Alfursan vs Aura: which loyalty program wins?

We score Alfursan and Aura 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

Alfursan is best for Frequent flyers, while Aura is best for Mall shoppers.

Skip Alfursan if Occasional travellers - miles expire after 24 months, and skip Aura if Budget shoppers outside malls.

Overall rating

	Alfursan	Aura
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.4 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	2.0 / 5

Earning structure

Alfursan	Earn miles based on flight distance and cabin class — from 25% of miles flown on Economy Saver up to 250% in First Class. Also earn miles via co-branded credit cards (Al Rajhi, Riyad Bank, Alinma, SNB, BSF, SAB, AmEx) and SkyTeam partner airlines.
Aura	Members earn 1 point for every 1 SAR spent at participating Alshaya brands, in-store and online. That's a 2% effective return on most purchases. Star tier members earn an additional 1% on top, and VIP members earn an additional 2% - bringing the top return to 4%. Bonus points are also offered during promotional events. Starbucks, Boots medicinal products, and Alshaya gift cards are excluded from earning.

Redemption structure

Alfursan	Redeem for SAUDIA and SkyTeam award flights starting at 4,500 miles (one-way domestic Economy), cabin upgrades from 3,750 miles, extra baggage, and lounge access. Miles expire if a user is not active for 2 years.
Aura	Points redeem at a fixed rate of 50 points = 1 SAR (0.02 SAR per point) directly at checkout in any participating Alshaya store or online site. There's no minimum threshold - points can be applied to any eligible purchase. Members can also redeem for exclusive experiences, member-only prices, and special offers via the Aura app. Points cannot be transferred, converted to cash, or redeemed at non-Alshaya partners. Refunds on items paid partly with points are returned in points.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Alfursan	Aura
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	3
Top tier	Gold “Elite Plus”	VIP
First-tier qualification	20 flights	6,000 points
Point expiry	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)	12 months

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