What the Fly Emirates Credit Card is and who issues it
The Fly Emirates Credit Card is a co-branded card issued by Emirates NBD, a major bank based in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Emirates airline. The card is designed for people who fly Emirates regularly or want to earn rewards toward Emirates flights and upgrades.
Emirates NBD offers several versions of this card at different reward levels. The basic tier typically earns miles on every purchase; higher tiers offer sign-up bonuses, lounge access, and annual fee waivers or credits. The card itself functions as a standard credit card — you can use it for everyday purchases, bill payments, and online shopping — but the rewards are tied to Emirates' frequent flyer program, called Skywards.
If you live outside the UAE, availability depends on your country and bank partnerships. Some regions have access through local banks that partner with Emirates NBD; others do not. Check with your bank or the Emirates website to see whether the card is offered where you live.
Key Takeaways
- The Fly Emirates Credit Card earns Skywards miles on purchases, which you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other rewards within the Emirates ecosystem.
- Different card tiers offer different benefits: basic cards earn miles on all spending, while premium cards add lounge access, annual bonuses, and fee waivers.
- You need an active Skywards frequent flyer account to link to the card and track your miles.
- Annual fees vary by card tier and are sometimes waived or credited back if you spend a certain amount in a year.
- The card is issued by Emirates NBD and availability outside the UAE depends on local banking partnerships in your country.
How miles are earned and what they're worth
Every purchase you make on the card earns Skywards miles at a rate that depends on which card tier you hold. A basic card typically earns 1 mile per dirham spent (or the equivalent in your local currency); premium cards may earn 1.5 to 2 miles per dirham on certain categories like dining or travel, and 1 mile per dirham on everything else.
Miles accumulate in your Skywards account and do not expire as long as you earn or redeem at least one mile every 36 months. This means if you use the card regularly, your balance stays active. If you stop using it, your miles will eventually expire, so check your account periodically if you take a break from flying.
The value of each mile depends on how you redeem it. A mile is worth more when you use it for a premium cabin seat on a long flight than when you use it for a short economy flight. Emirates publishes award charts that show how many miles each flight costs, so you can calculate the value before you book.
Annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and other costs
Annual fees range depending on the card tier. Basic cards may have no annual fee or a modest one (typically 100–300 AED or equivalent). Premium cards charge higher annual fees but often include a credit that offsets part or all of the cost — for example, a card might charge 500 AED annually but credit you 200 AED in Skywards miles or travel vouchers.
Many versions of the card offer a sign-up bonus when you first open the account. This is usually a one-time award of miles (often 10,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on the tier) that you receive after you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. Read the terms carefully: the bonus is only awarded if you spend the required amount within the stated timeframe.
Beyond the annual fee, the card carries standard credit card costs: interest charges if you carry a balance, foreign transaction fees if you use it outside your home country, and late payment fees if you miss a due date. These are the same as any credit card and are not specific to the Emirates product.
How to link the card to your Skywards account and start earning
Before you open the card, you need an active Skywards frequent flyer account. You can create one for free on the Emirates website or the Skywards app. This account is where your miles are stored and tracked.
Once you have a Skywards account, explore for the Fly Emirates Credit Card through Emirates NBD's website, a branch, or a partner bank in your country. During the process, you will provide your Skywards membership number so the card issuer can link the two accounts automatically.
After your card is approved and arrives, set up it through the bank's website or app, then log into your Skywards account to confirm the card is connected. Miles should start posting to your Skywards account within a few days of each purchase. Check your account regularly to verify that miles are being credited correctly.
Redeeming miles for flights and other rewards
To book a flight with miles, log into your Skywards account and search for award availability. Not every flight is available for miles redemption — airlines hold back a limited number of award seats on each flight. If you do not see availability on your preferred date, try nearby dates or different times of day.
Once you find an available flight, you can redeem your miles directly through the Skywards portal. The miles are deducted from your account when ready, and you receive a booking confirmation. You can still pay taxes and fees with cash or your credit card; miles cover only the base fare.
Beyond flights, Skywards miles can be used for seat upgrades (if you have already booked a paid ticket), hotel stays through partner properties, car rentals, and shopping with partner retailers. The redemption value varies by partner, so compare the mile cost to the cash price before you book.
What happens if you close the card or stop using it
If you close the card, your Skywards account remains open and your miles do not disappear when ready. However, miles expire if you do not earn or redeem at least one mile within 36 months. Once the card is closed, you have no way to earn new miles unless you open another Emirates card or fly with Emirates and earn miles through ticket purchases.
If you straightforward stop using the card but keep it open, you will continue to pay the annual fee (unless it is waived for inactivity, which varies by card tier and bank). Weigh the cost of the annual fee against the value of the miles you are earning. If you fly Emirates infrequently, the fee may not be worth it.
Some cards offer a "fee waiver" if you spend a certain amount in a year — for example, 50,000 AED in purchases waives the annual fee. If you are close to that threshold, a few large purchases might save you the fee.
Comparing this card to other ways to earn Skywards miles
The Fly Emirates Credit Card is one way to accumulate Skywards miles, but not the only way. You can also earn miles by flying Emirates, booking through the Skywards website, shopping with partner retailers, or staying at partner hotels. Each method earns at a different rate.
If you fly Emirates frequently, the miles you earn from ticket purchases may be substantial enough that a credit card is unnecessary. If you rarely fly but spend heavily on other categories — dining, shopping, travel — the card's earning rate on those categories might justify the annual fee.
Compare the annual fee and earning rate to your actual spending and flying habits. A card that costs 300 AED per year but earns you 30,000 miles annually through everyday purchases is a better deal if you can redeem those miles for a flight worth more than 300 AED in value. If you earn only 10,000 miles per year, the fee may outweigh the benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this card outside the UAE?
Yes, the card works internationally like any credit card. However, you may incur foreign transaction fees depending on your card tier and the bank's policies. Check your card terms for the exact fee percentage. Miles are earned on all purchases regardless of location.
What if my card is lost or stolen?
Contact Emirates NBD when ready to report the card and request a replacement. Your Skywards account and miles are not affected — they are tied to your account, not the physical card. Once your new card arrives and is activated, it will link to your Skywards account automatically.
Do I earn miles on credit card payments or balance transfers?
No. Miles are earned only on purchases of goods and services. Payments to the card itself, balance transfers from other cards, and cash advances do not earn miles. Check your card's terms for the full list of excluded transactions.
How long does it take to receive the sign-up bonus?
The bonus is usually credited to your Skywards account within 4 to 8 weeks after you meet the minimum spending requirement, though this varies by bank and card tier. Confirm the timeline in your card's terms before you explore.
Can I transfer my miles to another person or airline?
Skywards miles cannot be transferred to another person. They are non-transferable and tied to your account. Some airlines allow mile transfers between partners, but Emirates Skywards does not offer this feature.