Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Ocean Finance Card
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
Ocean Finance Card
Emirates vs Ocean Finance Card: the differences
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Ocean Finance CardReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | £0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 39.9% |
| Rewards type | Miles | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 2.9%Lower |
| Perks | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases | Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance, Free email and text alerts, Card usable online before the physical card arrives, Eligibility check does not affect credit score, No Apple Pay |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards rate | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Poor |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1991.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 39.9%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Ocean Finance Card: 2.9% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Emirates: 12 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Perks: only Ocean Finance Card offers Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
Our verdict on each
Emirates
Emirates Skywards fits people who spend with the airline and travel often, and rewards their miles rather than their balance. Interest is costly at 19.49% to 29.49%, so the card only earns its place for customers who clear it in full each month.
Ocean Finance Card
The Ocean Finance Card suits borrowers with a poor credit history who plan to clear a balance: a transfer fee of 2.9% on what you move, and an annual fee of £0. Anyone wanting a rewards card should look elsewhere, since this one is priced for short borrowing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Costs $99 a year, far above a €0 median across the cards ranked here. | 9.1HigherAnnual fee £0, but interest at 39.9% is what holders really pay. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherPays miles with no foreign transaction fee at 0%, plus tier status and lounge access. | 9.2The rewards type is none, so the offer rests on practical extras. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
Pick Emirates if, pick Ocean Finance Card if
Pick Emirates if apr and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Ocean Finance Card if cost and balance transfer fee matter most.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
Ocean Finance Card
87
2.9% of 3,000
Ocean Finance Card comes out 63 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 395 of 1594 | 426 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 32 | 15 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Intelligent Lending Limited |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1991 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 39.9%highest quarter | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2.9%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 5% and carry an introductory period of 12.
- Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone, chat, email and a help centre are all covered.
Cons
- The annual fee of $99 sits far above bunq at €0.
- An APR of 19.49% to 29.49% is higher than the 14.45% median across ranked cards.
- Rewards are miles, so the value depends on how often you fly with Emirates.
Ocean Finance Card
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 2.9% over 6, so old card debt has a route out.
- The perk list Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance adds an app, free alerts and purchase protection.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help comes through several channels.
Cons
- The APR is 39.9%, so carrying a balance month to month is expensive.
- The rewards type is none, so everyday spending earns nothing back.
- Apple Pay is not among its perks (Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance).
Who each suits
Emirates
Who it suits
- Emirates flyers who put most of their spending with the airline and want miles that do not expire
- Travellers who pay abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Anyone redeeming miles for tickets rather than cash back, given the rewards type is miles
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, where a fee of €0 suits readers who want no annual cost and no airline loyalty tie
- Wise, at £0, for a spending card held across currencies rather than a miles card
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, at $0, for building credit history rather than collecting miles
Ocean Finance Card
Who it suits
- Borrowers with a poor credit history, since the annual fee is £0.
- Anyone clearing a balance on another card, where the transfer fee is 2.9%.
- Card users who want purchase protection on larger buys, listed under Credit limit of GBP 200 to GBP 8,000, Section 75 protection on purchases between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000 and Mobile app to make payments and check balance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, at an APR of 15%, for current account borrowing.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with $0 annual fee, for a secured route.
Current offers
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Ocean Finance Card
Current offer
First period offer
0% for 6 months on balance transfers and purchases on the Ocean Credit Card: 0% for 6 months, 2.9% balance transfer fee
Representative 39.9% APR (variable) after the offer, purchase rate 39.94% APR (variable), credit subject to status
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Emirates
What does the Emirates credit card cost to hold?+
The card charges an annual fee of $99. Beyond that, the only other cost listed is a currency conversion fee of 0% on foreign purchases, so cardholders spending in another currency are not surcharged on top of the fee.
What interest rate applies to a balance?+
Balances carry an APR of 19.49% to 29.49%, above the 14.45% median across the cards ranked here. That rate is the reason the card suits people who pay in full, since interest at this level quickly outruns the miles earned.
Ocean Finance Card
Is there an annual fee on the Ocean Finance Card?+
The annual fee is £0, so holding the card year on year costs nothing beyond interest. That suits anyone clearing a balance slowly, since the only bill is what is owed. The rate to watch is the APR on balances you do not clear, at 39.9%.
What is the APR on the Ocean Finance Card?+
The APR is 39.9%, a high rate for borrowing month to month. Interest is the real cost here, because the annual fee is £0 and nothing is charged for holding it. The cheaper route is moving a balance from another lender, where the fee is 2.9%.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Emirates
Ocean Finance Card