Akthr vs AMEX Membership Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Akthr 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

Akthr is best for Anyone wanting flexible redemption across airlines, hotels, and investment, while AMEX Membership Rewards is best for International travelers wanting premium-cabin redemptions and no expiry pressure.

Skip Akthr if Anyone seeking high earn rates without a premium card, and skip AMEX Membership Rewards if Anyone seeking the highest local earn rate or the lowest annual fees.

Overall rating

	Akthr	AMEX Membership Rewards
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	4.2 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Network	4.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5

Earning structure

Akthr	Cardholders earn Akthr points on every purchase, with rates varying significantly by card tier. Standard credit cards and the Traveler prepaid card earn 1 point per SAR. Intermediate tiers (Platinum, Signature) earn at higher rates. Infinite cards earn 6 points per SAR on domestic purchases and 7 per SAR on international - but Infinite cards are income-restricted and held by a small minority of customers. Members can also earn points through banking products and services beyond card spend. Welcome bonuses up to 10,000 points are offered to new members. Promotional doubling campaigns run periodically at supermarkets and partner merchants. Digital wallet top-ups do not earn points.
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

Akthr	Points redeem through multiple channels via the alinma app: cash to AlinmaPay wallet, partner POS discount codes via registered mobile number plus OTP (from as few as 2 points per code), e-vouchers and selected products, transfer to Alfursan miles, transfer to flynas naSmiles miles (24 Akthr points = 1 naSmiles mile), transfer to ALL Accor hotel rewards (22,000 Akthr = 1,000 ALL Reward Points, 5,500+ hotels worldwide), conversion to Alinma Capital investment wallet, charitable donations, hotel and car bookings, and gifting points to other registered Akthr members. Most redemption options have low or no minimum thresholds. The mobile-number-plus-OTP mechanic at partner POS is among the simplest redemption flows in Saudi banking.
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

	Akthr	AMEX Membership Rewards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	0
Top tier	—	—
First-tier qualification	—	—
Point expiry	12 months	Never expire

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