Mukafaat Albilad vs Skywards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Mukafaat Albilad and Skywards 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

Mukafaat Albilad is best for Premium Tamkeen Plus cardholders, while Skywards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Mukafaat Albilad if Anyone with mada Classic/Gold or Tamkeen Platinum, and skip Skywards if Domestic flyers.

Overall rating

	Mukafaat Albilad	Skywards
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.9 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Expiry	2.0 / 5	3.0 / 5

Earning structure

Mukafaat Albilad	Members earn Mukafaat Albilad points on every purchase, with rates varying significantly by card type. Tamkeen Plus Signature and Infinite credit cards earn 5 points per SAR domestic and 6.5 per SAR international - among the highest in Saudi banking. Tamkeen Plus Platinum earns 3.5/4.5 (domestic/international); Tamkeen Plus Classic 2.5/3.5. Albilad Signature/Infinite credit cards earn 3 points/SAR. Albilad Silver/Gold credit cards earn 1 point/SAR. Most mada debit cards earn 0 points on domestic purchases (1 point on international only — except Signature/Infinite mada which earn 3 points internationally). Uniquely among Saudi banks, points are earned on SADAD bill payments, government payment websites, Saudi Electric and National Water websites (not via SADAD), and fuel stations.
Skywards	Members earn Skywards Miles by flying with Emirates and flydubai (with Tier Miles for status qualification) and through 30+ partner airlines including Air Canada (full partnership December 2025), JetBlue, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, S7, and others (Skywards Miles only - no Tier Miles from partners). Earning also extends to hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and ALL Accor; car rentals; dining partners; and retail. Saudi residents can transfer points from BSF Jana (500-point minimum, up to 200,000 per conversion) and anb rewards via published conversion rates. Tier bonuses: Silver +30%, Gold +75%, Platinum +100%. Members can also purchase miles. The Emirates Skywards Mastercard from Citi is US/Europe market only.

Redemption structure

Mukafaat Albilad	Points redeem through six channels via the Mukafaat Albilad portal at albiladmukafaat.com or via the Albilad app: airline tickets across 550+ carriers, hotel bookings across 175,000+ hotels worldwide, retail shopping vouchers from leading merchants, transfer to airline frequent flyer programs, charity donations to participating organizations, and cashback at any merchant - use points to repay the value of recent purchases made via Albilad card at any POS within 7 days of the original transaction. Limited-time campaigns offer enhanced transfer rates, such as the June 2026 promotion giving 30% bonus Avios on Mukafaat-to-Avios transfers. Vouchers redeemed are typically non-refundable. Points cannot be used to pay credit card fees.
Skywards	Miles redeem for award flights and upgrades on Emirates and flydubai, plus partner airlines (Air Canada, JetBlue, Korean, Cathay, Qantas, and 25+ more). Classic Rewards have fixed pricing; Flex Rewards have dynamic pricing with broader availability. Cash + Miles option allows partial payment for flights. Upgrade Rewards available on Emirates flights - particularly valuable on premium-cabin redemptions. First Class redemptions are restricted to Silver, Gold, and Platinum members (Blue members cannot book First). Members can also redeem for hotel stays via partners, car rentals, retail, sporting events, and cultural experiences. Fuel surcharges apply on most premium-cabin partner redemptions. Mile purchases available to supplement award costs.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Mukafaat Albilad	Skywards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	4
Top tier	—	Platinum
First-tier qualification	—	25,000 points
Point expiry	12 months	36 months inactivity (reset on earn)

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