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Last updated: August 2026
UAE residents now have two very different ways to turn everyday card spending into Etihad Airways perks. The first is Jaywan Royal, the premium tier of the UAE's national card scheme, which struck a fresh partnership with Etihad Airways in October 2025. The second is the long-running family of Etihad Guest co-branded credit cards issued by UAE banks such as Emirates NBD, ADIB, Al Hilal Bank, ADCB, Emirates Islamic and FAB. This guide breaks down what each card actually offers, how the benefits differ, and which one suits your travel habits — with every figure sourced from official bank and airline pages.
Jaywan is the UAE's own domestic card scheme, developed by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. It was built to give UAE residents a locally issued, locally accepted alternative to international networks, and is offered through the country's major banks in both debit and credit formats. Jaywan Royal is the scheme's top-tier product, aimed at higher-spending customers who want premium perks layered on top of standard domestic card functionality.
On 23 October 2025, Etihad Airways and Al Etihad Payments signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to link the Jaywan Royal card directly to Etihad's booking platform. According to Etihad's official press release, the deal gives Jaywan Royal debit and credit cardholders an exclusive discount on Comfort and Deluxe fares across Etihad's global network when booking through etihad.com, along with priority Business Check-in and Priority Boarding.
H.E. Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor of Banking Operations and Support Services at the Central Bank of the UAE and Chairman of Al Etihad Payments, said the tie-up was designed to move Jaywan "beyond everyday transactions" and into more rewarding travel experiences for cardholders. Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves framed the agreement as part of a broader push to build more interconnected, customer-focused infrastructure across the UAE.
Separate from Jaywan, several UAE banks issue Visa credit cards co-branded with Etihad Guest, Etihad's frequent-flyer programme. These cards earn Etihad Guest Miles on everyday spending, offer welcome bonuses, and typically fast-track cardholders to Etihad Guest Gold Tier status. Below is a snapshot of the leading options, based on published bank terms.
A premium card offering up to 200,000 welcome Etihad Guest Miles across joining and spend milestones, 10 miles per AED 10 spent on Etihad flights, hotels and dining, and up to 6 miles per AED 10 on other purchases. Cardholders get complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges via the Visa Airport Companion app, Credit Shield Pro protection, and a Gold Tier fast-track after one round-trip flight. Minimum salary requirement: AED 30,000/month.
Offers up to 75,000 welcome miles, 3.5 miles per AED 4 on Etihad purchases, unlimited lounge access in over 300 cities, a free companion ticket voucher after AED 150,000 annual spend, complimentary golf, and Takaful-based protection cover. Minimum salary requirement: AED 30,000/month.
Provides a 60,000-mile welcome bonus, quarterly and anniversary bonus miles, up to 8.25 miles per AED 10 on international and Etihad.com spend, six months of complimentary Gold Tier status, unlimited lounge access via LoungeKey, and Entertainer-style buy-one-get-one offers. Minimum salary requirement: AED 30,000/month.
Delivers a 60,000-mile welcome reward plus monthly bonus miles for spend above US$5,000, up to 3 miles per US$1 on Etihad purchases, complimentary golf, 2-for-1 dining and entertainment offers, and extensive purchase protection. Minimum salary requirement: AED 30,000/month, or a credit limit of at least AED 40,000.
Offers a choice of 25,000 or 55,000 welcome miles depending on the membership fee tier, up to 3.5 miles per US$1 on Etihad spend, complimentary airport transfers, inflight Wi-Fi vouchers, unlimited lounge access, and a Gold Tier fast-track after AED 4,500 of Etihad spend within 12 months.
Provides 55,000 welcome miles, up to 7.5 miles per AED 10 spent, unlimited airport lounge access, a 75% Etihad Guest Miles discount voucher, and discounted entry to attractions like Wild Wadi Waterpark and The View at the Palm. Minimum salary requirement: AED 30,000/month.
| Feature | Jaywan Royal | Etihad Guest Co-Branded Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer type | UAE national scheme (Al Etihad Payments / CBUAE) | Individual UAE banks (Visa network) |
| Core Etihad benefit | Fare discount on Comfort/Deluxe + priority check-in & boarding | Etihad Guest Miles earning + Gold Tier fast-track |
| Miles earning | Not mile-based | Yes, on every spend category |
| Lounge access | Not specified in the MoU | Typically included (1,000+ lounges) |
| Best for | Everyday UAE spending with an Etihad booking perk | Frequent flyers chasing miles and elite status |
Both. The Etihad partnership applies to Jaywan Royal debit and credit cards alike, since the benefit is tied to the card tier rather than the payment type.
The publicly announced MoU covers fare discounts and priority airport services, not mile accrual. For mile-earning, a separate Etihad Guest co-branded credit card is required.
It depends on spending habits: Emirates NBD's Visa Elevate offers the largest welcome bonus, while Al Hilal Bank and FAB offer some of the highest per-dirham mileage rates. Compare annual fees and salary requirements before choosing.
Yes. They are separate products from separate issuers, so cardholders can hold both and use each for the benefits it offers.
This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Card fees, mileage rates and eligibility criteria change periodically — confirm current terms directly with Etihad Airways or the relevant bank before applying.
[SCENE 1]
Story Line:
22 अप्रैल, 2025, दोपहर के करीब ढाई बजे, जम्मू-कश्मीर की बैसरन घाटी, जहां पहलगाम की बर्फीली चोटियों के बीच सैलानी हंसी-खुशी में डूबे हुए थे
Image Prompt:
{
"style": "2D animated cinematic, Disney-anime hybrid",
"scene": "wide establishing shot of a Himalayan meadow valley",
"environment": {
"location": "green alpine meadow surrounded by snow-capped mountains",
"time_of_day": "early afternoon, bright sunlight",
"weather": "clear sky with scattered thin clouds",
"background_elements": ["snow peaks in far distance", "pine tree clusters at meadow edge", "small wooden tea stalls", "grazing horses"],
"atmosphere": ["soft golden haze", "light mountain breeze visible through grass movement", "faint dust particles catching sunlight"]
},
"characters": {
"group": "tourist families, mixed ages, casual travel clothing, sweaters and shawls",
"posture": "relaxed, walking, some sitting on grass, children playing",
"expression": "joyful, laughing, carefree micro-expressions"
},
"lighting": {
"source": "natural overhead sun, slightly warm tone",
"shadows": "soft short shadows beneath figures",
"highlight": "sunlight glinting off snow peaks and grass blades",
"mood": "warm, peaceful, deceptively serene"
},
"camera": {
"angle": "wide aerial establishing shot",
"framing": "valley fills frame, tourists small in scale to emphasize vastness",
"depth_of_field": "deep focus, mountains sharp in background"
}
}Video Prompt:
{
"camera_movement": {
"type": "slow aerial drone-style pan",
"direction": "left to right across the valley",
"speed": "very slow, 8 second duration",
"purpose": "establish false sense of peace before disruption"
},
"character_animation": {
"tourists": "natural walking cycles, children skipping, subtle laughter shoulder movement",
"micro_motion": "hair flutter in breeze, blinking, casual head turns"
},
"background_animation": {
"grass": "gentle wave motion from wind",
"clouds": "slow drift across peaks",
"dust_particles": "light golden particles floating in sunbeams"
},
"lighting_dynamics": {
"sun_flicker": "subtle lens flare pulsing softly as camera pans",
"shadow_shift": "minimal, consistent with slow time passage"
},
"pacing": "slow, tranquil, almost documentary-calm to build dramatic irony",
"transition_out": "hard cut to black on sudden gunfire sound cue"
}[SCENE 2]
Story Line:
अचानक गोलियों की आवाज़ ने उस स्वर्ग को कब्रगाह में बदल दिया। लश्कर-ए-तैयबा से जुड़े आतंकियों ने बेरहमी से छब्बीस निर्दोष नागरिकों की जान ले ली
Image Prompt:
{
"style": "2D animated cinematic, dark documentary tone",
"scene": "chaotic aftermath moment in the same meadow",
"environment": {
"location": "same alpine meadow, now in disarray",
"time_of_day": "afternoon, but visually darkened by mood",
"background_elements": ["overturned picnic items", "distant blurred running figures", "muzzle-flash silhouettes far in tree line"],
"atmosphere": ["thin smoke haze", "scattered debris", "desaturated color grading"]
},
"characters": {
"focus": "silhouetted armed figures at tree line, faces obscured, dark tactical clothing",
"secondary": "blurred figures of fleeing tourists in foreground motion blur",
"expression": "implied panic through body language, no clear faces shown"
},
"lighting": {
"source": "harsh contrast, sun now casting long ominous shadows",
"shadows": "deep black shadow pools near tree line",
"highlight": "sharp rim light on silhouettes for menace",
"mood": "sudden dread, color desaturation from warm to cold gray-blue"
},
"camera": {
"angle": "low dramatic angle from ground level",
"framing": "tree line silhouettes dominate upper frame, chaos below",
"depth_of_field": "shallow focus on silhouettes, background blurred motion"
}
}Video Prompt:
{
"camera_movement": {
"type": "quick handheld shake",
"direction": "erratic micro-movements simulating panic",
"speed": "fast, 2-3 second burst",
"purpose": "convey sudden violent disruption"
},
"character_animation": {
"silhouettes": "rapid weapon-raise motion, minimal detail",
"background_figures": "fast scattering motion blur, running cycles"
},
"background_animation": {
"smoke": "quick rising wisps",
"debris": "small objects flying/falling from impact"
},
"lighting_dynamics": {
"flicker": "sharp flash-bang style light pulses timed to gunfire",
"shadow_shift": "sudden darkening as color grade shifts cold"
},
"pacing": "abrupt, jarring, short violent burst then hard silence",
"transition_out": "smash cut to black, silence, then fade into next scene"
}[SCENE 3]
Story Line:
दिल्ली में उस रात प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी की आंखों में एक ठंडी चुप्पी थी, वह चुप्पी जो तूफान से पहले होती है
Image Prompt:
{
"style": "2D animated cinematic, dark political thriller tone",
"scene": "dimly lit government office interior at night",
"environment": {
"location": "official residence study room",
"time_of_day": "late night",
"background_elements": ["national flag in soft focus", "wooden desk with files", "large window showing dark Delhi skyline"],
"atmosphere": ["thin dust motes in lamp light", "still, heavy silence implied visually"]
},
"characters": {
"figure": "middle-aged South Asian male leader, white high-collar traditional attire, short gray beard, composed posture seated at desk",
"posture": "still, hands folded, back straight, unmoving",
"expression": "cold controlled gaze, eyes narrowed slightly, jaw tense, micro-expression of restrained anger"
},
"lighting": {
"source": "single warm desk lamp casting narrow pool of light",
"shadows": "deep shadow across half the face, chiaroscuro effect",
"highlight": "faint rim light outlining silhouette against window",
"mood": "somber, tense, storm-before-calm atmosphere"
},
"camera": {
"angle": "slow close-up on face, slightly low angle for gravitas",
"framing": "tight portrait framing, negative space around figure",
"depth_of_field": "shallow, background heavily blurred"
}
}Video Prompt:
{
"camera_movement": {
"type": "extremely slow dolly zoom inward",
"direction": "toward the face",
"speed": "very slow, 6-8 seconds",
"purpose": "build psychological tension and gravity"
},
"character_animation": {
"breathing": "slow controlled chest rise and fall",
"blinking": "single slow deliberate blink",
"eyes": "minimal eye movement, fixed distant stare"
},
"background_animation": {
"lamp_light": "subtle warm flicker",
"dust_particles": "slow drifting motes in the lamp beam"
},
"lighting_dynamics": {
"shadow_shift": "shadow across face deepens slightly as zoom progresses",
"intensity": "steady, no major fluctuation to emphasize control"
},
"pacing": "slow, deliberate, heavy silence, no rushed motion",
"transition_out": "slow fade to black"
}[SCENE 4]
Story Line:
राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सलाहकार अजीत डोभाल के दफ्तर की बत्तियां देर रात तक जलती रहीं, नक्शों पर निशान लगते रहे, खुफिया रिपोर्टें खंगाली जाती रहीं
Image Prompt:
{
"style": "2D animated cinematic, espionage thriller tone",
"scene": "war-room style office with wall maps",
"environment": {
"location": "intelligence command office",
"time_of_day": "deep night",
"background_elements": ["large wall map with red pins and string connections", "stacks of classified folders", "glowing computer monitors"],
"atmosphere": ["thin cigarette-less haze from lamp heat", "cold blue ambient screen glow mixing with warm desk light"]
},
"characters": {
"figure": "elderly South Asian male strategist, formal suit, rectangular glasses, sharp focused eyes, salt-and-pepper hair combed back",
"posture": "leaning over desk, one hand marking a map, other resting on files",
"expression": "intense concentration, furrowed brow, calculating micro-expression"
},
"lighting": {
"source": "mixed lighting, cool monitor glow and warm desk lamp",
"shadows": "sharp shadow of hand across the map",
"highlight": "glasses reflecting map's red markings",
"mood": "clandestine, methodical, high-stakes calculation"
},
"camera": {
"angle": "over-the-shoulder angle looking at the map",
"framing": "map fills majority of frame, figure partially silhouetted",
"depth_of_field": "sharp focus on map markings, figure slightly soft"
}
}Video Prompt:
{
"camera_movement": {
"type": "slow tracking shot",
"direction": "moving right along the wall map",
"speed": "slow, 5 seconds",
"purpose": "reveal scale of strategic planning"
},
"character_animation": {
"hand_motion": "deliberate marking gesture with a red pen on the map",
"breathing": "steady, focused",
"eyes": "scanning left to right across map details"
},
"background_animation": {
"monitors": "subtle flickering data scroll",
"papers": "slight rustle as a file is turned"
},
"lighting_dynamics": {
"flicker": "monitor glow pulsing faintly",
"shadow_movement": "hand shadow sweeping as it marks the map"
},
"pacing": "methodical, tense, controlled rhythm",
"transition_out": "match cut from map pin to a night sky transition"
}Every year, as the monsoon clouds settle over Kashi, the holy month of Sawan (Shravan) transforms Varanasi into a city of devotion and celebration. Among the many fairs that light up the city during this period, the Sawan Ka Mela Sarnath stands out as one of the most popular, drawing families, pilgrims, and tourists to the fields around the ancient Buddhist town of Sarnath, just a short drive from the ghats of Varanasi.
The Sawan Mela is a traditional monsoon-season fair held across several localities of Varanasi during the Hindu month of Shravan. Fairs and festivities spring up across the city during this time, with the melas at Durgakund, Assi, Beniyabagh, and Sarnath among the best known. While the Durgakund fair is centred around the historic temple campus, the Sarnath grounds outside the city serve as a large open festival site that fills with chants of "Har Har Mahadev," the scent of incense, and the aroma of street snacks such as panipuri and samosas.
The fair runs through the entire Shravan month. In 2026, the Varanasi Sawan Mela is scheduled to run for about 15 days, starting 30 July and continuing through 28 August, in line with the North Indian Purnimanta calendar. This aligns with the broader Shravan month calendar for North India, where the 2026 Shravan month begins on Thursday, 30 July, and concludes on Friday, 28 August.
Devotees observing Sawan Somwar (Monday) fasts during this period can plan their visit around the four sacred Mondays that fall within the month, all considered auspicious for Shiva worship.
The fairground is located in the open spaces surrounding Sarnath, one of Buddhism's most sacred pilgrimage sites. Sarnath itself lies about 13 km to the north-east of Varanasi and is regarded as one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres in the country, revered as the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The fairground's proximity to this heritage site gives the Sarnath mela a distinct character — a lively, family-friendly carnival set against a backdrop of centuries-old stupas and monasteries.
Like the other Sawan melas of Varanasi, the Sarnath fair is a sensory experience built around simple monsoon-season joys:
Beyond the festivities, Sarnath's own historical and spiritual weight adds another dimension to a visit during the mela season. Located roughly 10 km from Varanasi, Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, "The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma," marking the founding of the Buddhist Sangha. The site is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage location and remains one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists worldwide.
Visitors combining the mela with sightseeing can explore several landmark monuments nearby:
The mela is at its liveliest in the evenings, when the day's heat subsides and families come out after work or school. Weekends and Sawan Mondays (Somwar) tend to see the largest crowds, so early evenings on weekdays are ideal for a quieter, more relaxed visit. Carrying an umbrella or raincoat is advisable, since the fair runs through the peak monsoon weeks.
Sarnath is well connected to Varanasi city and Varanasi Junction (Cantt) railway station by road, with auto-rickshaws, taxis, and app-based cabs readily available. Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is about 30 km away. Travellers can combine a mela visit with a half-day tour of Sarnath's Buddhist monuments and the museum.
The Varanasi Sawan Mela, including the Sarnath grounds, runs alongside the Shravan month — from 30 July to 28 August 2026 in North India.
Yes, the fairground itself is open to the public without an entry fee; visitors pay only for rides, food, and shopping at individual stalls.
Sarnath is primarily known as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, but the surrounding area hosts one of Varanasi's popular Shiva-associated Sawan fairs, making it a meeting point of Buddhist heritage and Shravan-season Hindu festivity.
Carry an umbrella or raincoat, comfortable footwear, and cash for stalls, as many small vendors may not accept digital payments.
Keywords: Sawan Ka Mela Sarnath, Sawan Mela Varanasi 2026, Sarnath fair Varanasi, Shravan Mela Sarnath dates, Sawan Mela near Sarnath temple, Varanasi monsoon fair, Sarnath Buddhist site Varanasi, Sawan Mela Kashi.
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