Emirates Islamic Skywards Black vs FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Islamic
Emirates Islamic Skywards Black: Emirates Skywards with eligible international spend spending. FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Islamic: Etihad Guest under the published conditions. Start with eligibility, reward use and total recurring cost.
Same AED 10,000 monthly budget, paid in full. Net value is eligible rewards plus qualifying welcome offers, less modelled card, joining and plan fees. FX charges, borrowing costs and unpriced perks are excluded.
Compare
Emirates Islamic Skywards Black
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Islamic
Minimum monthly salary
AED 35,000
AED 30,000
Modelled fees · first year
AED 2,100
AED 2,625
Modelled fees · ongoing year
AED 2,100
AED 2,625
Estimated first-year net
AED -653.5
Not estimated
Estimated ongoing net / year
AED -653.5
Not estimated
Reward redemption model
Restricted points or miles value
Reward value unconfirmed
Bank FX charge
2.3%; scheme charges may apply
2.61%; scheme charges may apply
Earning spend gate
Category and programme conditions apply
Category and programme conditions apply
An AED-value winner is not established because a reward conversion or recurring fee is unconfirmed. Use the verified differences and ask the issuer about missing terms.
A higher estimate does not establish eligibility. Restricted points and miles need a redemption you can use. Benchmark calculated 2026-10-25; product terms retain the review dates below. Negative values show fees exceeding modelled rewards.
Conditional welcome and campaign value included: AED 0. It requires the bank’s new-customer, application-date and spending conditions; it is not a guaranteed payment.
Published renewal fee used; unverified discretionary or relationship waivers are excluded.
Models published direct-merchant earning at AED 3.673 per reference USD, with reduced MCCs. Assumes ordinary dining, non-EEA/UK general international retail and eligible spend within assigned credit limit; airline-specific spend, fast-food and merchant/geography overlaps need separate treatment.
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite Islamic assumptions
Conditional welcome and campaign value included: Not estimated. It requires the bank’s new-customer, application-date and spending conditions; it is not a guaranteed payment.
Published renewal fee used; unverified discretionary or relationship waivers are excluded.
Published earning is described separately. An annual forecast is unavailable until this product’s full redemption, merchant exclusions, caps and qualification rules are represented.
A lighter budget can miss a spending gate; a bill-heavy budget can earn reduced rates. These examples use the same rules as the personal selector.
Compare three example budgets
Light everyday · AED 3,000/month
Emirates Islamic Skywards BlackOngoing net / year: AED -1,679.53
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite IslamicOngoing net / year: Not estimated
An AED-value winner is not established because a reward conversion or recurring fee is unconfirmed. Use the verified differences and ask the issuer about missing terms.
Emirates Islamic Skywards BlackOngoing net / year: AED -653.5
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite IslamicOngoing net / year: Not estimated
An AED-value winner is not established because a reward conversion or recurring fee is unconfirmed. Use the verified differences and ask the issuer about missing terms.
Emirates Islamic Skywards BlackOngoing net / year: AED 388.7
FAB Etihad Guest Infinite IslamicOngoing net / year: Not estimated
An AED-value winner is not established because a reward conversion or recurring fee is unconfirmed. Use the verified differences and ask the issuer about missing terms.
Check approval criteria, payment-channel exclusions, fee waivers and the benefits you plan to use. Product-source dates are shown separately; this comparison is not bank approval.
Emirates Islamic Skywards Black: benefit conditions and official sources
Perks and exclusions
Lounges: Visa Airport Companion: unlimited eligible lounge visits with one guest, subject to qualifying foreign-currency spend. First free-visit wording differs across issuer sections; verify in the app before travelling.
Cinema: Reel Buy 1 Get 1: up to two tickets/month with AED 3,000 monthly retail spend; 20% Roxy discount through 30 April 2027. Check format and booking terms.
Baseline without Gold fast track: AED 2,100 annual fee including VAT. Gold fast-track option totals AED 5,775 (AED 2,100 on issuance plus AED 3,675 on Gold qualification). The optional extra fee is not added to this baseline model.
Detailed issuer earn grid takes precedence over rounded FAQ examples: miles/reference USD at AED 3.673. Specific MCCs have reduced rates; EEA/UK spend earns 0.75 miles/reference USD. Earn is limited to assigned card credit limit; excluded cash and bank-channel bill payments earn no miles.
The detailed grid treats specific domestic/international MCCs separately, while the FAQ describes broad international earning. Model assumes general non-EEA/UK international retail; reduced-MCC or regional overseas purchases need confirmation.
Foreign fee 2.3% including VAT plus network approximately 1.15%. Monthly published profit 3.25%; check the signed offer and total borrowing cost.
Lounge eligibility uses foreign-currency spend equivalent to USD 1; product and quick-guide sections differ on first complimentary visit allowance and lead time. Confirm actual activation rather than assuming immediate entry.
Cinema: up to two Reel Buy 1 Get 1 tickets/month after AED 3,000 monthly retail spend, plus 20% Roxy offer through 30 April 2027. Valet monthly spend qualification is AED 7,500 for Black / AED 5,000 for Signature from 1 March 2026. Golf qualification and booking rules apply.
Annual fee AED 2,625.00 includes VAT on the bank’s published pre-VAT fee.
Product advertises 55,000 welcome miles on activation. Acquisition-campaign deadlines and conditions are separate; no welcome miles included in forecasts.
Bank international transaction component 2.61% plus published 1.15% scheme charge; total stated components 3.76%.
Tier miles, status benefits, Wi-Fi and miles-discount vouchers are not cash and are excluded from the net AED estimate.
