This graph benchmarks reward rates for domestic and international transactions:<\/p>
Market Averages<\/strong>:<\/p> Domestic:<\/em> ~0.38 miles\/SAR<\/p><\/li> International:<\/em> ~0.60 miles\/SAR<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Top Competitor:<\/strong> American Express AlFursan American Express® Credit Card<\/em><\/p> Domestic:<\/em> 0.80 miles\/SAR (111% above average)<\/p><\/li> International:<\/em> 1.60 miles\/SAR (167% above average)<\/p><\/li> Note:<\/em> These elevated earn rates apply only in the first year. Afterward, they revert to 0.20 (domestic) \/ 0.40 (international).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Lowest Performer:<\/strong> SAB Emirates Signature Credit Card<\/em><\/p> Domestic:<\/em> 0.20 miles\/SAR (53% below average)<\/p><\/li> International:<\/em> 0.30 miles\/SAR (50% below average)<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Strategic Insight for Executives<\/strong><\/p> High reward rates<\/em> can be an immediate differentiator, but sustainability is key. AMEX’s first\u2010year promotional rates drive strong acquisition but may face attrition later.<\/p><\/li> Low reward rates<\/em> (e.g., SAB Emirates Signature) can be offset if combined with other perks or lower fees, but risk losing market share among rate\u2010sensitive travelers.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> This chart plots each credit card’s annual fee<\/strong> (in SAR) alongside a cost efficiency score<\/strong> that factors both fees and earning potential:<\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite Credit Card<\/strong><\/p> Highest cost efficiency (score of 51).<\/p><\/li> Above\u2010average welcome bonus (50,000 miles) and competitive reward rates (0.40 domestic, 0.66 international).<\/p><\/li> Strikes a favorable balance between annual cost and long\u2010term value.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Strategic Insight for Executives<\/strong><\/p> Cost efficiency scores can be improved via either lower fees<\/strong> or higher reward rates<\/strong>—or, ideally, both.<\/p><\/li> Welcome bonuses<\/em> also significantly affect perceived value; larger welcome bonuses can offset higher annual fees in the short\u2010term, improving customer acquisition.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> Here, the cards are evaluated by welcome bonus<\/strong> (total miles) and everyday reward rate<\/strong> (miles per SAR). A high welcome bonus jump\u2010starts a cardholder’s mileage balance, while ongoing rewards determine long\u2010term value.<\/p> Leaders in Welcome Bonus<\/strong><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite Credit Card:<\/em> 50,000 miles (158% over average).<\/p><\/li> Alinma AlFursan Infinite & Riyad Bank AlFursan Visa Infinite:<\/em> 45,000 miles (132% over average).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> High Reward Rates but Lower Welcome Bonus<\/strong><\/p> American Express AlFursan American Express®:<\/em> Tops out at 1.60 miles\/SAR internationally (first\u2010year promo), though only 10,000 welcome miles. This is an interesting strategy acting as a welcome bonus in the form of first year bonus rewards rate.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Strategic Insight for Executives<\/strong><\/p> Large welcome bonuses can spur initial uptake. However, retention<\/em> often hinges on the ongoing reward rate.<\/p><\/li> A balanced approach—robust sign\u2010up bonus plus consistent per\u2010SAR rewards—is the most compelling long\u2010term.<\/p><\/li> Take note of American Express’s strategy of replacing a higher welcome bonus with a first-year promotional reward rate.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> The chart simulates a monthly spend of 2,500 SAR domestically and 2,500 SAR internationally<\/strong>. It compares:<\/p> Paying off the balance<\/strong> (max rewards, no interest).<\/p><\/li> Retaining a 5,000 SAR balance<\/strong> (incurring monthly profit rates).<\/p><\/li><\/ol> Highlights<\/strong><\/p> Best If Carrying a Balance:<\/em><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite Credit Card (35.26 miles\/SAR).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Best If Paying in Full:<\/em><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Platinum Credit Card (92.33 miles\/SAR).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Strong Runner\u2010Up:<\/em><\/p> American Express – AlFursan AMEX® (30.06 miles\/SAR if revolving, 76.07 if clearing).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Strategic Insight for Executives<\/strong><\/p> Cards that deliver consistent value across multiple spend categories can capture larger wallet share.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> Refer to “Airline Miles Credit Card – Domestic Spender – Value per SAR.”\n<\/strong> (Graph 5)<\/em><\/p> Carrying a Balance:<\/strong><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite Credit Card ranks highest (31.90 miles\/SAR).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Paying in Full:<\/strong><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Platinum Credit Card leads (85.33 miles\/SAR).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Paying in Full:<\/strong><\/p> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite Credit Card, 99.33 miles\/SAR (top performer).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Strong All\u2010Rounder (Including Revolvers):<\/strong><\/p> American Express – AlFursan AMEX® stands at 98.33 miles\/SAR (pay in full) and 38.86 (carry a balance).<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> Strategic Insight for Executives<\/strong><\/p> Banks seeking to capture high\u2010value international travelers<\/strong> should focus on elevated foreign transaction earn rates.<\/p><\/li> For the domestic mass market<\/strong>, controlling annual fees and offering moderate to high reward rates can secure a broad user base.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> Al Rajhi Bank – AlFursan Infinite<\/strong><\/p> Strong in cost efficiency<\/strong> and offers the largest welcome bonus<\/strong>, positioning it well for both heavy spenders and those who revolve balances.<\/p><\/li> Gains significant market share due to balanced fees, strong AlFursan brand synergy, and perceived high value.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> American Express – AlFursan AMEX®<\/strong><\/p> Leads on reward rates<\/strong> for international transactions in the first year—an aggressive acquisition tactic.<\/p><\/li> Relatively modest welcome bonus could be a limiting factor, but high short\u2010term earn rates attract frequent flyers.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> Alinma and Riyad Bank<\/strong><\/p> Competitive middle ground: high (but not top) welcome bonuses and respectable reward rates.<\/p><\/li> Could refine their offerings to better differentiate from Al Rajhi’s strong cost efficiency or AMEX’s high short\u2010term rewards.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li> SAB<\/strong><\/p> May need to emphasize other features (e.g., airport lounge access, travel insurance perks) or adjust pricing structures.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol> Enhance or Reposition Reward Structures\n<\/strong> If aiming for a leadership position, consider promotional rates or bigger sign\u2010up bonuses, while monitoring long\u2010term sustainability.<\/p><\/li> Balance Acquisition and Retention\n<\/strong> A large welcome bonus<\/em> or introductory high earn rate<\/em> can drive new signups, but competitive ongoing rewards—and the right perks—are crucial for retention.<\/p><\/li> Diversify Product Line\u2010Up\n<\/strong> Offer specific traveler segments (domestic, international, mixed) distinct card options to maximize share of wallet.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> \n\n<\/p>"},{"s":"arr"}],[{"title":"KSA Banking Industry Deals & Offers Updates \u2013 January 2025","slug":"ksa-banking-industry-deals-and-offers-updates-january-2025","publishDate":["2025-02-11T00:00:00+00:00",{"type":false,"s":"cbn"}],"author":"Ralph","category":null,"subcategory":null,"description":"Changes to banking deals and offers in Saudi Arabia during January 2025.","region":"KSA","featureImageUrl":"https:\/\/images.ctfassets.net\/ki44vvw0h4ht\/2U5adVtU7gXKO4mDVrwyRq\/7438a66d01de513029b145d6c0b3ff07\/al_rajhi_bank.webp","featureImageAlt":" Al Rajhi Bank","authorImgAlt":"Ralph Profile Picture","contentHtml":" This report examines changes to banking deals and offers in Saudi Arabia during January 2025. Using a series of charts, we explore the extent of deal modifications by different institutions, which parts of their deals were changed, and the overall count of active deals each provider currently holds.<\/p> The first chart highlights five main providers and how many updates they made:<\/p> ANB showed the most activity: 6 Change Events<\/em>, 6 Unique Deals Modified<\/em>, and 24 Fields Changed<\/em>.<\/p><\/li> Alinma made 3 Change Events<\/em>, 3 Unique Deals Modified<\/em>, and 4 Fields Changed<\/em>.<\/p><\/li> Alinma Pay carried out 1 Change Event<\/em>, 1 Deal Modified<\/em>, and 2 Fields Changed<\/em>.<\/p><\/li> Al Rajhi Bank and Mobily Pay each reported 1 Change Event<\/em>, 1 Deal Modified<\/em>, and 1 Field Changed<\/em>.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> ANB stands out for having more field changes than the other providers. This could suggest that ANB is strategically improving or adjusting multiple parts of its offers in response to shifting market demands or opportunities. We highlight some of their changes in detail below.<\/p> The second chart shows which types of fields saw the most updates:<\/p> Deal Attributes: The largest number of updates—key items include Reward Rate, Card Replacement Fee, Monthly Profit Rate, and International Transaction Fee.<\/p><\/li> Price: The second\u2010most\u2010updated category.<\/p><\/li> Disclaimer: Had the fewest changes.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> These results indicate that most providers focused on modifying fees, rates, and rewards, possibly to stay competitive or to manage costs within the current market environment.<\/p> The third chart examines which fields each bank changed:<\/p> ANB leads with 24 total updates<\/em>: 6<\/em> involving Price and 18<\/em> relating to Deal Attributes.<\/p><\/li> Alinma recorded 4<\/em> updates spread across Price, Disclaimer, and Extras.<\/p><\/li> Alinma Pay made 2<\/em> changes, both linked to Deal Attributes.<\/p><\/li> Al Rajhi Bank changed 1 Price<\/em> field, while Mobily Pay changed 1 Deal Attribute<\/em>.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> ANB’s emphasis on both Price and Deal Attributes demonstrates a widespread overhaul of its offerings. Others focused on fewer, more specific changes.<\/p> In January 2025, ANB made a noteworthy shift by reducing the annual fees on its major credit cards while<\/em> raising their monthly profit rates. For example, the ANB Visa Infinite annual fee dropped from SAR 977.50 to SAR 850, giving cardholders an annual saving of SAR 127.50. However, its monthly profit rate rose from 3.20% to 3.92%, increasing by 0.72%.<\/p> A similar trend can be seen with the ANB Mastercard Platinum, where the annual fee fell from SAR 517.50 to SAR 350.50 while the monthly profit rate climbed from 2.77% to 3.05%. By pairing lower upfront costs with slightly higher charges for carried balances, ANB appears to be making card ownership more attractive initially but recouping costs over time.<\/p> The final chart shows how many active deals each provider currently offers:<\/p> Riyad Bank tops the list with 26 live deals<\/em>.<\/p><\/li> Alinma and Al Rajhi Bank each have 2. Annual Fee vs. Rewards: Cost Efficiency Score<\/strong><\/h2>
3. Welcome Bonus vs. Ongoing Reward Rate<\/strong><\/h2>
4. Spending Example: Domestic & International Split<\/strong><\/h2>
5. Spending Examples: All\u2010Domestic vs. All\u2010International<\/strong><\/h2>
5.1 Domestic Spender (5,000 SAR\/month)<\/strong><\/h3>
5.2 International Spender (5,000 SAR\/month)<\/strong><\/h3>
6. Overall Market Implications & Competitive Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>
Conclusion: Key Action Points<\/strong><\/h2>
Overview<\/h3>
Change Activity by Provider<\/h3>
Fields Changed Across All Providers<\/h3>
Providers vs. Fields Changed<\/h3>
Special Focus: ANB’s Strategy – Lower Annual Fees, Higher Monthly Profit Rates<\/h3>
Total Live Deals by Provider<\/h3>