An UAE resident spends Dh80,808 ($22,000) every year on flights and accommodation alone, totalling $6.6 billion annually on outbound travel, according to a research by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

Another study unveiled at Arabian Travel Market in 2012 said the UAE nationals are the second most frequent travellers in the GCC (following Saudi nationals), with 53 per cent travelling to between two and five countries for leisure or pleasure within the next year – and 40 to 60 per cent on a business class flight.

Recognising the distinct travel and lifestyle needs of the UAE’s affluent, travel-savvy market segment, UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Finance has launched the Najm Platinum Visa credit card and PremiumRewardsloyalty program.

Majid Al Futtaim Finance, a subsidiary of MAF Ventures, said PremiumRewards provides real-time redemption of travel rewards anytime, from anywhere, on any route and without blackout dates, delivering the region’s ultimate reward programme to frequent business and leisure travellers in the Middle East.

'We created the benefits for new offering through our understanding of the travel and leisure needs of the most discerning customers in the region, the new Platinum Visa credit card and PremiumRewards is a truly unique travel and lifestyle program that offers users the ultimate in choice and flexibility,' said CEO Rasool Hujair.

'With real time redemption and no restrictions, PremiumRewards is unmatched by any other card offered the UAE,” he added.

The benefits of the Najm Platinum Visa are immediate, with an attractive 36,000 PremiumRewards joining bonus upon approval of the card, payment of the annual fee, a one-time joining fee and bonus rewards on early spend on the card, the company said in a statement.

The convenience of instant, real-time rewards is a key feature of Premium Rewards program, with an unprecedented choice of travel rewards including flight tickets to or from any destination in the world with more than 360 airlines and accommodation at more than 200,000 hotels globally, with no blackout dates.

The benefits also double with the earning of frequent flyer miles with each ticket redemption, he added.

'The Najm Platinum Visa and PremiumRewards offers the highest rewards earn rate for daily spends, with 2.25 premium rewards per US dollar spent internationally and 1.65 premium rewards per USD equivalent spent in the UAE,' said Hujair.-TradeArabia News Service