Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Saqer
30,000 Etihad Guest Miles when you pay the annual fee
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
Exclusively for UAE nationals. Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"Saqer quietly offers the best fils-per-mile trade in Emirates Islamic's Etihad family — 30,000 miles for a 943.95 fee that's waivable at just 30,000 of annual spend. The catch is structural: take the waiver and the miles vanish, so the smart play is deciding annually whether 30,000 miles are worth 944 to you. Most Etihad flyers should say yes."
Earning and redeeming Etihad Guest Miles
Saqer earns 3 Etihad Guest Miles per USD 1 on Etihad Airways, up to 2 internationally, 1.5 in the EEA/UK and up to 1.5 at home. Each purchase also earns 1 Etihad Guest Tier Mile per USD 1 (capped at 25,000 a year) toward Silver, Gold and Platinum status — on top of the first-year Silver fast-track for 2,000 of Etihad spend.
Miles redeem through Etihad Guest for flights and upgrades, and the card sweetens the rate with a yearly Miles-discount voucher: 25% off redemptions at 100,000 anniversary-year spend, or 10% at 50,000 — valid 6 months, up to two passengers, with July/August/December blackouts.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 943.95 incl. VAT — waived year 1 with 5,000 spend within 90 days of approval, and from year 2 with 30,000 annual spend (no bonus miles on the waiver route)
- Welcome bonus
- 30,000 Etihad Guest Miles upon payment of the Annual Membership Fee
- 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
Silver Tier fast-track
12 months of Etihad Guest Silver with just 2,000 of Etihad Airways spend in your first card year — priority check-in, extra baggage and bonus Tier Miles.
1,200+ lounges
Via the Visa Airport Companion app. First visit each year free; later visits need a USD 1+ foreign-currency spend in the prior 15 days, else USD 32. Guests USD 32.
Airport transfers & Wi-Fi
2 Abu Dhabi airport transfers a year tied to recent Etihad spend, plus 2 inflight Wi-Fi vouchers (1 per 500+ Etihad transaction).
25% Miles-discount voucher
Spend 100,000 in your anniversary year for 25% off miles redemptions — or 50,000 for a 10% voucher. One per year.
Golf & valet
2 golf rounds a month at Arabian Ranches, Jebel Ali or Abu Dhabi Golf Club ( 5,000 monthly spend) and 1 valet parking ( 3,000).
Takaful & protection
Multi-trip travel takaful on trips up to 90 days, purchase protection and doubled manufacturer warranty up to 1 year.
Pros and cons
- 30,000-mile welcome bonus against a 943.95 fee — roughly 3 fils per mile each year the fee is paid
- Silver Tier fast-track needs only 2,000 of Etihad spend in the first year
- Fee waivable: first year free with 5,000 spend in 90 days, later years with 30,000 annual spend
- Unlimited lounge access to 1,200+ lounges plus 2 Abu Dhabi airport transfers a year
- Golf, valet, meet & greet and 50% movie cashback at reasonable 3,000–5,000 spend gates
- Restricted to UAE nationals — expats must look at the Premium, Ameera or Platinum instead
- Welcome miles require paying the fee — the spend-based waiver route pays no bonus
- Lounge guests always cost USD 32, and visits after the first need a prior foreign-currency spend
- Tier Miles capped at 25,000 a year, half the Premium's allowance
- 2.54% + ~1.15% foreign-transaction cost undermines the international earn
- 3.69% monthly profit rate (44.28% APR) if you carry a balance
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You're a UAE national who flies Etihad at least once or twice a year.
- You'll pay the fee deliberately for the 30,000 miles — it's the family's best miles-per- trade.
- You want lounge access and airport transfers without a 2,000+ premium fee.
Consider skipping it if
- You're not a UAE national — Saqer is Emiratis-only; look at the Premium, Ameera or Platinum.
- You'd always take the fee waiver — without paying the AMF there's no bonus and the card is just a mid-rate earner.
- You spend heavily abroad — 2.54% + ~1.15% FX fees eat the international earn.
Alternatives to consider
The Premium steps up to 3.5 Miles per USD on Etihad, a Gold Tier fast-track and up to 55,000 bonus miles — for a bigger fee.
Best Etihad Guest cards →
Emirates Islamic's Emarati card is the bank's other nationals-only product, built around local lifestyle perks rather than airline miles.
Best Islamic credit cards →
ADIB's Etihad Guest Visa Infinite is the other Islamic option for Etihad flyers — compare fees and bonuses before choosing.
Best Etihad Guest 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
Who can apply for the Etihad Guest Saqer Card?+
The Saqer variant was launched exclusively for UAE nationals (Emiratis), alongside Ameera for women. Expats can consider the Etihad Guest Premium or Platinum cards instead. You must be at least 21 and meet the bank's income criteria.
How much is the annual fee?+
AED 943.95 including VAT. The bank waives it for the first year if you spend AED 5,000 within 90 days of approval, and from the second year onwards with an annual spend of AED 30,000.
How do I earn the 30,000-mile welcome bonus?+
It is credited upon payment of the Annual Membership Fee. If the fee is waived through the spend criteria, the bonus is not triggered.
How do I reach Etihad Guest Silver Tier with this card?+
Spend a minimum of AED 2,000 on Etihad Airways (etihad.com, branches or call centre) within 12 months of card issuance and you get Silver Tier for 12 months — upgraded within about 4 working days of qualifying, primary cardholder only.
What is the Miles discount voucher?+
Spend AED 100,000 in your anniversary year for a 25% redemption-discount voucher, or AED 50,000 to under 100,000 for a 10% voucher — maximum one per year. Vouchers are valid 6 months, cover up to two passengers per booking, and can't be used for July, August or December flights.
Is the Saqer Card Shariah compliant?+
Yes — all Emirates Islamic credit cards use a Murabaha structure. The published profit rate is 3.69% per month (44.28% APR), and a missed payment triggers a AED 131.25 monthly charity-donation commitment rather than a conventional late fee.
Does the card include airport transfers?+
Yes, up to 2 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 flight is within 12 hours of the transfer. Extra or non-qualifying trips cost AED 150 within Abu Dhabi or AED 495 elsewhere.
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.