Emirates Islamic Flex Elite
Welcome bonus worth up to 1,750 in SmartMiles
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"The Flex Elite's math is unusually clean: pay 735, get 75,000 SmartMiles worth 750 back, and keep unlimited lounges with a guest, golf and valet on top. Up to 2.5% back on domestic spend is genuinely strong — just remember 'up to' excludes the boring categories, and the FX fees mean you earn the miles at home, not abroad."
Earning and redeeming EI SmartMiles
The Flex Elite earns up to 2.50 SmartMiles per 1 domestically and up to 3.75 internationally. At the flat Instant Purchase value of 1 fils per mile, that's up to 2.5–3.75% back — but 'up to' matters: government, automobile, takaful, education, fuel, telecom and real-estate payments earn reduced rates the bank doesn't publish, and the 2.54% + ~1.15% foreign-transaction cost neutralises most of the international premium.
Redemption is where SmartMiles shine: Instant Purchase converts miles into a statement credit against any transaction within 5 days, travel redemptions start at 4,000 miles across 300+ airlines and 180,000+ hotels, and 8 exchange partners (Etihad Guest, Qatar Avios, Marriott Bonvoy, Skywards and more) add optionality — though ratios like 10:1 to Skywards rarely beat the flat 1-fils value.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 735 per year (incl. VAT)
- Welcome bonus
- 75,000 SmartMiles (worth 750) on fee payment + 100,000 SmartMiles ( 1,000) on 20,000 spend within 60 days
- 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
Unlimited lounge access
Unlimited complimentary access to 1,200+ airport lounges worldwide for you and one guest.
Unlimited golf
Unlimited complimentary golf rounds at top UAE golf clubs.
2 valet parkings a month
Two complimentary valet parking services each month at participating UAE locations.
Global concierge
Global concierge for bookings, gifts and errands, plus Meet & Greet Silver airport service.
Multi-Trip Travel Takaful
Islamic multi-trip travel cover included; see the takaful terms for cover levels.
8 transfer partners
Exchange SmartMiles into Etihad Guest, Qatar Avios, Marriott Bonvoy, Skywards, Air Arabia, UPoints, Smiles and InterMiles.
Pros and cons
- Up to 2.5% back domestic and 3.75% international at Instant Purchase value — among the strongest earn rates on a UAE Islamic card
- 75,000-SmartMile bonus (worth 750) on fee payment effectively refunds the 735 annual fee in year one
- Another 100,000 SmartMiles ( 1,000) for 20,000 spend within 60 days
- Unlimited lounge access to 1,200+ lounges for you and a guest, plus unlimited golf and 2 valet parkings a month
- Redemption flexibility: statement credit against anything, travel from 4,000 miles, or 8 transfer partners
- Headline rates are 'up to' — government, automobile, takaful, education, fuel, telecom and real-estate spends earn reduced, unpublished rates
- 2.54% foreign-currency fee plus a ~1.15% network fee claws back most of the 3.75x international headline
- 735 annual fee every year — the fee-payment bonus only offsets it if you actually redeem
- Weak transfer ratios (10,000 SmartMiles = 1,000 Skywards Miles) — Instant Purchase is usually the better value
- 3.69% monthly profit rate (44.28% APR) if you don't pay in full, and minimum salary isn't published
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You spend enough at full-rate categories for up to 2.5% back to outrun 735 a year.
- You travel a few times a year — unlimited lounges with a guest and travel takaful cover the fee's worth alone.
- You want premium perks on a Shariah-compliant card without going to a conventional bank.
Consider skipping it if
- Your spend is dominated by fuel, telecom, education or government payments — those earn reduced, unpublished rates.
- You mostly spend abroad — 2.54% + ~1.15% in FX fees neutralises the 3.75x headline.
- You won't use lounges or golf — the free Flex keeps the same redemption flexibility at no fee.
Alternatives to consider
The free Flex keeps the same flexible SmartMiles and Instant Purchase redemption at lower earn rates — no 735 to justify.
Best no-annual-fee cards →
Direct Skywards Miles earning beats the Flex Elite's 10:1 transfer ratio if Emirates redemptions are the goal.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →
Emirates Islamic's Etihad Guest Premium earns Etihad miles directly — better than converting SmartMiles at 10,000 to 1,500.
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
What is the welcome bonus on the Flex Elite card?+
Up to 175,000 EI SmartMiles worth up to AED 1,750: 75,000 SmartMiles (worth AED 750) on payment of the annual membership fee, plus 100,000 SmartMiles (worth AED 1,000) on spending AED 20,000 within 60 days of card issuance.
What is the annual fee on the Flex Elite card?+
AED 735 per year including VAT, per the bank's Key Fact Statement. The 75,000-SmartMile fee-payment bonus (worth AED 750 via Instant Purchase) effectively offsets it in the first year.
How many EI SmartMiles does the Flex Elite earn?+
Up to 3.75 SmartMiles per AED 1 on international spend and up to 2.50 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.
Does the Flex Elite include airport lounge access?+
Yes — unlimited complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide for you and one guest.
How do I redeem EI SmartMiles?+
From the EI + Mobile Banking app: redeem instantly for 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; or exchange into partners like Etihad Guest, Qatar Avios, Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards.
Is the Flex Elite Shariah compliant?+
Yes. Emirates Islamic credit cards are based on a Shariah-compliant Murabaha structure — no interest is charged; the bank charges a fixed profit, and no additional profit is charged on accrued profit. Missed payments incur an AED 131.25 charity donation commitment rather than a late fee.
Does the Flex Elite come with golf and valet parking?+
Yes — unlimited golf rounds at top UAE golf clubs and two complimentary valet parking services each month at participating locations, plus complimentary access to Sharjah Ladies Club.
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.