Emirates NBD Skywards Signature
Earn up to 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles
at Emirates NBD's secure site
Terms & conditions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
"This is the Skywards card for the rest of us — real Emirates miles and genuinely unlimited lounge access at a 12,000- salary bar. The honest math: the joining fee plus 735 a year only pays off if you actually fly Emirates and spend internationally, because 0.75 Miles per dollar on everyday domestic spend won't move the needle on its own."
Earning and redeeming Skywards Miles
Earn rates are quoted per USD 1 equivalent (about 3.67): 1.5 Miles with Emirates, Emirates Holidays, flydubai, duty free, online food delivery and car booking apps; 1 Mile on international spend outside the EU; 0.75 Miles on domestic spend; and just 0.37 Miles at EU and UK merchants. That EU/UK carve-out matters if you shop from European sites or travel there often.
There's no transfer step or bank portal: Miles post straight to your Emirates Skywards account, where you redeem for Emirates and flydubai flights and upgrades on emirates.com. Unlike the Skywards Infinite, there's no Silver tier attached — what you're buying here is the earn rate, the welcome bonus and the unlimited lounge access.
Rates and fees
- Joining fee
- 1,573.95, billed in your first statement (incl. VAT)
- Annual fee
- 735 from the second year onwards (incl. VAT)
- Welcome offer
- Up to 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles credited on fee payment (first year only)
- Interest rate
- 3.69% per month (44.28% p.a.) on unpaid balances
- Interest-free period
- 25–55 days when the full balance is paid
- Minimum salary
- 12,000 per month
- Foreign transaction fee
- 1.99% bank fee plus ~1.15% network processing fee on non- spend
- Cash advance fee
- 3.15% of the amount (minimum 103.95)
- Late payment fee
- 241.50 per month
- Card network
- Visa Signature
Rates verified against Emirates NBD's Key Facts Statement (08/2026) and credit-card price guide (Feb 2026), both VAT-inclusive. Always confirm on the issuer's site before applying.
Card benefits
Unlimited lounge access
Unlimited entry to over 1,000 premium lounges in more than 300 cities via the Visa Airport Companion app.
2-for-1 cinema
Buy one movie ticket, get the second free on your card.
Complimentary golf
Free access to top golf courses across the UAE.
The Entertainer offers
Exclusive Visa buy-1-get-1 offers with The Entertainer across the Middle East.
Concierge services
Concierge to handle time-consuming errands, plus valet parking at selected Abu Dhabi locations.
Travel medical insurance
Travel medical insurance through Visa Signature, with 24/7 global customer assistance.
Pros and cons
- Skywards Miles from an 12,000 salary — the accessible route into the Emirates co-brand family
- Unlimited lounge access to 1,000+ lounges in 300+ cities via Visa Airport Companion
- Up to 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles in the first year
- 1.5 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates, flydubai, duty free, food delivery and car booking apps
- 0% instalment plans over 3–24 months at participating merchants
- 1,573.95 joining fee up front, then 735 a year — never free
- Weak everyday earn: 0.75 Miles per USD 1 domestic (~0.2 per ) and just 0.37 in the EU/UK
- 3.69% monthly interest is higher than ENBD's premium cards
- No Skywards Silver tier — that stays exclusive to the Infinite
- 1.99% foreign-transaction fee plus a ~1.15% network fee on non- spend
Is it right for you?
Get this card if
- You fly Emirates or flydubai a few times a year and want miles landing straight in Skywards.
- You earn 12,000+ a month and can't reach — or don't want to pay for — the Infinite.
- Unlimited lounge access matters to you; it's rare at this fee level.
Consider skipping it if
- Your spend is mostly domestic and everyday — 0.75 Miles per USD 1 won't outrun 735 a year.
- You shop or travel in the EU/UK a lot — 0.37 Miles per USD 1 is a token rate.
- You carry a balance — 3.69% a month is among the higher rates in ENBD's lineup.
Alternatives to consider
Skywards Silver tier, 2x Emirates earn and up to 100,000 bonus Miles — worth the premium if you clear the 30,000 salary bar.
Best Emirates Skywards cards →
Free for life with flexible Voyager Miles usable across airlines — the zero-cost alternative if Emirates loyalty isn't a must.
Best no-annual-fee cards →
The comparable Etihad Guest co-brand at the same 735 fee — pick the airline you actually fly.
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 offer on the Skywards Signature card?+
Up to 40,000 bonus Skywards Miles. Per the offer terms, bonus miles are credited once the joining fee is paid, and the offer applies to the first year only.
What are the fees on the Emirates NBD Skywards Signature card?+
AED 1,573.95 joining fee, then AED 735 annual fee from the second year onwards (both inclusive of VAT). Interest is 3.69% per month.
What is the minimum salary for the Skywards Signature card?+
You need a minimum monthly salary of AED 12,000 to apply.
How many Skywards Miles do I earn per dollar spent?+
1.5 Miles per USD 1 equivalent on Emirates, Emirates Holidays, flydubai, duty free, online food delivery and car booking apps; 1 Mile on international (non-EU) spend; 0.75 Miles on domestic spend; and 0.37 Miles on EU and UK spend.
Does the Skywards Signature card include airport lounge access?+
Yes — unlimited access to over 1,000 premium lounges in more than 300 cities through the Visa Airport Companion app.
Does the card come with Emirates Skywards Silver membership?+
No — complimentary Skywards Silver is a Skywards Infinite benefit. The Signature earns Skywards Miles but does not include a tier upgrade.
Do my Skywards Miles expire?+
Miles are credited to your Emirates Skywards account, so expiry follows Emirates Skywards programme rules rather than the bank's.
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.