Travel cheap or enjoy retail discounts with these air miles programs in Dubai

• Earning Air Miles
• Air Miles Programs
• Credit Cards with Air Miles
• FAQs

Whether you are a globetrotter or a frequent business traveller, flying to different destinations can be pretty costly. One easy hack to avoid this is joining an air miles program, which often means complimentary upgrades or discounted tickets. But choosing the best airline loyalty programme or credit cards with air miles in Dubai can be confusing. So to help lift that cloud of confusion we’ve broken down the basics to help you get the best deal possible. Read on for the details.

WHAT ARE AIR MILES, AND HOW DO I EARN THEM?

With the ever-changing quarantine rules and visa restrictions, the pandemic has been frustrating time for those who love to travel. The good news? More and more countries are opening up their borders and welcoming back tourists. So, thankfully, it looks like holidays are gradually becoming a viable option again.

To satisfy your wanderlust, air miles always come in handy. Now that you want to make up for all that lost time, air miles can be used to pay for flights, other airline services and retail items. You can earn air miles in two ways. By registering for loyalty programs managed by specific airlines and flying with them or earning reward points for credit card payments.

Back in the day, you could only earn air miles by flying. But nowadays you can earn miles from hotel stays, car rentals, and even shopping!

Wonder which air miles program in Dubai will suit your needs? Continue reading to find out more.

AIR MILES PROGRAMS IN DUBAI

There are a number of different air miles programs in Dubai you can sign up for. Let’s take a look.

EMIRATES SKYWARDS

Emirate Skywards, as you can guess, is Emirate’s own air miles program. A digital card is registered in your name and you can use it via your smartphone.

The first step is to register for the Emirates Skywards Program by creating an account on the official website. There are multiple benefits to signing up for the program as the points can be acquired in different ways and used to pay for air travel, hotels, car rentals and retail brands. As a member of the selected partner loyalty program, you convert your points into miles to increase your existing balance. 

Skyward miles in Dubai earned via Emirates Skywards can be used for buying air tickets in full, combining miles and cash, as well as upgrading your flight from Economy to Business Class or even First Class. Plus, Skyward miles can also be used to book exclusive sporting or entertainment events. 

You can also earn Skyward miles by using the services of partner brands. The list includes:

• Air Mauritius
• Alaska Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Copa Airlines
• EasyJet
• GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes
• Japan Airlines
• JetBlue
• Jetstar
• Air Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• S7 Airlines
• South African Airways
• TAP Portugal.

Another easy way of increasing your Emirates Skywards air miles balance is hiring cars from top car dealers in Dubai like Avis, CarTrawler, Europcar, Hertz, and SIXT. 

Similarly, the list of hotels where you can earn air miles for your next Emirates flight includes high-profile entries like Atlantis The Palm, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott Hotels, Le Méridien and Marriott Hotels & Resorts.

Visit the Emirates Skywards page on the official website to view the detailed list of airlines, banks, car rentals, hotels, retail and lifestyle partners.

ETIHAD GUEST 

Another popular air miles program in Dubai is Etihad Guest – Etihad Airways’ Loyalty Programme. Having an Etihad Guest SBI card gives you numerous benefits. The tier system with bronze, silver, gold and platinum categories is used to allocate rewards. So the more tier miles you collect, the higher class you achieve.

With regard to general rewards, you get guaranteed seats, priority boarding, instant upgrades, onboard wifi, access to lounges worldwide, excess baggage allowance and insurance discounts. Moreover, the official rewards shop has three categories: health and beauty products, leisure and entertainment and travel-related goods. In exchange for miles (along with cash depending on the product), you can buy various products from top international brands.

You can earn miles when you travel via Etihad Airways or any partner airline. The partner airlines list includes:

• Air New Zealand
• Air Canada
• Air Serbia
• Air Europa
• Alitalia
• All Nippon Airways
• American Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Czech Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• GOL LinhasAéreasInteligentes S.A.
• Gulf Air
• Hainan Airlines
• Korean Air
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air
• Royal Air Maroc
• Saudia Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines 
• Virgin Australia 

The list of Etihad Guest’s shopping partners includes:

• Tryano
• The Bicester Village …
• Montblanc
• Kalyan Jewellers
• Damas
• Joyalukkas
• Malabar Gold & Diamonds
• Al Anwaar
• Natuzzi
• Jashanmal
• Pirelli
• Amira
• Ali & Sons Porsche Centre
• Bounce
• Fazaa
• VLCC
• Eyezone
• Al Jaber Optical
• ASMALLWORLD
• Canadian Medical Center
• Al Wathba National Insurance
• Live Free
• MyList
• Wanasa Land
• Chevrolet – Al Ghandi
• GMC – Al Ghandi
• Cadillac – Al Ghandi
• Louis Erard

You can also collect miles by staying at partner hotels. Head to Etihad’s official website to view the complete list of partners.

AIR MILES

Air Miles is another program that can help you save some serious cash. Visit the official website to register. Once the registration process is complete, you will get a card or a tag, which can be used to redeem Air Miles points.

Earning Air Miles via this program is easy. For example, you can get substantial points if you dine out at Al Makan Restaurant, Crowne Plaza, Al Dahleez Restaurant and Rotana. Air Miles’ partner brands include Careem, Marhaba, Al Rostamani, The Box, MG Motors, DAMAS, Yamaha, LetsTango.com, Optx2020, Al Jaber Optical and Sharaf DG Electronics. The Cellars, Tavola, Sharaf DG Accessories, Rotana, Booking.com, Air Miles Travel, Abu Dhabi Travel Bureau, Cleopatra’s Spa and Jashanmal also offer reward points on every purchase.

You can redeem points at both Emirates Skywards and Etihad Guest. Similarly, Air Miles Travel and Qatar Airways Privilege Club are other partner brands you can check out. Your Air Miles points can also be used to pay for food ordered from Zomato, Deliveroo or NowNow.

The list of retail brand and entertainment centres where you redeem the points includes:

• Spinneys
• Sharaf DG e-voucher
• Tavola
• Damas
• MyList Gift Card
• Jashanmal
• Boots
• eGolf Megastore
• Spikeson
• KidZania
• Dubai Aquarium
• Cleopatra Spa
• VR Theme Park
• Dubai Ice Rink
• La Perle
• Goldfish

You can also donate money to charities like Noor Dubai Foundation and Dubai Cares by cashing your points balance. If you have an HSBC credit card, there’s a chance to collect extra Air Miles points with every purchase.

TOP CREDIT CARDS WITH AIRMILES IN DUBAI

Another excellent way to collect air miles is using your credit card for purchases. When you pay using your credit card, the merchant will add points to your balance. Some banks offer cards associated with specific airlines like Etihad Guest or Emirates Skywards. Similarly, some of the best credit cards with air miles in Dubai offer direct compensation with partner airlines. 

Here are some of the top credit cards with air miles in Dubai for you to consider: 

FAQS

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A CREDIT CARD WITH AIR MILES IN DUBAI AS AN EXPAT?

The documentation process is generally the same for any credit card. The following documents are required as an expat:

• Passport copy
• Valid UAE visa
• Emirates ID
• Certificate of salary
• Bank statement of salary for previous three months
• Self-employed individuals need to show a steady income on their account.

*Please note that the required documentation may vary from bank to bank.

I HAVE HAD SOME SAVED AIR MILES ON MY CARD FOR A LONG TIME. CAN I STILL THEM?

Air miles generally have an expiry date. For example, miles on the Air Miles program expire after three years. Contact the provider of your air miles scheme for more details.

CAN I CURRENTLY TRAVEL FROM THE UAE WITHOUT HAVING TO QUARANTINE?

Yes, there are countries with no quarantine requirement for those travelling from the UAE. The situation, however, remains fluid. So, before making a booking, it would be best to check with the relevant authorities.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER WAYS I CAN SAVE MONEY WHILST LIVING IN DUBAI?

There are multiple ways to save money in Dubai. You can use different loyalty cards in Dubai which offer substantial discounts. Similarly, there are discount apps that provide great deals on a variety of brands. When you are travelling there is always the Dubai Duty-Free Shop.

This wraps our overview of the best air miles programs and credit cards with air miles in Dubai. It’s almost time to dust off our travel bags and get ready for wonderful days ahead. What better way to prepare than to save up some air miles? However, like any other financial decision, don’t forget to read all the policies and point allocation system before signing up for a new program. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you can build up points simply by shopping or dining. Time to get collecting! 

Recently moved to the country? Here are some of the top credit cards for expats.

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