AMEX Membership Rewards
VS
qitaf
stc
AMEX Membership Rewards vs qitaf: which loyalty program wins?
We score AMEX Membership Rewards and qitaf 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
AMEX Membership Rewards is best for International travelers wanting premium-cabin redemptions and no expiry pressure, while qitaf is best for Heavy stc users on plans that earn points + frequent partner shoppers.
Skip AMEX Membership Rewards if Anyone seeking the highest local earn rate or the lowest annual fees, and skip qitaf if Non-STC subscribers.
Overall rating
| AMEX Membership Rewards | qitaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.5 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 5.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| 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. | |
|---|---|---|
| qitaf | Postpaid customers earn 1 Qitaf point per 15 SAR paid against eligible portions of their bill. Tamayouz Platinum customers earn 1.5 points per 15 SAR; Tamayouz Diamond customers earn 2 points per 15 SAR. Specific Mofawtar Prime and Baity packages earn fixed monthly bonuses ranging from 10 to 35 points. Members earn 1 point per 10 SAR at most partner outlets (Yelo, Applebee's, Ocean Basket, AbdulSamad AlQurashi, and others), and varying rates at others. Travel partners include Almosafer (1 point per 20 SAR flights, 1 per 10 SAR hotels) and Flyin. Excluded from earning: VAT, device installments, direct billing services (Apple, Google, Netflix, Spotify, OSN, stc TV), roaming packages, and many add-ons. |
Redemption structure
| 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. | |
|---|---|---|
| qitaf | Points redeem at partner outlets at a rate of 5 Qitaf points = 1 SAR by sharing the registered mobile number with the cashier and confirming via OTP. Members can also pay Saudi Electricity bills with points, redeem for stc internal services (minutes, SMS, data, bill discounts), transfer to flynas naSmiles miles at 1 Qitaf = 2 miles, or use points toward flights and hotels via Almosafer and Flyin. Internal stc rewards (minutes, SMS, data) expire 1 month from issuance. Redemption is processed via the Qitaf app, mySTC app, web portal, SMS to 900, or by calling 900. The Qitaf app supports non-stc users. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| AMEX Membership Rewards | qitaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 0 | 0 |
| Top tier | — | — |
| First-tier qualification | — | — |
| Point expiry | Never expire | 12 months |