What the figure means
The headline number on the AED valuations page is the indicative best-case redemption value of one Mile or point in fils — i.e. one-hundredth of a UAE dirham. A figure of 2.4 means each Mile, redeemed at the strongest path we currently track, returns ~2.4 fils of cash-equivalent value.
"Best case" matters. We do not publish an average across redemption paths because the worst paths (low-rate partner gift cards, peak-season cash conversions, "Cash + Miles" hybrids) drag the average down to a number that is misleading at the earn stage. Most readers using DubaiPoints to choose a card want to know what the Miles can be worth on their best redemption — not what they will be worth if redeemed badly.
What formal sampling will test
Once formal sampling begins, the method for each programme will be:
- Airline programmes (Skywards, Etihad Guest, Qatar Privilege Club, Saudia Alfursan): sample the best available Saver-tier business-class redemption out of DXB or AUH, ~30 days out, on a primary route the programme actively flies. Compare the Miles cost (excluding cash taxes and surcharges) against the cash price for the same flight, same day, same fare class.
- Hotel programmes (Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One, Hilton Honors): sample the best off-peak award rate at a UAE-located property against the prevailing cash rate for the same date and room category. Where applicable, adjust for the "5th-night-free" or equivalent benefit to reflect a likely real redemption.
- Bank-proprietary points (FAB Rewards, ADCB TouchPoints, ENBD Smiles, Mashreq Reward Points): sample the best-published statement-credit, gift-card, or 1:1 airline-transfer exit. Where the strongest exit is a transfer to an airline programme (FAB → Skywards, for example), use the airline programme's formally sampled value as the upstream figure.
Sampling cadence
Formal quarterly sampling is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026. Once it begins, valuations will be sampled and republished on the first Friday of January, April, July and October. Each sampled quarter's figures will be dated; prior sampled quarters will remain accessible.
Until the first formal sample is completed, figures on the AED valuations page are flagged "Indicative — pre-sampling" and represent DubaiPoints' editorial estimates informed by published award charts and redemption reports from UAE residents. They are not represented as sampled medians.
What we don't do
- We do not publish a single "industry average" Mile value. There isn't one — the redemption value depends entirely on the programme and the path.
- We do not adjust the value upward to reflect "elite-tier perks" (lounge access, free baggage, etc). Those are perks of the card or status, not of the Mile.
- Once formal sampling begins, we will not publish a sampled quarterly figure from a single redemption. The method requires the median of at least three sampled redemption paths in the same quarter. Pre-sampling estimates remain labelled separately.
- Once the sampled series exists, we will not change historical sampled figures. If a programme devalues mid-quarter, the next published figure will reflect it; the prior sampled quarter will stay on the record.
Caveats
The published figure is a tool for comparing programmes at the earn stage — i.e. when you are choosing a credit card. It is not a guarantee of the value you will realise on any specific redemption. Award availability, booking window, route, fare class, taxes and surcharges, and programme rule changes all affect realised value.
If a redemption you are considering would clear the published value, take it. If it would not, weigh that against the alternative cash cost and decide accordingly. Do not redeem at a rate substantially below the published figure unless you have a clear reason — that is the most common avoidable mistake in points and miles.