Perkly Card Index · August 2026 · Emirates Skywards

Best Emirates Skywards credit cards in the UAE: August 2026

Seven Skywards co-brand cards from three banks, ordered by the interest Perkly users showed in August, with what each one earns and costs.

By the Perkly research team · Published 19 September 2026 · Updated 25 September 2026 · Covers August 2026 · Card details checked 19 September 2026

Based on Perkly data for August 2026: more than 500 card searches, and the card pages, Apply clicks and applications that followed, on perkly.ae between 1 and 31 August 2026. Card fees, rates and offers on this page update live from Perkly’s card database.

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Four UAE banks take applications for Emirates Skywards credit cards, and in August the cards drew more interest on Perkly than any other airline programme. These are the 7 Skywards cards visitors applied for, clicked and read about, from three of those banks, ordered by that interest. Dubai Islamic Bank's Emirates Skywards Infinite also drew interest, but DIB stopped taking new applications for its Skywards cards on 1 August 2026, so it is left out.

A tip for comparing them: banks quote Miles "per AED 3.67" or "per AED 3.68", which is simply per US dollar. So 3.5 Miles per AED 3.67 means 3.5 Miles per USD 1 spent.

Apply for the top picks

#1Emirates Islamic Skywards Black StandardAED 2,100 a year · salary from AED 35,000
#2ADIB Emirates Skywards InfiniteAED 4,725 a year · salary from AED 25,000
#3Emirates Islamic Skywards Black with Skywards GoldAED 5,775 a year · salary from AED 35,000

How this list is made. The order comes from Perkly’s own data and nothing else. No bank pays to appear here, and no placement on this page can be bought. If you apply through Perkly and a bank issues your card, Perkly may earn a referral fee, which never changes the order or the figures you see.

Only Skywards application

Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Standard

Travel · Islamic

Annual fee

AED 2,100

Min. salary

AED 35,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

10.77% travel (partner only)

The top travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai spend in AED booked directly with the airline. Travel agent bookings and other travel spend earn a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.

3.5 Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai booked directly with the airline, 2 per USD abroad and 1.5 locally. Complimentary Silver with priority check-in and extra baggage, 4 airport transfers a year and 1 free lounge visit. AED 2,100 a year, minimum salary AED 35,000.

Best for: Frequent Emirates flyers who want the top earn rate without paying for Gold.

Earn 3.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates or flydubai, 2 per USD on foreign spend
Complimentary Skywards Silver: priority check-in and boarding, 30% bonus Miles, 12kg extra baggage, Dubai Business lounge
1 free airport lounge visit a year (1,200+ lounges via Visa Airport Companion) plus 4 airport transfers a year

Applications:: #1 Skywards card

Full card details →

Most visited

ADIB Emirates Skywards Infinite

Travel · Islamic

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Infinite

Annual fee

AED 4,725

Min. salary

AED 25,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

9.21% travel (partner only)

The top travel earn rate applies only to spend with Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays. Other travel spend earns a lower standard rate.

3 Miles per USD on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays, 2 abroad and 1.5 locally. Complimentary Silver with a fast track to Gold after USD 5,000 of Emirates spend, lounge access for you and a guest, 4 airport transfers a year and monthly golf. AED 4,725 a year with the Gold fast track, or AED 2,625 without it.

Best for: Premium flyers who will use the lounge, golf and transfer benefits.

Earn 3 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays, 2 on foreign spend, 1.5 on local
Complimentary Skywards Silver, fast-track to Gold on USD 5,000 Emirates spend, valid 12 months
Unlimited lounge access for cardholder and 1 guest (1,000+ lounges) plus 4 airport transfers a year

Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Emirates Skywards Miles

Page visits:: #1 Skywards card

Full card details →

Emirates Islamic Skywards Black with Skywards Gold

Travel · Islamic

Emirates Islamic Skywards Black w/ Skywards Gold

Annual fee

AED 5,775

Min. salary

AED 35,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

10.77% travel (partner only)

The top travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai spend in AED booked directly with the airline; travel agent bookings earn the standard rate. Everyday spend earns a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.

The same earn rates as the Black Standard at number 1, plus a fast track to Skywards Gold, which brings a 75% Miles bonus, Business Class lounge access and priority boarding. The card costs AED 2,100 until you qualify for Gold by spending USD 5,000 on Emirates tickets within 12 months; from then it is AED 5,775 a year in total, and the same spend is needed each year to keep Gold.

Best for: Flyers who would otherwise struggle to reach Gold on their own.

Earn 3.5 Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates/flydubai, 2 per USD on foreign spend, 1.5 on local
Skywards Silver on issuance; fast-track Gold (paid upgrade) adds Business lounge, 75% bonus Miles, extra baggage
1 complimentary lounge visit a year (1,200+ lounges via Visa Airport Companion) plus 4 airport transfers a year

Full card details →

ADIB Emirates Skywards Signature

Travel · Islamic

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Emirates Skywards Signature

Annual fee

AED 1,575

Min. salary

AED 10,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

7.67% travel (partner only)

The top earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai purchases. Other travel spend earns a lower standard rate.

2.5 Miles per USD on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays and 1.5 abroad, with complimentary Silver in the first year, lounge access through the Visa Airport Companion app and 2 airport transfers a year. AED 1,575 a year, minimum salary AED 10,000.

Best for: Mid-salary Emirates flyers who want Silver at a lower fee.

Earn 2.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.68 on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates Holidays, 1.5 on foreign spend
Complimentary Skywards Silver membership (Year 1, renewable with USD 2,500 Emirates spend)
Unlimited airport lounge access via Visa Airport Companion App, plus 2 complimentary airport transfers a year

Current welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus Emirates Skywards Miles

Full card details →

Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite

Travel · Islamic

Annual fee

AED 1,048.95

Min. salary

AED 25,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

6.15% travel (partner only)

The top travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai spend in AED booked directly with the airline. Travel agent bookings, other travel and everyday spend earn a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.

2 Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai, 1.5 abroad and 1 locally, with complimentary Silver for the first 12 months (keeping it needs USD 2,500 of Emirates spend a year), 1 free lounge visit a year and golf at 5 UAE courses in months you spend AED 10,000. At AED 1,048.95 a year it is one of the cheapest routes to Skywards Silver.

Best for: Occasional Emirates flyers who value Silver more than the earn rate.

Earn 2 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates/flydubai, 1.5 per USD on foreign spend (outside EEA/UK), 1 on general local spend
Complimentary Skywards Silver tier for 12 months: 30% bonus miles, 12kg extra baggage, priority check-in and boarding
1 free airport lounge visit a year (1,200+ lounges via Visa Airport Companion), plus 2 complimentary Marhaba Meet & Greet visits a year at Dubai airport

Current welcome offer: Earn 10,000 Skywards Miles as a welcome bonus

Full card details →

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature

Travel · Islamic

Annual fee

AED 735

Min. salary

AED 12,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

4.62% travel (partner only)

The boosted travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai spend in AED booked directly with the airline. All other travel and airline spend, including travel agent bookings, earns a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.

The entry card in Emirates Islamic's range at AED 735 a year: 1.5 Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai and 1.1 abroad, 1 free lounge visit a year and 2 golf rounds a month when you spend AED 5,000.

Best for: People starting to collect Skywards Miles on a modest salary.

Earn 1.5 Skywards Miles per AED 3.67 on Emirates/flydubai, 1.1 per USD on foreign spend
1 complimentary airport lounge visit a year (1,200+ lounges) plus 1 free guest on that visit
2 complimentary golf rounds a month and 1 valet visit a month (min. AED 5,000 spend)

Current welcome offer: Annual membership fee waived for the first year

Full card details →

HSBC Skywards Infinite

Travel

Annual fee

AED 2,625

Min. salary

AED 30,000

Rewards in

Skywards Miles

Top rate

8.46% travel (partner only)

The top travel earn rate applies only to Emirates and flydubai bookings. Other travel spend earns a lower standard rate. Miles can only be used with Emirates Skywards.

2.75 Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai, 1.5 abroad and 1 locally, with complimentary Silver and lounge access for you and a guest once you make one international purchase a year. It adds 3 beach club visits a month and travel insurance. AED 2,625 a year, minimum salary AED 30,000.

Best for: HSBC customers who fly Emirates and want beach club access.

Earn 2.75 Skywards Miles per USD on Emirates and flydubai, 1.5 on foreign spend, 1 on local AED spend
Complimentary Skywards Silver tier: Emirates Business Class Lounge access when flying Emirates
Unlimited lounge access for cardholder and 1 guest at 1,200+ lounges worldwide (Visa lounge programme)

Current welcome offer: Earn up to 70,000 bonus Skywards Miles

Expected offer expiry: October 2026

Full card details →

Side by side

Live figures from Perkly’s card database. Earn rates are the value you get back per AED spent, after converting miles or points to dirhams.

Card	Annual fee	Min. salary	Top rate	Welcome offer
#1Emirates Islamic Skywards Black Standard	AED 2,100	AED 35,000	10.77%*	None right now
#2ADIB Emirates Skywards Infinite	AED 4,725	AED 25,000	9.21%*	Yes
#3Emirates Islamic Skywards Black with Skywards Gold	AED 5,775	AED 35,000	10.77%*	None right now
#4ADIB Emirates Skywards Signature	AED 1,575	AED 10,000	7.67%*	Yes
#5Emirates Islamic Skywards Infinite	AED 1,048.95	AED 25,000	6.15%*	Yes
#6Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature	AED 735	AED 12,000	4.62%*	Yes
#7HSBC Skywards Infinite	AED 2,625	AED 30,000	8.46%*	Yes

* Applies only at the card’s partner merchants or airline; other spend earns less.

Silver, Gold and what they are worth

Most Skywards cards give Skywards Silver from the start, which brings bonus Miles on flights, priority check-in and extra baggage. Gold adds Business Class lounge access worldwide (Silver covers the Emirates lounge in Dubai) and a larger Miles bonus, but no card simply hands it over: the Gold cards offer a fast track that still needs your own spending with Emirates.

If you fly Emirates only once or twice a year, the cheaper Silver cards usually make more sense than paying AED 4,000 or more for benefits you won't use.

How we built this list

This list is built from what people did on Perkly between 1 and 31 August 2026, not from what banks advertise and not from payments: no bank can pay to appear here or to move up. We count four things per card, and each visit counts once, at the furthest point it reached: an application submitted through Perkly, an application started, a click on Apply now, and a visit to the card's page. Each is weighted by how far it went: an application counts 10, a started application 5, a click on Apply now 3 and a page visit 1, and the list is ordered by the total. So a card many people explored closely can sit above one with a single application, and the signal shown beside each card is its strongest one, not the whole picture.

The data covers more than 500 card searches in August. Our own testing is excluded, and visitors who opted out of analytics are not counted. At this scale a single application can move a card several places, so read the order as "what people gravitated to", not as a precise league table. We publish ranks rather than raw counts for the same reason.

Card details in the text were checked on 19 September 2026 against Perkly's card data, which was reviewed against each bank's own documents between 15 and 19 September 2026. The fees, earn rates and welcome offers shown in each card panel are live from Perkly's card database, so they stay current after this article was written. Always confirm the final terms with the bank before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best Emirates Skywards credit card in the UAE?

In August 2026, Emirates Islamic's Skywards Black Standard was the most chosen Skywards card on Perkly, and ADIB's Emirates Skywards Infinite had the most visited card page. The best one for you depends on how often you fly Emirates and how much you spend on the card.

Which banks issue Emirates Skywards credit cards in the UAE?

Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and HSBC issue Emirates Skywards co-brand cards to new applicants, and Perkly compares all of them. Dubai Islamic Bank stopped taking applications for its Skywards cards on 1 August 2026.

Do Skywards credit cards earn Miles on flydubai?

Yes. Every card on this list pays its top rate on both Emirates and flydubai. Check each card's panel for its exact terms.

How often is this list updated?

Every month. Each edition of the Perkly Card Index covers one calendar month of activity on Perkly and is published early the following month. Card details on every page update automatically from Perkly's card database.

Is one of these your best card?

Popular is not the same as right for you. Tell Perkly your salary and how you spend and it ranks every card in the UAE for you, or talk your options through with Perkly Chat.

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