How to earn Emirates Skywards Miles without flying

Which credit cards earn Skywards Miles automatically?

A co-branded Emirates Skywards credit card is the most direct non-flight route, because Emirates credits the Miles earned on purchases to the Skywards account each month without a separate transfer request [1]. The issuers Emirates names for this automatic crediting are HSBC, Emirates Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank and ICICI Bank, plus the Emirates Skywards Mastercard with Barclays [1].

Emirates advertises up to 70,000 bonus Miles, together with Gold or Silver tier membership for one year, for an approved Emirates Skywards Mastercard, subject to terms [1]. Its partners directory describes the same Mastercard as offering up to 50,000 bonus Skywards Miles [2]. Both are promotional offers, so the figure that applies to a particular application is the one in the issuer's current terms.

Select Emirates Skywards co-branded cards in the USA also earn Tier Miles on everyday purchases; Emirates states that this Tier Miles offer is currently available only for those cards [1].

How do you convert bank points into Skywards Miles?

Members who hold a credit card from another bank partner can convert points into Skywards Miles, and Emirates directs them to the card provider both for the details and to request the transfer [1]. The rates below are the ones Emirates listed in its partners directory as of 18 October 2026 [2].

How do hotel stays and hotel points earn Skywards Miles?

Emirates lists two kinds of hotel earning: points converted from a hotel loyalty programme, and Miles awarded directly for eligible stays or spend booked through its own hotel and vacation channels [2].

How do car rental and shopping partners add Miles?

Ground transport and retail partners pay Miles on spending rather than on distance flown, which is why Emirates lists them separately from airlines [2].

Do partner Miles count toward status as well as spending?

Emirates separates the two: Skywards Miles are the balance members collect and spend, while Tier Miles are described as the key to retaining a current membership tier or reaching the next one [1]. On flights, Tier Miles are calculated by route, fare and class, and members can also earn them on everyday purchases with select co-branded cards in the USA [1].

On the joint Emirates–Qantas network, Emirates says members keep their Skywards tier privileges but need to book flights carrying an Emirates (EK) flight number to keep collecting Tier Miles [3]. Emirates also notes that a membership number cannot be amended once a member has checked in or completed travel [3].

Exceptions and limits

• Choosing the programme. A member must decide which programme to earn with at the time of paying for qualifying goods or services, and the membership number given at that point cannot be changed afterwards [1].
• "Up to" rates. Many partner entries are stated as maximums, such as with Avis & Budget or at Skywards Miles Mall, so the listed figure is a ceiling rather than a fixed return [2].
• Market-specific offers. The Tier Miles card offer is limited to select co-branded cards in the USA [1], and Skywards Everyday is described as earning Miles on shopping, dining and entertainment in the UAE [2].
• Tier bonuses. The bonus percentages Emirates publishes — 30% for Silver, 75% for Gold and 100% for Platinum members — appear in the part of its earn-miles page that deals with flight earning, so they should not be assumed to apply to card, hotel or shopping Miles [1].
• Expiry. Under the current approach, Miles are valid for three years rounded to the end of the member's birth month: Miles earned on 10 May 2024 expire on 31 July 2027 for a member with a July birthday, but on 31 March 2028 for a member with a March birthday [4]. From 1 June 2027 the period becomes three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of that month; the change applies to Miles earned from that date and does not affect Miles already in an account [4].

Frequently asked questions

Can you earn Skywards Miles without flying at all?

Yes. Emirates lists co-branded credit cards, conversions from bank and hotel programmes, car rental, retail and lifestyle partners as ways to add Skywards Miles, alongside flights [1] [2].

Do Skywards Miles earned from partners expire?

They carry an expiry date. From 1 June 2027, Miles will be valid for three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of the month, and the change will not affect Miles already in an account [4].

Can any credit card points be converted into Skywards Miles?

Emirates directs members to their card provider to check whether a transfer is available and to request it [1]. Bank partners listed in its directory include American Express Membership Rewards, Brex, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, HSBC US, Ramp and Revolut [2].

Can family members combine Skywards Miles?

Emirates lists a My Family account, where members can pool their Miles, among the features available after logging in to a Skywards account [1]. The same menu also offers buying Skywards Miles and multiplying a balance up to four times [1].

Related pages

Start with the frequent flyer glossary for the vocabulary used here, then read the entries on points transfer, buying miles and family sharing before committing points from a bank or hotel programme.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Only Emirates Skywards is covered; other airline and hotel programmes, and Emirates partners that are not listed on its pages, are not covered here.

1. Emirates Skywards: Earn Miles, checked 18 October 2026
2. Emirates Skywards: Our Partners directory, checked 18 October 2026
3. Emirates Skywards: Membership Benefits, checked 18 October 2026
4. Emirates Skywards: programme updates on the Skywards Miles expiry policy change, checked 18 October 2026