upgrades on etihad.com — but the card adds leverage: up to two 60% Miles-discount vouchers a year (at 165,000 and 300,000 spend) that slash the miles price of award bookings for up to two passengers, valid 6 months with July/August/December blackouts.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 2,625 incl. VAT ( 2,500 option → 55,000 miles) or 1,575 ( 1,500 option → 25,000 miles). Listing page: waived year 1 with 7,500 spend in 90 days, later years with 150,000 annual spend — no bonus miles on the waiver route
- Welcome bonus
- 25,000 or 55,000 Etihad Guest Miles upon payment of the Annual Membership Fee, per the option chosen
- Profit rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% APR) — Murabaha structure, no interest
- Profit-free period
- Up to 55 days on retail purchases when the balance is paid in full
- Minimum payment
- 5% of the closing balance or 100, whichever is higher
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.54% plus ~1.15% network processing fee; 1.99% DCC if you accept conversion abroad
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95); no miles earned on cash advances
- Missed payment
- 131.25/month charity-donation commitment (paid to an approved charity, not to the bank)
- Over-limit fee
- 261.45 per billing cycle
- Supplementary cards
- No fee listed in the KFS
Fees verified against Emirates Islamic's credit cards Key Fact Statement (CCB/CCD/0526/V7.5), all VAT-inclusive. Minimum salary is not published — confirm with the bank before applying.
Card benefits
Gold Tier fast-track
12 months of Etihad Guest Gold with just 4,500 of Etihad Airways spend in your first card year — upgraded within 4–5 days of qualifying.
Unlimited lounges +1 guest
1,200+ lounges via Visa Airport Companion. First visit each year free; later visits need a USD 1+ foreign-currency spend in the prior 15 days, else USD 32.
4 airport transfers & Wi-Fi vouchers
Four Abu Dhabi airport transfers a year tied to recent Etihad spend, plus up to 4 inflight Wi-Fi vouchers (1 per 500+ Etihad transaction).
Two 60% Miles-discount vouchers
At 165,000 and 300,000 anniversary-year spend — each halves-plus the miles cost of an award booking for up to 2 passengers.
Unlimited golf & valet
Unlimited rounds at Arabian Ranches, Track Meydan and Yas Links ( 10,000 monthly spend) plus 2 valet parkings a month ( 5,000).
Takaful & purchase protection
Multi-trip travel takaful on trips up to 90 days, purchase protection to ~USD 7,500 per occurrence, and doubled manufacturer warranty up to 1 year.
Pros and cons
- Genuinely fast Gold Tier route — 4,500 of Etihad spend beats flying your way to status
- Strong earn rates: 3.5 Miles/USD on Etihad, up to 3 international and 2 domestic
- Choose your fee: 1,575 for 25,000 miles or 2,625 for 55,000 miles, every year the fee is paid
- Unlimited Visa Airport Companion lounge access including one guest
- Two 60% Miles-discount vouchers can halve-plus the cost of award flights
- 2,625 (or 1,575) annual fee unless you spend 7,500 in 90 days (year 1) or 150,000 a year afterwards
- The welcome miles require actually paying the fee — waive the fee and you forfeit the bonus
- Lounge visits after the first each year need a token foreign-currency spend 15 days prior, or USD 32 is charged
- 60% vouchers demand 165,000–300,000 of annual spend and carry July/August/December blackouts
- 2.54% foreign-currency fee plus ~1.15% network fee despite the international earn pitch
- 3.69% monthly profit rate (44.28% APR) if you revolve a balance
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You fly Etihad several times a year — the Gold fast-track and 3.5x Etihad earn compound quickly.
- You're happy paying the fee for the miles: 55,000 miles for 2,625 is a good buy every year.
- You want a Shariah-compliant premium travel card with lounge access for you and a guest.
Consider skipping it if
- You'd chase the fee waiver — without paying the AMF there's no bonus, and the card loses its core value.
- Most of your spending is abroad — 2.54% + ~1.15% FX fees outrun the international earn rate.
- You fly Emirates more than Etihad — a Skywards card fits better.
Alternatives to consider
ADIB's Etihad Guest Visa Infinite is the other Islamic heavyweight for Etihad flyers — compare bonus structures before committing.
Best Etihad Guest cards →
Same Etihad Guest earning at lower rates for 208.95 a year — waivable with just 10,000 annual spend.
Best Etihad Guest cards →
Emirates Islamic's Skywards Infinite delivers the same premium Islamic travel package pointed at Emirates and DXB.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →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
How much is the annual fee on the Etihad Guest Premium Card?+
You choose between two Annual Membership Fee options: AED 1,500 with a 25,000-mile bonus or AED 2,500 with a 55,000-mile bonus (AED 1,575 / AED 2,625 including VAT — the bank's KFS lists AED 2,625). The listing page also advertises a waiver: no fee in year one if you spend AED 7,500 within 90 days of approval, and from year two with AED 150,000 annual spend — but the miles bonus is only paid when the fee is paid.
How do I get Etihad Guest Gold Tier with this card?+
Spend a minimum of AED 4,500 on Etihad Airways (etihad.com, Etihad offices or call centre) within 12 months of card issuance and you receive Gold Tier status for 12 months. The upgrade happens within 4–5 days of qualifying and applies to the primary cardholder only.
Do I need an Etihad Guest membership before applying?+
No. The bank creates an Etihad Guest account for you and prints the membership number on the card. Miles from card spend reach your Etihad Guest account within 5–7 working days of the transaction.
How does the lounge access work?+
Unlimited access to 1,200+ lounges with one guest via the Visa Airport Companion app. The first visit each calendar year is free; for later visits you must have made a foreign-currency spend of at least USD 1 on the card within the 15 days before the visit, otherwise USD 32 per entry is charged. Additional guests cost USD 32 per person.
What are the 60% Miles discount vouchers?+
Spend AED 165,000 in your anniversary year for a first 60% redemption-discount voucher and AED 300,000 for a second. Each voucher books up to two passengers to any destination in any class, is valid 6 months, and cannot be used for July, August or December flights.
Is the card Shariah compliant?+
Yes — all Emirates Islamic credit cards use a Murabaha structure. There is no interest; the published profit rate is 3.69% per month (44.28% APR), and a missed payment triggers a AED 131.25 charity-donation commitment rather than a conventional late fee.
Are there complimentary airport transfers?+
Yes, up to 4 per calendar year to or from Abu Dhabi Airport, provided an Etihad Airways transaction was made on the card in the last 6 months and your Etihad flight is within 12 hours of the transfer. Non-qualifying or extra trips cost AED 150 within Abu Dhabi or AED 495 from other locations.
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.