Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | ₹499 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 45% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 2%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Rewards type | Miles | 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 | Excellent |
| 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 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Emirates scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 45%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Emirates: 12 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Email, Chat, Help centre.
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.
SBI Card
SBI Card is a credit card for Indian applicants with excellent credit, and the balance transfer option is the reason to look past its steep borrowing cost. It charges an APR of 45% and an annual fee of INR 499, with help on phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Costs $99 a year, far above a €0 median across the cards ranked here. | 8.8HigherAnnual fee INR 499 and APR 45% push costs up, with a balance transfer fee of 2% the only relief. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherPays miles with no foreign transaction fee at 0%, plus tier status and lounge access. | 8.1A 2 month balance transfer window is the whole offer, and phone support adds little. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.9 |
Where each is licensed and available
Additional countries for Emirates: 1. Additional countries for SBI Card: 1.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
SBI Card
60
2% of 3,000
SBI Card comes out 90 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.
A third option
Discover has balance transfer intro period at 15 months, against 12 months for Emirates and 2 months for SBI Card.
Discover reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 395 of 1594 | 52 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 32 | 2 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Emirates | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | India |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 45%highest quarter | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2%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.
SBI Card
Pros
- A balance transfer charges 2% and runs for 2 months, the one lower interest route on the card.
- Card type is credit, and the issuer has been issuing cards since 1998.
- Support runs on phone for anyone who wants to talk a balance down with the issuer.
Cons
- An APR of 45% makes any carried balance costly, and the annual fee of INR 499 ranks 223 out of 312.
- Support runs on phone only, so no written or online help route is listed.
- The credit bar is excellent, and only 5.6% of cards in the credit card comparison ask for as much.
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
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Indian applicants with excellent credit who want to shift an existing card balance onto a lower interest option.
- Borrowers who plan to clear the moved balance inside the 2 month low interest window.
- Cardholders who would rather call phone than work through online self service.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise and bunq, which show annual fees of £0 and €0, suit spending that carries no borrowing cost.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, with an annual fee of $0, suits applicants building a credit record rather than moving a balance.
- bunq, with an annual fee of €0, suits anyone who wants a card without paying for a balance transfer option.
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
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | 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.
SBI Card
What does SBI Card charge each year?+
The annual fee is INR 499, on a card that is a credit product rather than a charge card. Interest builds only if a balance is carried, so clearing the statement in full avoids the rate. The balance transfer route adds 2% on top, and that fee is the figure to weigh against the annual cost.
What is the APR on an SBI Card?+
The APR is 45%, which is high against the wider credit card set, where the card ranks 128 out of 138. Paying in full each month means the rate is never charged. Anyone planning to carry a balance should treat 45% as the true cost of this card.
Other options to compare
SBI Card
Emirates