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Independent guides to points, miles and rewards.

Etihad Airways logo

United Arab Emirates

Etihad Guest (for UAE residents)

Etihad Guest for UAE residents: earning from Abu Dhabi, converting Smiles and ADNOC points, tiers (25% lower until March 2027), expiry and rewards.

In 30 seconds

Who it's for

UAE residents who fly Etihad, especially from Abu Dhabi, families who want to pool Miles, and people who already collect Smiles or ADNOC points and want to put them towards flights.

Who it isn't for

People who rarely fly Etihad or its partners, because Miles for Bronze, Silver and Gold members only stay alive with flight activity.

Our verdict

Etihad Guest is most useful if you fly Etihad at least once every 18 months. Until 31 March 2027 the tier thresholds are 25% lower for existing members, which makes this a good year to push for status if you're close.

Key facts

  • Miles are valid for 18 months for Bronze, Silver and Gold members, and each qualifying flight extends them by another 18 months. Platinum and Emerald members' Miles don't expire.Sources: S1, S3
  • To reach a tier you normally need 25,000 Tier Miles for Silver (10,000 from flying), 50,000 for Gold (20,000 from flying) and 125,000 for Platinum (40,000 from flying), within 12 months. Emerald needs USD 150,000 spent on flights.Sources: S3
  • From 18 March 2026 to 31 March 2027, members who held a tier on 17 March 2026 need 25% fewer Tier Miles to keep their tier or move up, except for Emerald.Sources: S3
  • Reward flights start from 10,000 Miles.Sources: S2

Summary

  • Typical fixed value:
    No fixed value published
    Expiry:
    18 months for Bronze, Silver and Gold, extendable by another 18 months by flying Etihad or a partner airline. Never for Platinum and Emerald.
    Last checked:
    1 November 2026
  • The loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, flying from Abu Dhabi.
  • Smiles, ADNOC Rewards, Air Arabia AirRewards and global hotel programmes convert into Etihad Guest Miles.
  • Our verdict: the natural choice if you fly from Abu Dhabi, or if your points sit in Smiles or ADNOC Rewards. Plan around the 18-month expiry.

Insider tips

  1. Check whether the 25% tier cut covers you. The reduced thresholds apply automatically to members who held Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum at 23:59 on 17 March 2026. To move up you need 18,750 Tier Miles for Silver (7,500 from flying), 37,500 for Gold (15,000) or 93,750 for Platinum (30,000), by 31 March 2027. You can move up more than once in that time.Sources: S3
  2. Choose your Custom Benefits within 30 days. When you reach a new tier, you have 30 days to pick your Custom Benefits, or defaults are assigned. Pick them before you travel, because they can't be changed for the rest of that tier period.Sources: S3, S1
  3. Set up a Family Membership. If you're 21 or over, you can be Family Head and add up to nine more members, including extended family and one household helper. Each person earns in their own account, and the Head can use everyone's Miles together. Tier Miles and tier status stay individual.Sources: S1
  4. Book a Promo seat with part Miles. You can book a Promo seat with as little as 75% of the Miles needed and pay the rest another way. Promo seats can be changed up to 24 hours before you fly, or cancelled up to departure, depending on the fare.Sources: S1
  5. Top up from Smiles in blocks of 3,000. 8 Smiles points make 1 Etihad Guest Mile, in blocks of 3,000 points (375 Miles). Link the accounts first. Transfers should arrive within 24 hours and can't be reversed.Sources: S5, S7
  6. Treat ADNOC points as a top-up, not a strategy. 110 ADNOC Rewards points make 1 Etihad Guest Mile, converted in the ADNOC app, and transfers can't be reversed. ADNOC's own FAQ prices AED 16.10 of LPG subsidy at 16,100 points, which is AED 0.001 a point, so each Mile costs you about AED 0.11 of ADNOC value (our sum).Sources: S6, S8, S9
  7. Claim partner Miles within six months. If Miles from a partner transaction are missing, contact that partner within six months of the transaction date.Sources: S1
  8. Platinum: use the one-off tier extension wisely. Platinum members can extend their tier by 6 months once in the lifetime of the account. If you don't use it while you're Platinum, you can't use it later.Sources: S3

Common mistakes

  1. Expecting Miles on a reward flight. You don't earn Miles when you redeem a Saver Award seat.Sources: S1
  2. Planning to upgrade a Saver Award seat. Value and Comfort Saver Award seats can't be upgraded with Miles, and Miles can't be used for upgrades on partner airlines.Sources: S1
  3. Assuming the airport upgrade price matches online. Instant upgrades at check-in are priced in Miles at the airport, and Etihad says the price may differ from the online calculator.Sources: S1
  4. Letting Miles lapse between trips. For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, Miles last 18 months and are only extended by flight activity, so a long gap between flights can cost you your balance.Sources: S1, S3
  5. Buying Reward Shop gift cards you might not use. Reward Shop gift cards and raffle tickets can't be cancelled, and a gift card's validity can't be extended.Sources: S1
  6. Converting Miles to ADNOC and back. ADNOC gives 20 ADNOC points for 1 Mile but needs 110 points to make 1 Mile, so 1 Mile sent over and back returns about 0.18 of a Mile (our sum).Sources: S8

How to earn faster and spend better

  1. Use the tier bonus. Silver members earn 25% bonus Miles, Gold 50% and Platinum 100%.Sources: S3
  2. Double Miles on JetBlue until 30 November 2026. Eligible JetBlue flights flown before 30 November 2026 earn double Etihad Guest Miles if you add your Etihad Guest number to the booking.Sources: S4
  3. Boost past flights with MilesBooster. MilesBooster lets you buy up to three times the Miles you earned on flights in the past 12 months, up to 150,000 extra Miles a year. Only pay if it gets you to a specific reward.Sources: S1
  4. Spend Miles on flights before shopping. Miles can go on flights, upgrades, holidays, car rentals and the Reward Shop. Compare the Miles price with the cash price for each before you choose.Sources: S2, S5

Best time to earn or redeem

Earning

  1. Before 31 March 2027 if you're chasing a tier. Reduced tier thresholds run until 31 March 2027 for eligible members. After that, retention goes back to the full published requirements.Sources: S3
  2. Fly at least once every 18 months. Each qualifying flight extends your Miles by 18 months if you're Bronze, Silver or Gold.Sources: S3, S1

Redeeming

  1. Change Promo seats early. Promo seat fares let you change or cancel, with lower fees the earlier you plan. Changes are possible up to 24 hours before you fly.Sources: S1
  2. Pick benefits as soon as you move up. Choose Custom Benefits within 30 days of reaching a tier, and before your next trip.Sources: S3

Is it right for you?

Answer honestly, thinking about the next 18 months.

  1. Will you fly Etihad or a partner airline at least once in the next 18 months?

    Yes is a good sign: Flights keep Bronze, Silver and Gold members' Miles alive.

    Sources: S1, S3

  2. Did you hold an Etihad Guest tier on 17 March 2026?

    Yes is a good sign: You'll get the 25% lower thresholds until 31 March 2027.

    Sources: S3

  3. Could you pool Miles with family?

    Yes is a good sign: Family Membership lets up to ten people combine Miles.

    Sources: S1

  4. Do you collect Smiles or ADNOC points already?

    Yes is a good sign: Both can be converted into Etihad Guest Miles.

    Sources: S5, S6

  5. Do you usually fly other airlines from Dubai?

    Yes is a warning sign: Without Etihad or partner flights, Miles expire after 18 months.

Mostly good signs

Etihad Guest fits you. Make sure each flight credits, choose your benefits promptly and use the reduced thresholds before 31 March 2027.

Mostly warning signs

You may get more from another programme. If you have Etihad Miles already, use them before the 18-month expiry.

Earning from the UAE

Flights from Abu Dhabi

  • You earn Miles and Tier Miles on Etihad and partner airline flights.
  • Use Etihad's Miles calculator for a route. Etihad doesn't publish a fixed earn per AED, so we don't give one.

Converting UAE points into Etihad Guest Miles (official ratios)

  • Smiles (e&)

    Official ratio:
    8 Smiles points = 1 Mile (two-way, via Rewards Exchange in the Smiles app)
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    Smiles doesn't publish a fixed AED value

  • ADNOC Rewards

    Official ratio:
    110 ADNOC Rewards = 1 Mile
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    110 × AED 0.001 = AED 0.11

  • Air Arabia AirRewards

    Official ratio:
    2 AirRewards = 1 Mile
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    No fixed AED value published

  • Marriott Bonvoy

    Official ratio:
    3 points = 1 Mile
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    —

  • Hilton Honors

    Official ratio:
    10 points = 1 Mile
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    —

  • IHG One Rewards

    Official ratio:
    5 points = 1 Mile
    What 1 Mile costs in AED you could have spent elsewhere (our sum):
    —

Ways to spend

  • Flights on Etihad and partners, and upgrades.
  • Holidays, hotel stays and car rentals.
  • The Etihad Guest Reward Shop (tech and accessories).
  • Smiles: convert Miles back into Smiles points for food, groceries and bills in the Smiles app.

Tiers

  • Bronze

    Standard to qualify (12 months):
    Free to join
    Reduced until 31 March 2027 (eligible members):
    —

  • Silver

    Standard to qualify (12 months):
    25,000 Tier Miles (10,000 from flying)
    Reduced until 31 March 2027 (eligible members):
    18,750 (7,500 from flying)

  • Gold

    Standard to qualify (12 months):
    50,000 (20,000 from flying)
    Reduced until 31 March 2027 (eligible members):
    37,500 (15,000 from flying)

  • Platinum

    Standard to qualify (12 months):
    125,000 (40,000 from flying)
    Reduced until 31 March 2027 (eligible members):
    93,750 (30,000 from flying)

  • Emerald

    Standard to qualify (12 months):
    USD 150,000 spend on flights
    Reduced until 31 March 2027 (eligible members):
    No reduction
  • Keeping a tier (standard): Silver 20,000 (10,000 from flying), Gold 40,000 (20,000), Platinum 100,000 (40,000).
  • Reduced retention until 31 March 2027: Silver 15,000, Gold 30,000, Platinum 75,000.
  • Silver benefit example: lounge access in Abu Dhabi.

What's changed

  • October 2026. Etihad Guest ran up to 40% bonus Miles on transfers from other loyalty programmes from 1 to 31 October 2026. That offer has now ended.Sources: S4
  • 18 March 2026. Tier qualification criteria were cut by 25% for members who held a tier on 17 March 2026, until 31 March 2027. Emerald is unchanged.Sources: S3
  • 7 August 2025. The Smiles by e& partnership launched, so you can convert Smiles points to Etihad Guest Miles and back.Sources: S7
  • June 2025. Promo seat fares changed to Value, Comfort and Deluxe options, with different change and cancellation rules.Sources: S1

Dates are when Etihad or e& applied or announced each change on their official pages. We checked them all on 1 November 2026.

Get an email when Etihad Guest changes

We check Etihad Guest's official pages and email you if anything on this page changes.

For example:

  • Tier thresholds, including the end of the reduced criteria on 31 March 2027
  • Miles expiry rules
  • Conversion rates with Smiles and ADNOC
  • Bonus Miles offers
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FAQ

How long do Etihad Guest Miles last? 18 months for Bronze, Silver and Gold, extendable by another 18 months when you fly Etihad or a partner airline. Platinum and Emerald Miles don't expire.

Can I convert Smiles points to Etihad Guest? Yes. 8 Smiles points = 1 Mile, both ways, using Rewards Exchange in the Smiles app.

Can I convert ADNOC Rewards points? Yes. 110 ADNOC Rewards = 1 Etihad Guest Mile.

Is Etihad Guest or Skywards better? It mostly depends on your airport and where your points sit. See Skywards vs Etihad Guest.

Do Etihad Guest Miles expire?

For Bronze, Silver and Gold members, Miles are valid for 18 months and are extended by another 18 months when you fly Etihad or a partner airline. Platinum and Emerald members' Miles don't expire.

Sources: S1, S3

How do I keep my tier?

Normally Silver needs 20,000 Tier Miles (10,000 from flying), Gold 40,000 (20,000), Platinum 100,000 (40,000) and Emerald USD 150,000 spent on Etihad flights, excluding taxes, in the 12 months before your tier ends. Until 31 March 2027, eligible members need 15,000, 30,000 and 75,000 Tier Miles for Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Sources: S3

Can I add friends to my Family Membership?

No. You can add direct and extended family members and one household helper. Etihad may ask for proof of the relationship.

Sources: S1

Is there a transfer bonus right now?

The up to 40% bonus on transfers from other programmes ran from 1 to 31 October 2026 and has ended.

Sources: S4

Sources

All official, all checked 1 November 2026.

Current offers

  • Double Etihad Guest Miles on eligible JetBlue flights.

    Double Etihad Guest Miles on eligible JetBlue flights. · Standard: The usual rate is on this profile.

    Ends

    Double Etihad Guest Miles on eligible JetBlue flights. Travel by 30 November 2026; add your Etihad Guest number to the booking. - Source: Etihad Guest programme offers.

    Source: etihad.com

Last checked . Offers come only from official scheme or issuer pages and disappear when they end.

All UAE programme verdicts