There is terrible news for some miles collectors in the UAE. ADCB has announced that its long-standing partnership with Etihad Guest is coming to an end. The bank will be removing its three Etihad Guest cobrand cards from the market on 30 November 2025.
This is disappointing for several reasons. The ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite Visa was one of the best options available to high spending expats.
Not only was it great for earning Guest Miles and Tier Miles, but the card came with some of the most valuable perks, including the ability to earn up to four 100% upgrade vouchers per year.
Infact, I just used those vouchers to upgrade the entire family from Economy to Business on our return to Abu Dhabi after the summer holidays. Something that will not now be possible in the future.
What happens now?
Existing ADCB Etihad Guest cards will be deactivated by 30 November at the latest. There will be a pro-rata refund for any annual fees charged in the last 12 months.
Cardholders will receive a new card before the end of November. ADCB is promising enhanced rewards and lifestyle benefits, but it’s not clear yet what that means in practice.
And crucially, the new card will not earn Etihad Guest Miles or Tier Miles. If that remains a priority for you, you’ll need to find a new home. There will likely be an exodus of existing ADCB Etihad Guest cardholders to other banks.
Biggest signup bonuses on multiple cards
Other banks clearly see an opportunity, and we are seeing some of the most aggressive signup bonuses on other Etihad Guest cobrand cards available.
FAB is offering up to 240,000 Etihad Guest Miles as a signup bonus. Emirates NBD has an offer of up to 200,000 Etihad Guest Miles, and Emirates Islamic has a promo of up to 100,000 Etihad Guest Miles. Full details on all of the best Etihad Guest signup bonuses and deadlines to apply can be found here.
Bottom Line
The withdrawal of ADCB’s Etihad Guest cards marks the end of an era. For years, these cards were one of the best ways for UAE-based expats to build up significant Guest Mile balances and book premium redemptions.
From 30 November, that earning path is gone. If you’re serious about Etihad Guest miles, you need to pivot — whether that’s shifting to another Etihad Guest cobrand card or rethinking your loyalty strategy entirely. Is it time to consider moving to Emirates Skywards?
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring all the options and sharing what I plan to do next.
Stay tuned!
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