Homat Al Watan card in the UAE

Quick facts

Issued by

UAE Armed Forces (source: Khaleej Times: discount card launched for UAE servicemen)

Meaning

"Protectors of the Nation" (source: Khaleej Times: discount card launched for UAE servicemen)

Launched

28 January 2016 (source: Khaleej Times: discount card launched for UAE servicemen)

Who it is for

Ministry of Defence and army members, including civilian employees and retirees (source: Khaleej Times: discount card launched for UAE servicemen)

App

Homat Alwatan UAE, for Ministry of Defence staff and Armed Forces members and retirees (source: Homat Alwatan UAE app (App Store))

What Homat Al Watan is

Homat Al Watan means Protectors of the Nation. Khaleej Times reported its launch by the UAE Armed Forces on 28 January 2016, to give exclusive privileges and discounts to employees of the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces.

The report is clear that the card does not work as a bank or credit card. You cannot use it to pay. You can only use it at the entities, companies and establishments the Armed Forces have approved to give the discount.

Who can have it

The card is for members of the Ministry of Defence and the army, including civilian employees and retirees. That is what Khaleej Times reports. The App Store listing of the Homat Alwatan UAE app says the same, for Ministry of Defence employees and UAE Armed Forces members and retirees.

It is not a public card, and there is no general application page for other residents. We could not confirm the exact documents or the process, because they are handled through the Ministry of Defence, so ask your unit or HR.

The Homat Alwatan UAE app

The App Store listing describes a benefits and discounts app for permanent and temporary offers from local and international partner companies. Offers are grouped by type of business.

The listing also mentions a feature to turn discounts into airline miles (Emirates or Etihad) or vouchers, and a family basket feature for sharing. It says ExtraMiles is the strategic partner for registration, upgrades, merchant qualification and user training. Some reviewers asked for an Apple Wallet option instead of a PDF card, so features may change.

Examples of offers that are confirmed

Offers come and go, so treat these as examples and check the current terms. Emirates published a press release saying it supports the card. We did not confirm the current discount level.

e& has plans reserved for Homat Al Watan cardholders, including members of the Ministry of Defence, GHQ Armed Forces and military personnel. Its page shows monthly prices between AED 150 and AED 1,200 depending on the plan and says to apply with an Emirates ID and employment documents. Check the page for the current plans and terms.

Using it at a shop

Because the card only works at approved partners, start in the app and look for the partner before you shop. Show the card as the partner asks, before you pay. As with other discount cards, ask whether the offer can be combined with a sale price or another promotion. We found no general rule on this for Homat Al Watan, so check each offer.

If you are not in the armed forces

Homat Al Watan is not for the general public, so most residents will not qualify. If you do not hold it, look at Fazaa or Esaad instead. Fazaa has a free 2026 route for resident families with at least one child, according to Gulf Business. Esaad lists groups such as Golden Visa holders, according to Wego.

If you do hold the card, you may also be eligible for other programmes. Check each one separately, because they have different rules. Do not assume that a card from one programme gives you access to another.

The card cannot pay for anything itself. At the till you still pay with your own credit or debit card or cash, and the discount is taken off by the partner. If you also use a cashback credit card, read its terms on minimum spend and monthly caps, because those are set by your bank and not by Homat Al Watan. Our guide on using UAE discount cards with a cashback card explains what to check.

Whatever you hold, the habit is the same. Find the offer, read its terms, show the card before you pay, and keep the receipt.

Tips for cardholders

Keep your card where you can show it quickly. Reviewers on the App Store mention a PDF version of the card, so if you use one, save a copy somewhere you can open without a signal.

Offers in the app can be permanent or temporary. Check the end date and any conditions before you shop, and ask staff at the partner if the discount applies to sale items.

If a business says it accepts Homat Al Watan, check that it is in the app, since the card only works at establishments sanctioned by the Armed Forces.

Sources

1. Khaleej Times: discount card launched for UAE servicemenkhaleejtimes.com
2. Homat Alwatan UAE app (App Store)apps.apple.com
3. e&: Homat Al Watan planseand.ae
4. Emirates: Emirates supports Homat Al Watan Cardemirates.com

Last checked 2 October 2026. Terms change, so check the current terms before you rely on an offer.

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