Emirates Islamic Skywards Black
Up to 100,000 bonus Skywards Miles
at Emirates Islamic's secure site
Offer for applications by 31 August 2026. Terms apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"This is the best Skywards earn rate you can get from an Islamic bank, and one of the best in the UAE full stop. But the marketing leans hard on Gold Tier, and Gold is not included in the 2,100 fee — it's 3,675 more per year plus USD 5,000 of Emirates flights. Price the card on what you'll actually use: at 2,100 for 3.5x Emirates earn, Silver for life and real lounge access, it's strong. As a Gold shortcut, it's an expensive annual subscription."
Earning and redeeming Skywards Miles
Rates are quoted per USD 1 equivalent (about 3.67): 3.5 Miles with Emirates and flydubai, 2 Miles on any non- spend, 1.5 Miles domestically. The reduced categories matter — groceries, government services, utilities, insurance, education, fuel, telecom, real estate and fast food all earn a flat 0.3 Miles per USD 1 at home (though the same purchases abroad earn the full international rate), and EEA/UK merchants earn 0.75. Bill payments through the bank's own channels and all cash-type transactions earn nothing, and miles only accrue on spend up to your credit limit in a given month.
Miles post to your Emirates Skywards account within about two days of billing — no portal, no transfer step — and you redeem at emirates.com. The card also gives a permanent 25% discount on buying or gifting Skywards Miles, and Silver tier is yours for as long as the card is active. Gold is a paid fast track: the Annual Membership Fee plus USD 5,000 of direct Emirates bookings within 12 months, renewed on the same terms every year.
Rates and fees
- Annual fee
- 2,100 (incl. VAT); 5,775 with the Skywards Gold Tier fast track ( 3,675 Gold Tier fee)
- Welcome offer
- Up to 100,000 bonus Miles — 25,000 on fee payment, 40,000 for >USD 40,000 retail spend and 35,000 for >USD 20,000 FX spend in the first 3 months (apply by 31 Aug 2026)
- Profit rate
- 3.25% per month (39% APR) — murabaha structure, no profit charged if you pay in full
- Profit-free period
- Up to 55 days on retail purchases
- Minimum income
- 50,000 per month (per EI's application form)
- Foreign transaction fee
- 2.30% — the lowest at EI — plus the ~1.15% network processing fee
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95)
- Late payment
- 131.25/month 'commitment to donate' — paid to charity under Sharia supervision
- Supplementary card
- 525 one-time for the metal supplementary; 5,500 + VAT per year if it carries Gold membership
- Card network
- Visa Infinite, metal card
Fees verified against Emirates Islamic's Key Fact Statement for credit cards (V7.5, 05/26), which is VAT-inclusive, plus the card page and current offer terms. Always confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
Silver for life, Gold on tap
Skywards Silver tier for as long as the card is active, plus a fast track to Gold — pay the membership fee and put USD 5,000 of direct Emirates bookings on the card within 12 months.
1,200+ lounges with a guest
Unlimited access via Visa Airport Companion for you and one guest. Two visits a year are free outright; later visits need a USD 1 FX spend 15 days ahead or cost USD 32.
4 airport transfers a year
Complimentary Dubai Airport pick-ups and drop-offs when flying Emirates, booked against recent Emirates spend on the card.
Unlimited golf
Unlimited complimentary rounds at UAE clubs any day of the week, with 10,000 monthly card spend.
Valet parking x3 monthly
Three complimentary valet services per month at select locations, with 7,500 monthly card spend.
Travel takaful for the family
Multi-trip travel takaful covering cardholder, spouse and up to five children — personal accident cover up to USD 1M international.
Pros and cons
- Best Skywards earn rates in the EI lineup: 3.5 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates, 2 on international, 1.5 domestic
- Skywards Silver for as long as the card is active, plus a fast track to Gold Tier
- Lowest profit rate (3.25%/month) and FX fee (2.30%) among EI credit cards
- Up to 100,000 bonus Miles, 4 airport transfers, unlimited golf and lounge access with a guest
- Sharia-compliant murabaha structure with a genuine metal card
- 50,000 minimum monthly income keeps it out of most applicants' reach
- The headline Gold fast track effectively costs 5,775 a year plus USD 5,000 of Emirates spend within 12 months
- Lounge visits beyond 2 a year and most lifestyle perks hinge on monthly spend conditions ( 5,000–10,000)
- Groceries, government, fuel, telecom and QSR spend earn only 0.3 Miles per USD 1, and EEA/UK spend drops to 0.75
- Missing the minimum payment triggers an 131.25 monthly charity donation charge
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You earn 50,000+ a month and fly Emirates several times a year — 3.5x direct-booking earn plus Silver perks compound quickly.
- You want the strongest Sharia-compliant travel card in the market, structured as murabaha with a charity-donation late mechanism.
- You'll genuinely use the extras — transfers, golf, valet and lounge visits with a guest — and can meet their monthly spend gates.
Consider skipping it if
- You're buying it for Gold Tier without doing the maths — that's 5,775 a year plus USD 5,000 of Emirates flights, renewed annually.
- Your spend is mostly groceries, fuel, telecom and bills — those earn just 0.3 Miles per USD 1 on this card.
- You earn under 50,000 a month — the Skywards Infinite carries most of the same travel privileges at 2,100 with a far lower bar.
Alternatives to consider
Same bank, same Sharia structure, most of the same travel perks — 2 Miles per USD on Emirates and a first-year fee waiver offer, without the super-premium income bar.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →
The conventional flagship from the same banking group — a huge welcome bonus and automatic Silver, at a steep joining fee and 30,000 salary.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →
The premium Islamic co-brand on the Etihad side — match your miles card to the airline you actually fly out of Abu Dhabi.
Best Islamic credit 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
Is the Emirates Islamic Skywards Black a metal card?+
Yes — both primary and supplementary Skywards Black cards come in a metal design.
What is the minimum salary for the Skywards Black card?+
Emirates Islamic's application form requires a minimum monthly income of AED 50,000 for the Skywards Black card — the highest bar in its credit card lineup.
What does the Skywards Black card cost per year?+
AED 2,100 card maintenance fee, or AED 5,775 in total if you take the Skywards Gold Tier fast track (AED 3,675 Gold Tier fee on top). All figures include VAT per the bank's Key Fact Statement.
How do I get Emirates Skywards Gold Tier with this card?+
Pay the Annual Membership Fee and spend at least USD 5,000 (AED 18,365) with Emirates within 12 months of card approval, booked via emirates.com, Emirates offices or the Emirates call centre — travel agent bookings don't count. Gold is granted within 10 days of qualifying, lasts 12 months, and must be re-earned each year.
What is the current welcome offer?+
Up to 100,000 bonus Skywards Miles for applications from 11 May to 31 August 2026: 25,000 Miles on paying the Annual Membership Fee, 40,000 for over USD 40,000 of retail spend in the first 3 months, and 35,000 for over USD 20,000 of foreign-currency retail spend in the same window.
How many Skywards Miles does the card earn?+
3.5 Miles per USD 1 with Emirates and flydubai, 2 Miles on international (non-AED) spend, and 1.5 Miles on domestic spend. Groceries, government, fuel, telecom and fast food earn a reduced 0.3, and EEA/UK merchants earn 0.75. Cash advances and balance transfers earn nothing.
Does the Skywards Black card include airport lounge access?+
Yes — unlimited access to 1,200+ lounges with one guest via the Visa Airport Companion app. Two visits per calendar year are free outright; after that, each visit needs a USD 1 foreign-currency spend 15 days beforehand or costs USD 32.
Is the Skywards Black card Sharia-compliant?+
Yes. Like all Emirates Islamic credit cards it uses a murabaha structure, and the bank charges no profit on accrued profit. Late payment triggers a 'commitment to donate' of AED 131.25 paid to charity, not a conventional late 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.