Saudi Awwal Bank Launches First Qatar Airways Privilege Club Co-Branded Credit Card in Saudi Arabia

The new Visa Infinite card lets customers collect Avios on everyday spending, unlock travel privileges and fast-track their Qatar Airways Privilege Club tier.

AT A GLANCE
Card: Visa Infinite   |   Welcome bonus: 10,000 Avios   |   Up to: 90,000 bonus Avios in year one   |   Annual fee: SAR 950 + VAT

Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) and Qatar Airways Privilege Club have launched the SAB Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Card, marking the first co-branded payment card between Qatar Airways Privilege Club and a bank in Saudi Arabia.

Announced in Riyadh on August 5, 2026, the Visa Infinite card is designed for customers who want to turn everyday spending and travel purchases into Avios, the reward currency of Qatar Airways Privilege Club. Cardholders can use Avios for award flights, upgrades, Qatar Airways Holidays packages, and shopping and dining at Qatar Duty Free, as well as with oneworld and partner airlines.

Up to 90,000 bonus Avios in the first year

Qatar Airways says eligible cardholders can collect up to 90,000 bonus Avios during the first year, subject to the card’s spending requirements and terms and conditions. The bonus structure is built around initial activation and continued spending milestones.

• 10,000 bonus Avios: Awarded after the first transaction on the card.
• 40,000 bonus Avios: Available after cumulative spending of SAR 40,000 within the first six months.
• Quarterly international-spend bonus: 10,000 bonus Avios are available each quarter after cumulative international spending of SAR 10,000, subject to programme conditions.
• Renewal bonus: From the second year onward, cardholders can receive 10,000 bonus Avios upon renewal, subject to the applicable terms.

How Avios are earned on spending

The card offers different Avios earning rates depending on where and how the customer spends. Qatar Airways lists the following headline earn rates for the product:

• Qatar Airways flights: 2 Avios for every SAR 1 spent on eligible Qatar Airways flight purchases.

• GCC spending outside Saudi Arabia: 2 Avios for every SAR 3 spent in GCC countries outside the Kingdom.

• International spending: 1 Avios for every SAR 3 spent internationally, with a separate rate of 1 Avios for every SAR 5 spent in the European Economic Area.

• Domestic spending: 1 Avios for every SAR 5 spent in Saudi Arabia on eligible purchases, while certain lower-MCC categories earn at a reduced rate of 1 Avios per SAR 12.5.

Fast-track to Privilege Club Silver and Gold tiers

The card also includes a route to accelerated Qatar Airways Privilege Club status. In the first year of card issuance, customers can move to Silver tier after their first transaction and can fast-track to Gold tier after cumulatively collecting 80,000 Avios with the credit card, subject to the programme rules.

From the second year onward, tier renewal or upgrades are linked to qualifying spend on Qatar Airways flight bookings during the 12 months preceding the card anniversary. Qatar Airways lists SAR 3,000 in qualifying flight-booking spend for Silver and SAR 14,000 for Gold.

Travel and lifestyle benefits

Beyond Avios and tier benefits, the card includes a package of travel and protection features aimed at frequent travellers and premium banking customers.

• Airport lounge access: Complimentary access to participating airport lounges, subject to Visa and card conditions.

• Concierge service: Access to concierge support for eligible cardholders.

• Airport services: Benefits may include airport dining discounts and meet-and-assist services.

• Travel protection: Travel insurance and card-protection benefits are included under the applicable policy terms.

• Purchase benefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty and fraudulent card misuse protection are among the listed features.

• Car rental savings: Eligible cardholders can access selected car-rental discounts.

Avios can be used across a wide travel ecosystem

Avios earned through the card can be redeemed for a wide range of Privilege Club rewards. These include Qatar Airways award flights and upgrades, travel with oneworld and partner airlines, Qatar Airways Holidays packages, and purchases or dining at Qatar Duty Free. This broad redemption network is a key part of the card’s appeal to customers who regularly travel from Saudi Arabia.

Strong Qatar Airways connectivity from Saudi Arabia

SAB said the partnership also connects customers with Qatar Airways’ wider travel network. At the time of launch, Qatar Airways operated 138 weekly flights from eight gateways in Saudi Arabia to Hamad International Airport in Doha, with onward connectivity to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

The airline also highlighted premium travel features such as Qsuite and the expanding availability of complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi on selected aircraft and routes.

SAB says partnership reflects changing customer lifestyles

Bandar Al-Gheshayan, Chief Wealth and Personal Banking Officer at SAB, said the partnership reflects the bank’s strategy of offering banking products linked more closely to customers’ travel and everyday spending needs. SAB said the launch also strengthens its premium credit-card portfolio and expands the range of rewards available to customers.

Visa, which supports the card as part of its Infinite platform, said consumers in Saudi Arabia are increasingly looking for payment products that combine lifestyle benefits, travel privileges and greater value from day-to-day purchases.

Annual fee and availability

The SAB Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Card carries an annual fee of SAR 950 plus VAT, according to Qatar Airways. The product is available for applicants in Saudi Arabia, and eligibility, earning rules, insurance cover, lounge access and all bonus offers are subject to the bank’s and Privilege Club’s terms and conditions.

A new travel-rewards option for Saudi customers

The launch adds another premium travel-rewards option to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving payments market. By combining SAB’s banking platform with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, the partners are targeting customers who want to earn airline rewards not only while flying, but also through routine domestic and international spending.

For frequent Qatar Airways travellers in the Kingdom, the combination of bonus Avios, accelerated tier status and travel services could make the card particularly attractive, although customers should compare the annual fee, earning rates and spending requirements against their own travel habits before applying.

Key Facts

Sources

• Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) - Saudi Awwal Bank Launches the First Qatar Airways Privilege Club Co-branded Credit Card in Saudi Arabia (August 5, 2026)
https://www.sab.com/en/about-us/newsroom/news-year-2026/saudi-awwal-bank-launches-the-first-qatar-airways-privilege-club-co-branded-credit-card-in-saudi-arabia/
• Qatar Airways - SAB Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Card (Accessed August 2026)
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/Privilege-Club/our-partners/saudi-awwal-bank.html
• Arab News - SAB launches Qatar Airways Privilege Club co-branded credit card (August 6, 2026)
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2653626/amp

Note: Card benefits, earning rates, eligibility and promotional bonuses are subject to SAB, Visa and Qatar Airways Privilege Club terms and conditions and may change.