Quick Overview

  • Transfer partner access: American Express Membership Rewards is one of several major U.S. credit card programs that transfer directly to Emirates Skywards.
  • 5:4 transfer rate: AMEX points convert to Emirates miles at a 5:4 ratio—1,000 AMEX points = 800 Skywards Miles.
  • Card compatibility: All AMEX cards that earn Membership Rewards points are eligible for transfers to Emirates Skywards.

Amex to Emirates at a glance

Here's what to know before moving Amex points to Emirates Skywards.

Which Amex cards can transfer to Emirates

Every Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points can transfer them to Emirates, all at the same ratio. 

Note: Amex cash back cards, like the Blue Cash cards, earn cash back instead and can't transfer.

Card
Ratio
Earning Rate
Intro Bonus
Annual Fee
Best For Luxury Travel & Global Lounge Access
American Express Platinum Card®
American Express Platinum Card®
Ratio 5:4
Earning Rate
1X – 5X Points
0.8X – 4X Emirates Miles
Intro Bonus
As high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points
140,000 Emirates Miles
Annual Fee $895 annually. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Intro Bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. 

Earning Rates

  • Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year

  • Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.

  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Key Benefits

  • Over $2,800 in annual credits

  • Global Lounge Collection access to 1,550+ airport lounges

  • Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold status

  • Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection access

  • Superb travel and purchase coverage

Calculate Emirates Miles Learn More
Best For Dining & U.S. Supermarkets
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
Ratio 5:4
Earning Rate
1X – 5X Points
0.8X – 4X Emirates Miles
Intro Bonus
As high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points
80,000 Emirates Miles
Annual Fee $325 annual fee. See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Intro Bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning Rates

  • Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel or the Amex Travel App™. 

  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 per calendar year

  • Earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per calendar year

  • Earn 3X points on flights booked directly, through Amex Travel, or the Amex Travel App™

  • Earn 2X points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 

  • Earn 1X points on all other eligible purchases.

Key Benefits

  • Over $400 in annual credits

  • The Hotel Collection $100 property credit

  • Hertz Five Star status

  • Travel & purchase coverage

Calculate Emirates Miles Learn More
Best For Global Lounge Access & Luxury Travel
Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Ratio 5:4
Earning Rate
1X – 5X Points
0.8X – 4X Emirates Miles
Intro Bonus
As high as 300,000 Membership Rewards points
240,000 Emirates Miles
Annual Fee $895 annual fee See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Intro Bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning Rates

  • Earn 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com.

  • Earn 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.

  • Earn 1X points for each dollar you spend on all other eligible purchases.

Key Benefits

  • Over $4,000 in annual credits

  • Complimentary global lounge access (Centurion Lounges, Delta SkyClub Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, and more)

  • 35% point rebate on airfare booked via AMEX Travel

  • Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection

  • Superb travel and purchase coverage

Calculate Emirates Miles Learn More
Best For 4X On Top Business Purchases
American Express® Business Gold Card
American Express® Business Gold Card
Ratio 5:4
Earning Rate
1X – 4X Points
0.8X – 3.2X Emirates Miles
Intro Bonus
As high as 200,000 Membership Rewards points
160,000 Emirates Miles
Annual Fee $375 annual fee See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Intro Bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning Rates

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month

  • Earn 3X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. 

  • Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

Key Benefits

  • Up to $300 ChatGPT Business credit

  • Up to $240 in Flexible Business credit

  • Up to $155 in Walmart+ Membership credit

  • Up to $150 Squarespace Credit

  • Benefits when booking through The Hotel Collection

  • Travel & purchase coverage

Calculate Emirates Miles Learn More
Best For Miscellaneous Business Purchases
Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Ratio 5:4
Earning Rate
1X – 2X Points
0.8X – 1.6X Emirates Miles
Intro Bonus
15,000 Membership Rewards points
12,000 Emirates Miles
Annual Fee $0 annual fee See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Intro Bonus

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

Earning Rates

  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on the first $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar thereafter.

Key Benefits

  • Spend above your credit limit

Calculate Emirates Miles Learn More

How to transfer Amex points to Emirates

The transfer is done in Membership Rewards and usually arrives within minutes. Find award space on Emirates' site first, and check the taxes and surcharges, since transfers can't be undone.

  1. Sign in to your Amex account and open Membership Rewards.
  2. Choose the option to transfer points, then pick Emirates Skywards.
  3. The first time, link your Skywards number. The name on the Emirates account must match your Amex account.
  4. Enter the number of points to transfer, in 1,000-point steps.
  5. Confirm the transfer. Miles usually show up in your Skywards account within minutes.
  6. Book your award on Emirates' site or app once the miles arrive.

Is transferring Amex points to Emirates worth it?

Sometimes, but the ratio and the surcharges both work against you. Every 1,000 Amex points become 800 Emirates miles, and Emirates adds high surcharges to most of its own award tickets.

Emirates miles are worth about 1 cent each. Through Emirates, each Amex point is worth about 0.8 cents.

Emirates business class is the main reason to transfer. Its lie-flat seats and lounges are a big step up, and paid fares often cost far more than the award.

A few things limit the value:

  • Surcharges: Emirates adds carrier-imposed fees to its own award flights, which can add hundreds of dollars on top of the miles.
  • First Class: Emirates First Class awards can only be booked by Skywards elite members, so most people transferring from Amex can't book it.
  • Better options for other airlines: Amex transfers 1:1 to programs like the Avios programs and Air Canada Aeroplan, which usually go further than Emirates for non-Emirates flights.

Transferring makes the most sense when:

  • you're booking Emirates business class
  • you're topping off an existing Emirates balance
  • a partner award prices well

Best ways to use Emirates miles

These are the redemptions where Emirates miles tend to go furthest.

  • Emirates business class: Emirates' own lie-flat seats and lounge access, especially on long-haul routes.
  • Partner flights: Emirates reworked its partner award chart in 2026, and many partner awards now cost fewer miles.
  • Topping off an award: A small transfer can finish off a booking when your Skywards balance is just short.

Other ways to get Emirates miles

Amex is one of several banks that transfer to Emirates. Bilt Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Capital One also transfer to Emirates, at different ratios. Chase ended its Emirates transfers in October 2025.

Emirates also has its own US credit cards, issued by Barclays: the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard® and Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard®. They earn Skywards miles directly.

Learn More: What Points Transfer To Emirates Skywards?

Frequently asked questions

Can you transfer Amex points to Emirates?

Yes. Every card that earns Membership Rewards points can transfer them to Emirates Skywards.

What is the Amex to Emirates transfer ratio?

Amex points transfer to Emirates at 5:4, so 1,000 Amex points become 800 Emirates Skywards miles.

Does it cost to transfer Amex points to Emirates?

No. The excise tax offset fee Amex charges only applies to US airlines, like Delta and JetBlue. Transfers to Emirates are free.

Did Amex change its Emirates transfer ratio?

Yes. Amex cut its Emirates ratio from 1:1 to 5:4 in September 2025, so each Amex point now becomes fewer Emirates miles than before.

How long does it take to transfer Amex points to Emirates?

Most transfers arrive within minutes. Amex allows up to 48 hours, so leave some time before an important booking.

Can you transfer Emirates miles back to Amex?

No. Transfers from Amex to Emirates are one-way, and Emirates miles can't be turned into Amex points.

Robert Flowers III
Written by Robert Flowers III · Founder, Developer, and Programmer

Robert Flowers III is the founder and developer of The Point Calculator, a multi-region credit-card rewards calculator he launched in 2017 after earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science. A seasoned traveler who began collecting points and miles in 2015, Robert has visited more than 15 countries—often flying and staying at top hotels using rewards—and holds elite status with several programs. He designs and codes every calculator himself, continually researching program updates so readers can accurately estimate rewards, compare cards, and maximize the value of their points and miles.

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