Aura vs Hassad: which loyalty program wins?

We score Aura and Hassad 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

Aura is best for Mall shoppers, while Hassad is best for Riyad Bank World Elite cardholders who spend internationally or on e-gaming.

Skip Aura if Budget shoppers outside malls, and skip Hassad if Anyone wanting long point validity or airline/hotel transfer partners.

Overall rating

	Aura	Hassad
Overall rating	3.4 / 5	2.8 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Ease of use	5.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	2.0 / 5	2.0 / 5

Earning structure

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.
Hassad	Members are auto-enrolled in Hassad Rewards on most Riyad Bank credit card activations (some cards excluded). Earn rates vary significantly by card type and transaction category: World Elite Mastercard delivers up to 2.5% back; entry tiers typically earn 1% on local point-of-sale, 1.5% on international, 1.25% on online purchases, and 7.5% on e-gaming platforms. Welcome bonuses of 500-1,600 Hassad points apply on most cards. Points are also earned through digital banking transactions beyond card spend. The Hassad Rewards Calculator on the Riyad Bank website calculates expected points by card type and transaction type.

Redemption structure

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.
Hassad	Points redeem through two main channels: at Hassad partner stores by providing the registered mobile number and confirming the transaction with an OTP code sent by SMS; or through the Riyad Bank mobile app for gift cards and vouchers. Members can transfer Hassad points to other Hassad members using their mobile number or Hassad ID. Minimum redemption threshold is 1,000 Hassad points. Vouchers obtained through Hassad are non-refundable and non-transferable. Points cannot be redeemed for cash or used to pay credit card fees, and are non-transferable financially. Refunded or cancelled transactions reverse the corresponding Hassad points.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Aura	Hassad
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	0
Top tier	VIP	—
First-tier qualification	6,000 points	—
Point expiry	12 months	12 months

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