Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Name: Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
Brand: ICICI
Price: 10000 INR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (1 reviews)

Overview

The Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card occupies the premium end of the Emirates-ICICI partnership, sitting above the Sapphiro and Rubyx variants. At ₹10,000 plus GST for both joining and annual fees, it targets high-income earners who fly Emirates regularly and want their everyday spending to translate directly into Skywards Miles. Unlike cards that earn bank reward points requiring conversion, every ₹100 spent here credits 2.5 Skywards Miles straight to your Emirates account within 48 hours of statement generation.The joining benefits alone carry significant value: 10,000 Skywards Miles and a complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership. Silver Tier members get priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to Emirates lounges when flying Emirates. On annual renewal, you receive another 10,000 Miles. The real prize is the Gold Tier upgrade, available when you spend ₹15 lakh in an anniversary year (with at least ₹50,000 on Emirates bookings). Gold Tier adds business class lounge access on Emirates flights and priority boarding across all routes.Lounge access is where this card pulls ahead of most competitors. Primary cardholders get unlimited visits to both domestic and international airport lounges through Priority Pass (for cards issued after November 2024) or DreamFolks (earlier cards). No quarterly spend thresholds, no visit caps. The BookMyShow benefit of buying one ticket and getting up to ₹750 off on the second ticket applies four times per month, adding up to ₹3,000 monthly savings for regular moviegoers.This card works best for salaried professionals earning ₹2.5 lakh or more per month who fly Emirates at least a few times a year. The Miles earning rate of 2.5 per ₹100 means ₹4 lakh in monthly spending generates 10,000 Miles, enough for a one-way economy redemption on shorter routes. If you rarely fly Emirates or prefer cashback over airline miles, the ₹10,000 annual fee is harder to justify, and a general travel card with flexible rewards would serve you better.

Pros

↑Unlimited international and domestic lounge access with no spend conditions, a benefit most cards at this fee level cap at 4-8 visits per year
↑Direct Skywards Miles earning at 2.5 per ₹100 bypasses the point-to-mile conversion losses that most bank reward cards suffer from
↑20,000 Skywards Miles in the first year (10,000 joining + 10,000 renewal) partially offsets the ₹20,000 fee outlay before any spending

Cons

↓₹10,000 annual fee with no publicly stated fee waiver threshold, unlike many premium cards that waive fees on ₹3-10 lakh spend
↓Miles are locked into the Emirates Skywards programme, limiting redemption flexibility compared to cards earning transferable bank reward points
↓High income requirement of ₹2.5 lakh monthly (salaried) or ₹45 lakh annually (self-employed) puts this card out of reach for most applicants

Key Highlights

Welcome Offer
10,000 Skywards Miles + Silver Tier membership
10,000 Skywards Miles credited on joining
Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership
Silver Tier: priority check-in, extra baggage, Emirates lounge access on Emirates flights

Reward Rate
2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100
International: 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100
Domestic: 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100
Miles credited within 48 hours of statement generation
Valid for 3 years from earning date

Minimum Salary
₹2,50,000/month (salaried)
Salaried: ₹2,50,000/month (₹30 lakh/year)
Self-employed: ₹45,00,000/year
Age: 21+ years
Indian citizen

Joining Fee
₹10,000 + GST
Joining fee: ₹10,000
Plus 18% GST
10,000 Skywards Miles + Silver Tier membership offset the cost

Annual Fee
₹10,000 + GST (no standard waiver)
Annual fee: ₹10,000
Plus 18% GST
No publicly stated spend-based waiver
10,000 renewal Miles help offset the fee

Why Choose?
Unlimited lounge access + Emirates tier upgrades
Unlimited domestic airport lounge visits
Unlimited international airport lounge visits (Priority Pass)
Emirates Gold Tier on ₹15L spend (incl. ₹50K on Emirates)
Gold Tier: business class lounge, priority boarding, extra baggage

Key Benefits

Dining

★4.0

▼

BookMyShow BOGO: buy 1 ticket, get up to ₹750 off on the second
Available 4 times per month
Potential monthly savings of up to ₹3,000
ICICI Bank Culinary Treats programme for restaurant offers

Fuel

★4.0

▼

1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions up to ₹4,000
Applicable at all fuel outlets across India
Primary and supplementary cardholders eligible
No Skywards Miles exclusion specified for fuel

Lifestyle

★4.0

▼

BookMyShow BOGO offer 4 times monthly (up to ₹750 off per use)
ICICI Bank Culinary Treats for dining discounts at partner restaurants
Up to 4% cashback via ICICI Bank iShop portal
Emirates Skywards Silver/Gold Tier lifestyle perks

Milestone

★4.5

▼

Emirates Skywards Gold Tier membership on ₹15 lakh annual spend
Minimum ₹50,000 must be on Emirates.com bookings
Gold Tier: business class lounge on Emirates, priority boarding, extra baggage
Upgrade happens after 12 months from card issuance + annual fee payment

Reward Points

★4.5

▼

2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on all eligible spend (domestic and international)
Miles credited to Emirates Skywards account within 48 hours of statement
Miles valid for 3 years from earning date
Redeemable for Emirates flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and partner services

Shopping

★3.5

▼

Up to 4% cashback on iShop purchases
2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on all retail spend
Supplementary card spending also earns Miles to primary account

Merchant Offers

▼

Up to 4% cashback on ICICI Bank iShop
BookMyShow BOGO 4 times monthly
ICICI Bank Culinary Treats dining programme

Travel

★5.0

▼

Unlimited domestic and international airport lounge access (no spend conditions)
Priority Pass membership for international lounges (1,400+ lounges in 145+ countries)
Emirates Skywards Silver Tier on joining (priority check-in, extra baggage)
Gold Tier upgrade path on ₹15L spend
2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on all travel bookings

Airport Lounge Access

▼

Unlimited domestic airport lounge visits (primary cardholder)
Unlimited international airport lounge visits (primary cardholder)
Priority Pass membership (cards issued after 15 Nov 2024)
DreamFolks membership (cards issued before 15 Nov 2024)
No quarterly spend requirement

Liability Protection

▼

Zero liability on unauthorized transactions when reported promptly

Emi

▼

EMI conversion on purchases above ₹2,500

Detailed Information

Joining Fee	₹10,000 + GST
Annual Fee	₹10,000 + GST
Annual Fee Waiver	No standard spend-based waiver published
Monthly Percentage Rate	3.75%
Annual Percentage Rate	45%
Minimum Monthly Payment	5% of outstanding or ₹200, whichever is higher
Foreign Currency Markup	3.5%
Late Payment Charges	₹100 to ₹1,300 based on outstanding
Overlimit Charges	2.5% of overlimit amount
Cash Advance Fee	2.5% of amount (min ₹500)
Balance Transfer Fee	2% of transferred amount (min ₹250)
Fee For Supplementary Card	No charge for up to 3 add-on cards
Card Replacement Fee	₹100 to ₹200
Fee For Duplicate Statement	₹50 per statement
Fee For Cheque Bounce	₹500

Age Requirement Salaried	21+ years
Age Requirement Self Employed	21+ years
Minimum Annual Income Salaried	₹30.0 lakh (₹2,50,000/month)
Minimum Annual Income Self Employed	₹45.0 lakh/year
Minimum Credit Score	750+

Identity Proof	PAN Card (mandatory) Aadhaar Card Passport Voter ID
Address Proof	Aadhaar Card Passport Utility Bill (recent) Bank Statement
Income Proof Salaried	Latest 3 months salary slips Latest 3 months bank statement Form 16 or ITR
Income Proof Self Employed	Latest 2 years ITR Latest 6 months bank statement Business proof documents

Frequently Asked Questions

The joining fee is ₹10,000 plus 18% GST, totalling ₹11,800. You receive 10,000 Skywards Miles and a complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership upon joining, which together provide significant value against the fee.

The annual fee is ₹10,000 plus GST. Unlike many ICICI Bank credit cards, there is no publicly stated spend-based annual fee waiver. However, you receive 10,000 Skywards Miles on each renewal, which helps offset the cost.

You earn 2.5 Skywards Miles for every ₹100 spent on both domestic and international purchases. This is the highest earning rate among the three Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank cards (Emeralde earns 2.5, Sapphiro earns 2, Rubyx earns 1.5 per ₹100).

New cardholders receive 10,000 Skywards Miles and a complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership. Silver Tier gives you priority check-in at Emirates counters, extra checked baggage allowance, and access to Emirates lounges when flying Emirates. ICICI Bank will create a Skywards account for you if you do not already have one.

You must spend a total of ₹15 lakh within your anniversary year, with at least ₹50,000 of that on Emirates bookings (via Emirates.com). The upgrade to Gold Tier happens only after 12 months from card issuance and upon payment of the next year's annual fee. Gold Tier adds business class lounge access on Emirates flights, priority boarding, and additional baggage allowance.

Yes. The primary cardholder receives unlimited access to both domestic and international airport lounges with no spend conditions. Cards issued after 15 November 2024 include a Priority Pass membership covering 1,400+ lounges across 145+ countries. Older cards use a DreamFolks membership with 650+ lounges in 100+ countries.

Cards issued on or after 15 November 2024 come with Priority Pass, which cove₹1,400+ lounges in 145+ countries. Cards issued before that date include DreamFolks membership with access to 650+ lounges in 100+ countries. Both provide unlimited international lounge visits for the primary cardholder. You can check your membership type through your welcome kit or the ICICI Bank app.

Skywards Miles are credited to your registered Emirates Skywards account within 48 hours of your credit card statement generation date. Your account must remain active and not delinquent for the Miles to post. If you do not have an existing Skywards account, ICICI Bank creates one during the card application process.

Skywards Miles are valid for three years from the date they are earned. Unused Miles expire automatically after this period. You can check your Miles balance and expiry dates through the Emirates Skywards app or website.

Skywards Miles can be redeemed for Emirates flights (economy, business, or first class), cabin upgrades, hotel stays with partner properties, car rentals, and other partner services. Redemptions are managed through the Emirates Skywards website or app. Miles can only be redeemed by the primary cardholder or their authorized travel coordinator.

Salaried applicants need a minimum monthly income of ₹2,50,000 (₹30 lakh per year). Self-employed applicants require an annual income of at least ₹45 lakh. You must be an Indian citizen aged 21 or above. A credit score of 750+ is generally expected for approval.

You can apply through the ICICI Bank website, the iMobile app, or at any ICICI Bank branch. The online application requires PAN card, Aadhaar, and income proof. Existing ICICI Bank customers may find a pre-approved offer in iMobile or internet banking. If you are not already an Emirates Skywards member, ICICI Bank will enroll you during the application.

Yes. All eligible spending by supplementary cardholders earns Skywards Miles at the same 2.5 per ₹100 rate. The Miles are credited to the primary cardholder's Emirates Skywards account. You can apply for up to 3 add-on cards for immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, or children aged 18+).

You get a Buy One Get One offer: purchase one movie ticket and receive up to ₹750 off on the second ticket through BookMyShow. This can be used 4 times per month, giving you potential monthly savings of up to ₹3,000 on movies and events.

Yes. A 1% fuel surcharge waiver applies on all fuel transactions of up to ₹4,000 at any fuel outlet in India. Both primary and supplementary cardholders can use this benefit.

The foreign currency markup is 3.5% on all international transactions. While you still earn 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on international spend, the 3.5% markup is standard for ICICI Bank cards. Dedicated forex-focused cards typically charge 1.5% to 2%, so factor this in if international spending is a major use case.

The finance charge is 3.75% per month, which translates to 45% per year. This applies to any balance carried past the payment due date. Paying the full statement balance each month avoids interest charges entirely.

Late payment fees range from ₹100 to ₹1,300 depending on your total outstanding balance. These apply if you fail to pay at least the minimum amount due by the statement due date. The minimum payment is 5% of the outstanding balance or ₹200, whichever is higher.

Cash advances, interest and service charges, late payment fees, joining and annual fees, EMI payments, balance transfers, and Personal Loan on Credit Card (PLCC) transactions are all excluded from milestone calculations. Only retail purchases count, and any reversed transactions are deducted from your spending total.

Yes, purchases above ₹2,500 can be converted to EMI through the iMobile app or internet banking. Interest rates and tenure options depend on the transaction amount and your account standing. EMI payments are excluded from milestone spend calculations.

Skywards Miles already credited to your Emirates Skywards account remain there and follow the standard 3-year validity period. Cancelling the credit card does not forfeit Miles that have already been transferred to your Skywards account. However, any Miles earned in the final billing cycle before cancellation may not be credited.

The Emeralde earns 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 versus 2 Miles for the Sapphiro. Emeralde provides unlimited domestic and international lounge access, while Sapphiro offe₹2 domestic visits per quarter and 2 international visits per year. Emeralde gives Silver Tier on joining versus no automatic tier for Sapphiro. The Emeralde has a higher fee (₹10,000 vs ₹5,000) and stricter income requirements (₹2.5 lakh/month vs ₹1.25 lakh/month for salaried applicants).

At ₹1 lakh monthly spend (₹12 lakh per year), you earn 30,000 Skywards Miles from purchases alone, plus 10,000 joining Miles and 10,000 renewal Miles, totalling 50,000 Miles in year one. The unlimited lounge access saves ₹2,000+ per visit, and the BookMyShow BOGO can save up to ₹36,000 per year. If you fly Emirates even once or twice a year, the Miles accumulation makes the ₹10,000 annual fee worthwhile. If you never fly Emirates, a general travel card gives better flexibility.

The Emirates Emeralde ICICI Bank Credit Card is available on Visa and Mastercard networks. Both variants support contactless payments, work at international merchants, and carry the same Skywards Miles earning rate and lounge access benefits.

Call the ICICI Bank credit card helpline at 1800 1080 (toll-free). You can also manage your card, raise disputes, track Miles accrual, and request statement copies through the iMobile app or ICICI Bank internet banking. For Emirates Skywards account queries, contact Emirates directly through the Skywards website or app.

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Key Highlights

Key Benefits

Detailed Information

Frequently Asked Questions

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