Independent insights. Better banking decisions.Made for the UAE 🇦🇪
UAE CARD COMPARISON

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature vs FAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature: Emirates Skywards with eligible international spend spending. FAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic: Etihad Guest under the published conditions. Start with eligibility, reward use and total recurring cost.

Which card matches your situation?

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature Credit Card — official bank artwork
Emirates Islamic · ISLAMIC

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature

Emirates Skywards with eligible international spend spending

Published minimum salary: AED 12,000 / month

Suits you if

  • Your regular international spend spending fits the published reward categories and caps.
  • The listed fees fit the value you expect from your existing budget.

Skip it if

  • You want statement cashback rather than Emirates Skywards redemptions.
  • Your salary is below the published minimum, or you cannot meet the bank’s other criteria.

Partial reward estimate · Restricted points or miles value

Read the full Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature review →

Etihad Guest under the published conditions

Published minimum salary: AED 15,000 / month

Suits you if

  • You can use Etihad Guest rewards at the stated redemption value.
  • The listed fees fit the value you expect from your existing budget.

Skip it if

  • You need a verified AED reward estimate before deciding.
  • Your salary is below the published minimum, or you cannot meet the bank’s other criteria.

AED rewards not estimated · Reward value unconfirmed

Read the full FAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic review →

Carrying a balance? Interest or profit charges can outweigh rewards. Check repayment costs before choosing a rewards card.

What will the fees and rewards mean in AED?

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.

CompareEmirates Islamic Skywards SignatureFAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic
Minimum monthly salaryAED 12,000AED 15,000
Modelled fees · first yearAED 0AED 1,575
Modelled fees · ongoing yearAED 0AED 1,575
Estimated first-year netAED 821.99Not estimated
Estimated ongoing net / yearAED 821.99Not estimated
Reward redemption modelRestricted points or miles valueReward value unconfirmed
Bank FX charge2.54%; scheme charges may apply2.61%; scheme charges may apply
Earning spend gateCategory and programme conditions applyCategory 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.

See the budget, welcome value and fee assumptions

Monthly budget: Groceries: AED 2,500; School Fees: AED 1,500; Utilities: AED 1,000; Dining: AED 1,500; Fuel: AED 1,000; Online Shopping: AED 1,000; International Spend: AED 500; Other: AED 1,000.

Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature assumptions

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.

Renewal waiver assumes at least AED 30,000 qualifying spend in the preceding card year.

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 Signature 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.

Read the full AED valuation methodology

How does the answer change with your budget?

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 SignatureOngoing net / year: AED 251.84
FAB Etihad Guest Signature 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.

Monthly category amounts

Groceries: AED 1,000; School Fees: AED 0; Utilities: AED 300; Dining: AED 500; Fuel: AED 500; Online Shopping: AED 200; International Spend: AED 0; Other: AED 500.

Family bills · AED 10,000/month

Emirates Islamic Skywards SignatureOngoing net / year: AED 821.99
FAB Etihad Guest Signature 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.

Monthly category amounts

Groceries: AED 2,500; School Fees: AED 1,500; Utilities: AED 1,000; Dining: AED 1,500; Fuel: AED 1,000; Online Shopping: AED 1,000; International Spend: AED 500; Other: AED 1,000.

Dining & travel · AED 10,000/month

Emirates Islamic Skywards SignatureOngoing net / year: AED 1,329.43
FAB Etihad Guest Signature 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.

Monthly category amounts

Groceries: AED 1,000; School Fees: AED 0; Utilities: AED 500; Dining: AED 3,000; Fuel: AED 500; Online Shopping: AED 1,000; International Spend: AED 2,500; Other: AED 1,500.

Use your own salary, spending and repayment habits

The selector can check published eligibility and compare first-year with ongoing value for your profile.

Find cards for my budget

What should you confirm with the bank?

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 Signature: 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.
  • Annual fee AED 735 including VAT. The bank currently advertises first-year fee waiver after AED 5,000 retail spend within 90 days; subsequent annual waiver requires AED 30,000 annual spend. Confirm application conditions.
  • 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 0.275 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 2.54% including VAT plus network approximately 1.15%. Monthly published profit 3.69%; 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.

Product terms reviewed 2026-10-18.

Open the complete Emirates Islamic Skywards Signature review
FAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic: benefit conditions and official sources

Perks and exclusions

  • Lounges: Up to 8 visits annually at 1,000+ lounges; activation, app and guest conditions apply.
  • Cinema: No current offer verified.
  • Annual fee AED 1,575.00 includes VAT on the bank’s published pre-VAT fee.
  • Product advertises 35,000 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.

Product terms reviewed 2026-10-24.

Open the complete FAB Etihad Guest Signature Islamic review

Read the reward calculation methodology · Browse practical UAE card comparisons

YOUR SHORTLIST

A clearer side-by-side view.

Your comparison starts here

Add up to 3 cards or accounts from the directory.