Etihad Airways is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With its main base being at Zayed International Airport, in Abu Dhabi, it’s the second-largest airline in the country after Emirates, operating more than 1,000 flights per week, to over 120 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.

Etihad Airways’ frequent-flyer program, called Etihad Guest, lets members accumulate points called Guest Miles. These points can be redeemed for rewards, including free or discounted Etihad flights and seat upgrades, flights on Etihad Airways’ global airline partners, hotel stays, car rentals, experiences, as well as purchases from partner retailers.

For frequent travelers in the UAE, several locally issued Etihad Airways credit cards are available. These cards allow users to accelerate Guest Miles earnings on everyday purchases. They often come significant sign-up bonuses, and a fast-track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier Status, which comes with benefits like priority check-in, boarding, and fast-track immigration at a large list of airports. The following six credit cards offer among the highest mile-earning rates, the most generous welcome bonuses, as well as a broad set of travel and lifestyle benefits for frequent travelers of Etihad Airways.

Top Etihad Airways Credit Cards in the UAE

Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Visa Elevate

Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Visa Elevate is a premium credit card issued by Emirates NBD that blends generous travel rewards with a broad set of lifestyle and insurance benefits.

New members receive a welcome bonus of up to 200,000 Etihad Guest Miles comprising 40,000 Miles upon payment of the joining fee, 60,000 Miles upon spending minimum AED 90,000 (US$24,500) within 6 months from card issuance date, and 100,000 Miles upon spending minimum AED 120,000 (US$33,000) within 6 months from card issuance date.

Cardholders earn 10 Etihad Guest Miles for every AED 10 (US$2.7) spent on Etihad Airways flights, hotels, and dining, and up to 6 Miles per AED 10 (US$2.7) on all other purchases. In addition, every AED 10 (US$2.7) spent generates 2.5 Etihad Tier Miles – Etihad’s equivalent of status credits -, but are capped at 50,000 per year.

Furthermore, for each AED 150,000 (US$41,000) spent, the card provides a 50% discount voucher on mile redemptions, with a maximum of two vouchers per year. An optional Express Miles program costs AED 250 (US$68) per month and adds a further 50% mileage boost, limited to 4,000 bonus miles per statement cycle.

Beyond miles accrual, cardholders enjoy complimentary access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through the Visa Airport Companion app, a limited‑time 10% cashback on Etihad Airways spend, buy‑one‑get‑one cinema tickets, discounts on airport dining, Avis car rentals, and shopping collections such as Bicester Village, as well as digital concierge services and valet parking at selected Abu Dhabi locations.

The card incorporates Credit Shield Pro protection, which provides death protection up to AED 300,000 (US$82,000), a hospitalization payout of AED 100 (US$27) per day, and job‑loss protection for up to 12 months with a maximum benefit of AED 60,000 (US$16,300), and a fast-track to the Etihad Guest Gold Tier is available after completing a single round‑trip flight, which unlocks perks such as a 1kg excess baggage allowance, priority check‑in and a 50% bonus‑mile increase.

The Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Visa Elevate card costs AED 2,625 (US$715) to join and an annual fee of AED 1,575 beginning in the second year. Applicants must earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000 (US$8,200).

ADIB Etihad Guest Infinite Covered Card

The ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Infinite Covered Card is a premium travel‑focused credit card that offers a generous welcome bonus, accelerated mileage earnings, and a wide array of lifestyle and protection benefits.

New cardholders can receive up to 75,000 Etihad Guest Miles, and earn 3.5 Etihad Guest Miles for every AED 4 (US$1.1) spent on Etihad Airways purchases, 3.5 Miles on foreign‑currency transactions, and 2.5 Miles on local‑currency spends. Tier Miles accrue at a rate of 1 Tier Mile per AED 4 (US$1.1) of eligible purchase, capped at 50,000 Tier Miles per year, helping members progress toward higher Etihad Guest tiers.

Cardholders also enjoy complimentary Etihad Guest Silver Tier Status with an option to fast track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier after spending AED 4,500 (US$1,225) on Etihad Airways within the first 12 months.

The ADIB Etihad Guest Infinite Covered Card offers a number of travel perks. These include a free companion ticket voucher after AED 150,000 (US$41,000) of annual spend, a complimentary class‑upgrade voucher after AED 350,000 (US$95,300) of spend in one year, unlimited lounge access to over 1,000 in more than 300 cities worldwide, through the Visa Airport Companion app, and two complimentary airport transfers per year within the UAE.

Cardholders also enjoy a free home‑check‑in service once a year, complimentary golf for the cardholder and one guest at selected clubs (once per month), and four free valet parking sessions per month at participating locations. Additional services include 24‑hour concierge assistance, free roadside assistance, and a range of card services.

Protection benefits are also extensive:

• Travel medical and inconvenience coverage includes baggage loss or damage up to US$3,000, baggage delay up to US$500, trip delay or missed departure up to US$500, and trip cancellation or curtailment up to US$7,500;
• Purchase protection reimburses up to US$2,500 per incident with a US$4,000 annual aggregate limit; and
• Optional Takaful cover protects against death, total disability, critical illness, and involuntary job loss.

To qualify for the ADIB Etihad Guest Infinite Covered Card, applicants must earn a minimum income of AED 30,000 (US$8,200).

Al Hilal Bank Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card

The Al Hilal Bank Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card is designed for travelers who value experiences and convenience, and who look for fast mile-earning.

Cardholders receive a welcome bonus of 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles once the first‑year annual fee is paid. In addition, a quarterly bonus of 10,000 Miles is awarded for spending AED 37,000 (US$10,000) within a calendar quarter, and an anniversary bonus of 40,000 Miles is granted each subsequent year after the annual fee is settled.

For each AED 10 (US$2.7), cardholders earn 8.25 Guest Miles when spent internationally or on flights booked through Etihad’s website, 5.75 Miles for domestic spending, and 0.625 Etihad Guest Miles for purchases in categories such as government, telecommunications, utilities, real estate, education, fuel, groceries, insurance, auto dealership payments, and charitable contributions. Miles can be redeemed for flights and upgrades across Etihad Airways and its partner network, with a maximum cap of 30,000 Guest Miles per year per cardholder.

Beyond mileage accrual, the Al Hilal Bank Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card provides several travel‑related benefits. Cardholders enjoy complimentary Etihad Guest Gold Tier Status for six months, which can be maintained by completing either two round‑trip economy flights or one round‑trip business‑class flight within that period; unlimited complimentary airport lounge access offered through LoungeKey; a 15% rebate when booking a flight with Etihad Guest Miles; up to 25% discounts on hotels and restaurants; and buy‑one‑get‑one‑free offers from selected merchants via the Entertainer program.

Protection measures include coverage against purchase theft and accidental damage, and an extended warranty doubles the manufacturer’s warranty for up to one year on selected items. Fraudulent card misuse protection reimburses up to US$3,000 per incident, with an annual aggregate limit of US$5,000.

The Al Hilal Bank Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card carries a joining fee of AED 2,100 (US$572), and an annual fee of AED 2,100 (US$572) on the primary card beginning the second year. According to Yalla Compare, the minimum monthly salary requirement is AED 30,000 (US$8,200).

ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card

The ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card is a premium Visa Infinite product aimed at frequent travelers who want to earn Etihad Guest miles on everyday spending while enjoying a suite of lifestyle and protection benefits.

New cardholders receive a one-time welcome reward of 60,000 Etihad Guest Miles after the first‑year annual fee is paid. They also get a monthly bonus of 5,000 Miles when total purchases in a month reach at least US$5,000.

Guest Miles are earned on all purchases. Cardholders earn 3 Miles per US$1 spent on Etihad Airways purchases, up to 3 Miles on international purchases, 2 Miles on domestic purchases, 0.50 Miles on supermarket, auto‑dealer, insurance and quick‑service restaurant spending, and 0.33 Miles on fuel, education, government services, real estate, telecom, charity and transport spending. Purchases made through ADCB channels for school fees, telecom or utility bills earn Guest Miles only up to AED 3,500 (US$953) per month, and any transaction that exceeds the assigned credit limit does not earn miles for that month.

Meanwhile, Tier Miles accrue at a rate of 1 Tier Mile per US$1 spent, both locally and abroad, up to a maximum of 50,000 Tier Miles per calendar year. Tier Miles remain valid for 12 months.

In addition to miles accrual, the ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card offers complimentary golf access at Arabian Ranches Golf Club in Dubai and Abu Dhabi Golf Club; a buy‑one‑get‑one‑free coffee offer available year‑round at all Caribou Coffee outlets in the UAE; 2‑for‑1 offers at restaurants, spas, fitness centers and entertainment venues across the Middle East; up to 30% off at more than 1,400 UAE restaurants and additional travel, shopping and entertainment discounts; and a global concierge service.

Cardholders also benefit from extensive purchase protection. Theft or accidental damage coverage applies to new items for up to 365 days, with reimbursement up to US$7,500 per occurrence and an annual aggregate limit of US$20,000. An extended warranty doubles the manufacturer’s warranty for up to one year on eligible purchases, with a reimbursement limit of US$5,000 per occurrence and the same annual cap. Fraudulent card‑misuse protection reimburses up to US$3,000 per incident, up to US$5,000 annually.

To qualify for the ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card, applicants must earn a minimum salary of AED 30,000 (US$8,200), or qualify for a credit limit of at least AED 40,000 (US$11,000).

Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card

The Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card targets frequent travelers who want to accumulate Etihad Guest Miles while enjoying a range of lifestyle and protection benefits. It offers generous mileage accrual, a fast track to Gold Tier Status, multiple travel‑related perks, and flexible payment options.

New customers receive a welcome bonus of either 25,000 or 55,000 Etihad Guest Miles after the annual membership fee is paid, depending on the chosen option. The higher‑value bonus requires a fee of AED 2,500 (US$681), while the lower‑value bonus requires AED 1,500 (US$408).

Like other airline miles credit cards, this card’s mileage earnings are structured around spending categories. For every US$1 spent on Etihad Airways purchases, the card delivers 3.5 Guest Miles. International purchases earn up to 3 Miles per US$1, while spending in the European Economic Area, including the UK, earns 2 Miles per US$1. Domestic purchases also earn up to 2 Miles per US$1. In addition, each US$1 spent domestically or internationally generates 1 Etihad Guest Tier Mile, up to a cap of 50,000 Tier Miles in a membership year. Tier Miles remain valid for twelve months.

60% of Etihad Guest Miles discount vouchers can be earned each anniversary year. The first voucher is granted after the cardholder spends AED 165,000 (US$45,000) within the anniversary year, and the second voucher follows after an additional AED 135,000 (US$37,000), bringing total spend to AED 300,000 (US$82,000). Each cardholder may receive a maximum of two vouchers per year.

The Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium Credit Card also offers the ability to fast-track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier Status for the first year after a minimum spend of AED 4,500 (US$1,225) on Etihad Airways tickets or upgrades made through Etihad channels within twelve months of issuance. Gold Tier Status lasts for 12 months from the enrollment date and applies only to primary cardholders.

The card offers complimentary airport transfers to or from Abu Dhabi airport each calendar year, four complimentary inflight Wi‑Fi vouchers, unlimited complimentary lounge access, golf rounds at a selection of clubs, and up to two complimentary Marhaba Silver Meet‑and‑Greet in Dubai or Salam Basic in Abu Dhabi services per year after a minimum monthly spend of AED 5,000 (US$1,362).

Cardholders also enjoy an 0% payment plan for purchases made at etihad.com, a global concierge service, exclusive Visa Infinite offers and travel discounts, extensive protection, a 50% cashback on cinema tickets after a monthly spend of AED 5,000, and two complimentary valet‑parking services per month after meeting the monthly spend requirement.

FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card

The FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card is a premium Visa Infinite offering that targets frequent travelers who want to maximize Etihad Guest miles while enjoying a broad range of travel, lifestyle and protection benefits.

New customers receive a welcome bonus of 55,000 Etihad Guest miles is awarded after the first‑year annual fee of AED 2,500 (US$681) is paid. They earn up to 7.5 Etihad Guest miles for every AED 10 (US$3) spent. In addition to mileage accrual, the card fast‑tracks the holder to Etihad Guest Gold membership, allowing quicker access to Gold Tier privileges.

In addition to mileage accrual, the FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card provides unlimited complimentary access to airport lounges worldwide, and discounted airport transfers as well as meet‑and‑greet services at the airport.

Lifestyle perks include a 75% Etihad Guest Miles discount voucher, discounted cinema tickets, golf discounts, and a 20% discount on entry passes to attractions such as The Green Planet, Dubai Parks and Resorts, The View at the Palm, Wild Wadi Waterpark and Burj Al Arab. An optional Miles Accelerator Program is available for members who wish to boost their mileage earnings further.

Protection features comprise international medical and travel assistance, travel accident insurance, purchase protection and an extended warranty on eligible purchases.

To qualify for the FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Credit Card, applicants must earn a minimum income of AED 30,000 (US$8,200).

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on image by mrsiraphol via Freepik