Emirates Skywards UK Credit Cards: Second Invite-Only Round Opens Today

If you clicked through to the new Emirates Skywards credit cards last month and hit a page saying the offer was no longer available, you weren't doing anything wrong. Emirates Skywards has now told me what actually happened - and a second round of applications opens today, 12 November 2026. The catch: it's invitation-only again.

A few of you emailed about this after our first look at the two Jaja-issued cards, so here's the full picture, straight from Emirates.

WHAT // In a statement sent to Smart With Points today, Emirates Skywards confirmed the cards are still in a pilot. The first stage opened on 29 October 2026 by email to "a small group of UK-based Skywards members", and all available places were taken within 24 hours. A second, invitation-only phase opens today for "another select group", and Emirates says places are expected to fill very quickly.

WHY IT MATTERS // This explains the "no longer available" message. The cards were never open to the general public - the first invite email said that only the person who received it was eligible for the offer. Once the pilot places went, the door closed for everyone else, even though the bonus terms still say "apply by 30 November".

The bigger picture is interesting too. Emirates says the UK is Skywards' largest market in the world, with nearly five million members. That goes some way to explaining why a few pilot places vanished in a day - there is clearly a lot of pent-up demand for a way to earn Skywards Miles from everyday UK spending.

Nothing about the cards themselves has changed. Both are issued by Jaja Finance, with Emirates acting as a credit broker:

Premium (£250 a year): 30,000 bonus miles after £3,000 spend in 90 days, Skywards Silver for 12 months with a fast track to Gold, 3 miles per £1 on Emirates, 1.5 miles per £1 on non-sterling spend and 1 mile per £1 on everything else. Representative 107.2% APR (variable).

Rewards (£120 a year): 20,000 bonus miles after £3,000 spend in 90 days, two Emirates lounge visits a year at six UK airports, 2 miles per £1 on Emirates and 1 mile per £1 on everything else. Emirates' card page shows a representative 59.7% APR (variable) - the original invite email said 57.2%, so check the figure you're shown when you apply.

Both earn 1 Tier Mile per 4 Skywards Miles, capped at 15,000 Tier Miles a year. For the full breakdown - the Gold fast track rules, lounge terms and the reported 2.99% foreign spend fee - see our full Emirates Skywards card review.

The invite is personal. The 29 October invite email said that "only the recipient of the email is eligible for this offer". So a link shared on a forum, in a WhatsApp group or in a newsletter (including ours) won't get you in unless your own Skywards account was picked.

There's no public apply button. As of this morning, Emirates' card page lists both cards and their terms, but the only links go to the Jaja login page. There's no waiting list or "register interest" form either.

The offer can change. The terms say the welcome bonus is for applications by 30 November 2026 and can be cancelled at any time, so the offer at the public launch may be different.

I'll be honest - selling out a pilot in 24 hours shows just how much UK collectors want a way to earn Skywards Miles from everyday spending. A gradual, invite-led roll-out makes sense for a brand-new card, and it means there's still a good chance to get in as more rounds open.

In the meantime, the best UK way to earn Skywards Miles is still Amex Membership Rewards, even at the weaker 2:1 rate. The upside is flexibility: the same points also go to Avios, Flying Blue and plenty of others, so you're not locked in if Emirates changes the deal again. See the current American Express offers here.

If you get an invite and you'll fly Emirates in the next year, it's worth moving fast - especially for the £120 Rewards card, which I still think is the better value for most people. If you don't get one, you haven't missed out on anything you can fix today. The public launch is coming, and I'll cover it here the moment it does.

Planning to use Skywards Miles? Use our Emirates miles calculator to check what a route costs, and search for reward seats on Award Travel Finder before you commit. Got an invite today? Let me know on Instagram or just hit reply.

That's all from me for now. Any questions, just hit reply - I read every email.

Safe travels,
Jack