Emirates Islamic Flex
10,000 EI SmartMiles welcome bonus — no annual fee
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"The Flex's real selling point isn't the earn rate — it's that a SmartMile is worth a flat 1 fils against anything you buy, anywhere, with no annual fee to claw back. Treat it as an up-to-1.25% domestic rewards card and you'll be happy; just don't take it abroad, because 2.54% plus the network's cut outruns the 2.25x international rate."
Earning and redeeming EI SmartMiles
The Flex earns up to 1.25 SmartMiles per 1 domestically and up to 2.25 internationally — but 'up to' is doing real work: government, automobile, takaful, education, fuel, telecom and real-estate payments earn reduced rates the bank doesn't publish. At Instant Purchase value (10,000 SmartMiles ≈ 100), full-rate spend returns up to 1.25–2.25% back.
Redemption is the strong suit: Instant Purchase converts miles into a statement credit against any transaction at any merchant within 5 days, travel redemptions start at just 4,000 miles across 300+ airlines and 180,000+ hotels, and you can exchange into 8 partner programmes — though ratios like 10,000 SmartMiles to 1,000 Skywards Miles rarely beat the flat 1-fils value.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- None — the KFS lists no annual fee for the Flex Card (all charges incl. VAT)
- Welcome bonus
- 10,000 EI SmartMiles as a welcome reward
- Profit rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% APR) on unpaid balances — 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% if you accept conversion abroad
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95)
- 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
- Up to 4, free
Fees verified against Emirates Islamic's credit cards Key Fact Statement (V7.5, 05/2026), all VAT-inclusive. Minimum salary is not published — confirm with the bank before applying.
Card benefits
Instant Purchase
Redeem SmartMiles against any transaction at any merchant worldwide — a statement credit posts within 5 days.
Travel from 4,000 miles
Instant redemption across 300+ airlines, 180,000+ hotels and car rentals, with no blackout dates.
8 transfer partners
Exchange SmartMiles into Etihad Guest, Qatar Avios, Marriott Bonvoy, Skywards, Air Arabia, UPoints, Smiles and InterMiles.
Luxury Hotel Collection
Stay privileges at 900+ prestigious hotels worldwide.
Purchase protection & extended warranty
Protection for your purchases plus extended warranty cover on eligible items.
Entertainment offers
Complimentary entertainment offers, plus Emirates Islamic partner discounts across dining, travel and retail.
Pros and cons
- No annual fee, with a 10,000-SmartMile welcome bonus on top
- Up to 1.25 SmartMiles per 1 domestic and 2.25 international — up to 1.25–2.25% back at Instant Purchase value
- Instant Purchase turns miles into a statement credit against any transaction, at any merchant, within 5 days
- Exchange into 8 partner programmes including Etihad Guest, Qatar Avios, Marriott Bonvoy and Skywards
- Up to 4 free supplementary cards, all earning on every
- Headline rates are 'up to' — government, automobile, takaful, education, fuel, telecom and real-estate spends earn sharply reduced, unpublished rates
- 2.54% foreign-currency fee plus a ~1.15% network fee undercuts the 2.25x international earn
- Skywards transfers are a weak 10:1 — Instant Purchase at 1 fils per mile is usually the better deal
- 3.69% monthly profit rate (44.28% APR) if you don't pay in full
- No airport lounge access — that's reserved for the Flex Elite
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You want a free, Shariah-compliant rewards card for everyday domestic spend.
- You value redemption flexibility — statement credit against anything beats fixed catalogues.
- You're building a first credit history and don't want a fee clock ticking.
Consider skipping it if
- You spend abroad often — 2.54% + ~1.15% in FX fees outruns the international earn.
- Your spend is heavy on fuel, telecom, education or government payments — those earn reduced, unpublished rates.
- You want lounges or premium travel perks — that's the Flex Elite's job.
Alternatives to consider
Up to 3.75 SmartMiles per 1, unlimited lounge access with a guest, golf and valet — worth the 735 fee if you travel.
Best lounge access cards →
Skip the miles math entirely — Emirates Islamic's Switch Cashback pays cash back directly, still Shariah-compliant.
Best cashback cards →
Dedicated Skywards Miles earning beats the Flex's 10:1 transfer ratio if Emirates flights are your goal.
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
Does the Emirates Islamic Flex Card have an annual fee?+
No. The bank's Key Fact Statement lists no annual fee for the Flex Card, and all listed charges are inclusive of VAT.
How many EI SmartMiles does the Flex Card earn?+
Up to 2.25 SmartMiles per AED 1 on international spend and up to 1.25 per AED 1 on domestic spend. Categories such as government, automobiles, takaful, education, fuel, telecom and real estate earn reduced rates that the bank doesn't publish on the page.
How do I redeem EI SmartMiles?+
From the EI + Mobile Banking app: redeem instantly against flights (300+ airlines), 180,000+ hotels and car rentals from 4,000 SmartMiles; use Instant Purchase to offset any card transaction with a statement credit within 5 days; exchange into partner programmes; or shop the EI Rewards online marketplace.
Is the Flex Card Shariah compliant?+
Yes. Emirates Islamic credit cards are based on a Shariah-compliant Murabaha structure — the card charges no interest; the bank charges a fixed profit, and no additional profit is charged on accrued profit.
What happens if I miss a payment?+
Instead of a conventional late fee, AED 131.25 per month is charged as a commitment to donate — the bank pays it to a charity approved by its Internal Shariah Supervision Committee after deducting actual expenses.
Can I get supplementary cards?+
Yes, up to 4 supplementary cards for family members at no fee, and they earn rewards on every dirham spent.
Can I withdraw cash with the Flex Card?+
Yes, at Emirates Islamic branches and 780,000+ Visa ATMs worldwide. The cash advance fee is 3.15% of the amount (minimum AED 103.95), and profit accrues from the transaction date.
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.