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 We do not publish an average across redemption paths because the worst paths (low-rate partner gift cards, peak-season cash conversions, "Cash + Miles" hybrids) drag the average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 we sample against
For each programme:
- Airline programmes (Skywards, Etihad Guest, Qatar Privilege Club, Saudia Alfursan): sampled best available Saver-tier business-class redemption out of DXB or AUH, ~30 days out, on a primary route the programme actively flies. We 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): sampled best off-peak award rate at a UAE-located property compared against the prevailing cash rate for the same date and room category. Where applicable, we 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): sampled 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), we use the airline programme's sampled value as the upstream figure.
Sampling cadence
Beginning Q3 2026, valuations are sampled and republished quarterly on the first Friday of January, April, July, and October. Each quarter's figures are dated; prior quarters' figures are archived and remain accessible.
Until the first formal sampling, every figure on the AED valuations page is flagged "Indicative — pre-sampling" and represents DubaiPoints' editorial estimate informed by published award charts and redemption reports from UAE residents.
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- We do not publish a single "industry average" Mile value.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.
- We do not extrapolate from a single sampled redemption — every published figure is the median of at least three sampled redemption paths in the same quarter.
- We do not change historical figures. If a programme devalues mid-quarter, the next published figure will reflect it; the prior quarter's figure stays 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.