Ajwaa vs AMEX Membership Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Ajwaa and AMEX Membership Rewards on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.

Verdict

Ajwaa is best for Premium cardholders making large non-everyday purchases, while AMEX Membership Rewards is best for International travelers wanting premium-cabin redemptions and no expiry pressure.

Skip Ajwaa if Daily spenders on groceries, fuel, telecom, and government bills, and skip AMEX Membership Rewards if Anyone seeking the highest local earn rate or the lowest annual fees.

Overall rating

	Ajwaa	AMEX Membership Rewards
Overall rating	3.2 / 5	4.2 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	5.0 / 5

Earning structure

Ajwaa	Cardholders earn 3 points per 1 SAR on Ajwaa Infinite and Signature credit cards (lower rates on Plus and Standard tiers). Earnings drop to 0.5 points per SAR in selected categories: groceries, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food, family clothing, transportation, variety stores, gift shops, and cosmetics. The following earn no points at all: SADAD, government payments, GAZT, charities, utilities, fuel stations, telecom, education, auto dealers, fund transfers, ATM withdrawals, and e-wallet funding. Ajwaa Plus cardholders earn additional quarterly bonus points. Points appear in the account within a few days of the transaction.
AMEX Membership Rewards	Cardholders earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every USD spent (approximately 3.75 SAR) at any establishment accepting American Express in Saudi Arabia and 200+ countries worldwide. Premium cards (Gold, Platinum, The Platinum Card, The Gold Card) offer enhanced earning on select categories such as dining, travel, and supermarkets - earning rates vary by specific card product. Welcome bonuses provide head-start points on enrollment, typically substantial. Amex Offers provide additional bonus points and statement credits at participating merchants. Some cards charge USD 25/year for Membership Rewards enrollment; others include it free.

Redemption structure

Ajwaa	Points redeem through the Ajwaa portal (separate from the main Bank Aljazira online banking). Options include cashback to the Ajwaa credit card (10,000 points = 100 SAR, minimum threshold applies), vouchers from partner merchants, flight bookings, hotel bookings, car rental, and transfers to airline frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs. Members can purchase additional points using their Ajwaa credit card if they have insufficient balance for a desired redemption. Travel booking cancellations incur a 150 SAR fee per ticket or hotel booking, plus any supplier charges. Cancelled redemptions return points to the account.
AMEX Membership Rewards	Points redeem through multiple channels: transfer to international airline frequent flyer programs (multiple major carriers, typically 1:1 ratio), transfer to global hotel loyalty programs (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, ALL Accor), book travel directly via Amex's reward catalogue, redeem for digital gift cards from major retailers, pay annual card fees with points, donate to selected charities, or shop with points at AmexShop for electronics, accessories, and gifts. Minimum redemption is 1,000 points. The highest value typically comes from premium-cabin airline transfers, where points can deliver several times more value than cashback or shop-with-points options. Redemption is processed via the Amex Saudi Arabia app, online account, or by calling 800 124 2229.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Ajwaa	AMEX Membership Rewards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	0
Top tier	—	—
First-tier qualification	—	—
Point expiry	36 months	Never expire

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