Akthr
Alinma Bank
VS
Blue Rewards
Al-Futtaim Group
Akthr vs Blue Rewards: which loyalty program wins?
We score Akthr and Blue 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 Blue Rewards is best for Mall shoppers.
Skip Akthr if Anyone seeking high earn rates without a premium card, and skip Blue Rewards if Any non-UAE resident expecting the 5–9% cashback rates featured in marketing.
Overall rating
| Akthr | Blue Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.6 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 4.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 3.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 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. | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Rewards | Saudi members earn 1% cashback on purchases at participating Al-Futtaim brand stores. Cashback is credited to the Blue Wallet within the app. Additional Blue Points can be earned through in-app games, quizzes, achievements, referrals, and special promotions. Scan-and-earn at participating Al-Futtaim malls (where available). The Blue FAB credit card with 5-9% cashback rates is currently available only in the UAE - Saudi residents earn at the base 1% cashback rate without bank card amplification. |
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. | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Rewards | Blue Wallet cashback is redeemed for vouchers, brand purchases, or Blue Gift cards through the Blue Rewards app. Blue Points are converted to vouchers and exclusive offers from top brands. Members can purchase Blue Gift cards (digital gift cards) with a 2% top-up bonus, usable across participating Al-Futtaim brands. Exclusive offers include 2-for-1 deals on dining, entertainment, and lifestyle activities. Festival Malls Gift Cards are available for use across mall stores. Redemption is digital-first via the Blue Rewards app. Saudi members access the same redemption catalog as other markets, though some partner offers may be UAE-specific. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| Akthr | Blue Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 0 | 0 |
| Top tier | — | — |
| First-tier qualification | — | — |
| Point expiry | 12 months | fixed |