You can buy Emirates miles directly from Emirates, or earn them faster through airline credit cards that award miles upfront
Emirates allows you to purchase miles outright through their website, though the per-mile cost is high — typically between 1 and 2 cents per mile depending on how many you buy at once. A credit card designed for Emirates rewards lets you accumulate miles through everyday spending instead. The fastest route for most people is opening an Emirates-branded card, which awards a large chunk of miles just for approval, then earning additional miles on every purchase you make.
The choice between buying miles outright and earning them through a card depends on how soon you need them and how much you spend monthly. If you have a specific flight booked and need miles in the next few weeks, buying them directly works. If you have several months before your trip, a credit card lets you build miles at no extra cost beyond what you would already spend.
Key Takeaways
- Emirates credit cards award between 50,000 and 100,000 miles upon approval, depending on the card and current promotions.
- You earn additional miles on every dollar spent — typically 1 to 3 miles per dollar depending on the card and purchase category.
- Buying miles directly from Emirates costs roughly 1 to 2 cents per mile, making it expensive compared to earning them through spending.
- Annual fees on Emirates cards range from $0 to $450, so compare the miles you earn against the cost to determine if the card pays for itself.
- Miles do not expire as long as your account remains active, so you can accumulate them over time without pressure to use them when ready.
How Emirates credit cards award miles
When you open an Emirates-branded credit card, the card issuer (usually a major bank like Chase or American Express, depending on your country) awards you a welcome bonus of miles. This bonus typically ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 miles, though the exact amount changes based on current promotions and which card you choose. You receive these miles within a few days to a few weeks after your account is approved.
Beyond the welcome bonus, you earn miles on every purchase. Most Emirates cards award 1 mile per dollar spent on all purchases, with higher earning rates — often 2 or 3 miles per dollar — on specific categories like dining, travel, or gas. Some cards also offer bonus miles on your card anniversary each year, or double miles during promotional periods.
The miles post to your Emirates Skywards account automatically. You link your credit card to your Skywards account during the card setup process, so there is no separate step to transfer or claim the miles.
Comparing card options and annual fees
Emirates credit cards come in multiple tiers, each with a different annual fee and reward structure. A no-annual-fee card might award 25,000 to 40,000 welcome miles and 1 mile per dollar spent. A premium card with a $450 annual fee might award 100,000 welcome miles, 3 miles per dollar on certain categories, and additional perks like lounge access or hotel credits.
To determine whether a card's annual fee is worth it, calculate how many miles you would earn in a year through spending, then compare that to the cost. If you spend $30,000 annually on a card that earns 2 miles per dollar, you earn 60,000 miles. If the annual fee is $95, you are paying roughly 0.16 cents per mile earned through spending — far cheaper than buying miles outright. However, if you spend only $5,000 per year, that same card generates just 10,000 miles, making the $95 fee harder to justify.
Check the current offers from your bank or card issuer, as welcome bonuses and annual fees change frequently. The best card for you depends on your annual spending and which airlines and hotels you use most often.
Buying miles directly from Emirates
Emirates allows you to purchase miles through their Skywards website without opening a credit card. You log into your Skywards account, navigate to the "Buy Miles" section, and select how many miles you want. The price per mile decreases as you buy more — buying 5,000 miles might cost $100 (2 cents per mile), while buying 100,000 miles might cost $1,200 (1.2 cents per mile).
This option makes sense if you have a specific flight booked and need miles within weeks, or if you do not meet the spending requirements to justify a credit card. However, the per-mile cost is substantially higher than earning miles through a card. You would need to spend roughly $5,000 to $10,000 on a credit card to earn the same number of miles you could buy for $100 to $200.
Miles purchased directly do not expire as long as your account remains active, so you can buy them and hold them until you find a flight you want to book.
Understanding the cost of miles versus cash fares
Before committing to earning or buying miles, compare the redemption value to the cash price of the flight. A round-trip ticket from New York to Dubai might cost $800 in cash but require 80,000 miles. If you buy those miles at 1.5 cents each, you pay $1,200 — more expensive than paying cash. However, if you earn those miles through a credit card while spending money you would spend anyway, the miles cost you nothing extra.
The value of a mile varies by route, cabin class, and how far in advance you book. Premium cabin flights (business and first class) typically offer better value per mile than economy. Off-peak routes offer better value than peak travel times. Checking the cash price before you book helps you decide whether redeeming miles makes sense for that particular flight.
How to link your credit card to your Emirates account
Most Emirates credit cards link to your Skywards account automatically during the process process. The card issuer asks for your Skywards membership number (or offers to create a new account if you do not have one), and miles begin posting within days of approval.
If your card does not link automatically, log into your Skywards account online, go to the account settings or "Linked Cards" section, and add your new card manually. You will need the card number, expiration date, and the name on the card. Miles earned on that card will post to your account within 1 to 3 billing cycles.
Keep your Skywards account active even if you do not fly frequently. Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every three years — this includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to spend a minimum amount to keep the miles I earn?
No. Once miles post to your Skywards account, they are yours to keep. However, your account itself can close if you have no activity for three years, which would forfeit any remaining miles. Activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or logging into your account.
Can I combine miles from multiple credit cards into one Skywards account?
Yes. Link all your Emirates credit cards to the same Skywards account during setup, and miles from each card will accumulate in that single account. This makes it easier to reach redemption thresholds for premium cabin flights.
What happens to my miles if I close my credit card?
Closing the card does not affect the miles already in your Skywards account — they remain there. However, you will stop earning miles on that card. If the card had an annual fee, closing it also stops that charge.
Are there restrictions on which flights I can book with miles?
Emirates reserves a certain number of seats for award bookings on each flight, but most flights have award availability. Booking further in advance (typically 2 to 3 months out) gives you more options. Some flights during peak travel times may have limited or no award availability.
How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?
This depends on your spending and the flight you want. A round-trip economy ticket within the Middle East might require 40,000 to 60,000 miles. A round-trip to North America might require 80,000 to 120,000 miles. If you spend $3,000 per month on a card earning 2 miles per dollar, you earn 6,000 miles monthly — enough for a regional flight in 7 to 10 months, or a long-haul flight in 13 to 20 months.