Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of UAE national carrier Etihad Airways, and the Saudi-headquartered Arab National Bank (ANB) have partnered to launch an ANB Etihad Guest Signature Visa Card in Saudi Arabia.

Yasser Al Yousuf, vice president Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Airways said: “At Etihad Guest, we make every effort to cooperate with prestigious companies to offer a pioneering travel experience.? Our clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are now able to get rewards, privileges and exclusive offers using the ANB Etihad Guest Signature card. Etihad Airways has 84 weekly flights from different airports around the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Guests flying from the kingdom to the US can clear all immigration and customs inspections before they board their flight at the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility.”

Asad Alsada, head of Consumer Banking services at ANB, said: “The new card is the result of joint efforts and close cooperation with our partners with the aim of offering an innovative credit card that has various advantages. This step reflects the bank's ongoing commitment to offer excellent services that meet client expectations.?"

Ali Bayloun, Visa’s general manager in Saudi Arabia, said, "We are pleased with our cooperation with the Arab National Bank and the Etihad Guest programme to launch the joint Visa Signature card, which offers a broad range of benefits to travellers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The card has a design that aims to enrich the travel experiences of clients through special rewards that they can earn on travel and spending.?

“Card holders will have the opportunity to benefit from worldwide acceptance of Visa at more than 46 million commercial outlets around the world, and peace of mind thanks to the better levels of protection and safety? offered by Visa technology on payments and its broad global network."

ANB Etihad Guest Signature Visa card holders will receive an annual fee waiver for the first year and additional benefits including a welcome bonus of 17,000 Etihad Guest Miles. Members will earn two Etihad Guest miles for every SR15 ($4) spent on domestic purchases and 4 Guest Miles for every SR20 spent on international purchases.

Successful applicants will receive fast track entry to Etihad Guest Silver Membership and receive free Wi-Fi vouchers to take advantage of the Wi-Fi service available on-board Etihad Airways flights.

Passengers wishing to travel between the Kingdom and the US will benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection facility located at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The pre-clearance facility allows guests to process all immigration and customs inspections in Abu Dhabi before departure.

Abu Dhabi International Airport is one of only a handful of airports outside of North America that offer such a facility. On arrival in the US, travellers will be treated as domestic US passengers, meaning they will save time on arrival or with onward connections.

On average, Etihad carries approximately 1.3 million passengers a year to and from Saudi Arabia. In November 2018, Jeddah became the first destination on the airline’s network to be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. – TradeArabia News Service