ICSAB+ vs IHG® One Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score ICSAB+ and IHG® One 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

ICSAB+ is best for Households paying SADAD and government bills, while IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip ICSAB+ if Heavy spenders on groceries, fuel, and restaurants, and skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning.

Overall rating

	ICSAB+	IHG® One Rewards
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.2 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Network	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5

Earning structure

ICSAB+	Members earn ICSAB+ points across a wide range of activities: credit card spend (7.5–12.5 points per 100 SAR domestic, 10–15 points international, depending on card type), Mada debit card spend (0.5 points domestic, 1 point international per 100 SAR), digital banking registration and activity (10–40 points), paperless statement enrollment (10–20 points), ITM and e-Desk services (10 points each), AQSAT installment plans (10–30 points), IPO enrollment (20–40 points), and personal/home finance applications (100–200 points). Digital payment behavior boosts earnings: contactless +5%, digital wallet +10%, online purchases +15%, recurring digital payments +20%.
IHG® One Rewards	Members earn 10 base points per USD spent at most IHG brands. Extended-stay brands (Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) earn 5 points/USD. Elite tier members receive bonus points: Silver +20%, Gold +40%, Platinum +60%, Diamond +100%. Saudi users do not have access to IHG-branded credit cards - the IHG Premier and Traveler cards from Chase are US-only. Members can also earn points through Hertz car rentals (1,500 bonus + 125-500 points/day), OpenTable dining reservations, and point purchases.

Redemption structure

ICSAB+	Points redeem through six channels via SAB Mobile or SAB Online: Instant ICSAB+ Cash (1,000 points = 70 SAR, deposited to account or credit card instantly via app or within 3 working days, 200 SAR minimum), Pay with ICSAB+ for SADAD and government payments directly through SAB, E-vouchers at 150+ merchants (1,000 points = 100 SAR — the highest-value path), Online Travel (flights, hotels, car rentals booked directly through the ICSAB+ portal, 1,000-point minimum), Charitable donations to Ehsan or Joodeskan (500 points = 50 SAR, no upper limit), and Points Exchange transfers to airline, hotel, and telecom partner programs. Travel redemptions cannot be cancelled or refunded once confirmed. Most other redemptions are also non-refundable. Redemption requires accepting program T&Cs on first use
IHG® One Rewards	Points redeem for hotel stays at 6,300+ IHG properties in 100+ countries. Variable point pricing applies (no published award chart since 2018) - redemption costs shift based on cash rates. Members can also use Points + Cash flexibility, transfer to 30+ airline partners (typically poor 5:1 or 10:1 ratios), redeem for gift cards, merchandise, or Hertz car rentals. Platinum and Diamond Elite members get exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts. IHG dropped fixed award charts in favor of variable dynamic pricing, making redemption costs less predictable than competitors.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	ICSAB+	IHG® One Rewards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	5
Top tier	—	Diamond Elite
First-tier qualification	—	20,000 points
Point expiry	12 months	12 months inactivity (reset on earn)

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