Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Capital One UK vs Emirates
Capital One UK
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates
Where Capital One UK and Emirates differ
| Compare | Capital One UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | £0 | $99 |
| APR | 34.9% | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Miles |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%Lower | 5% |
| Perks | Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000, Up to 2 credit limit increases a year, Free QuickCheck eligibility check with no impact to credit score, Round the clock fraud security | 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 |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 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 |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 34.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Emirates: 0% vs 2.75%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Capital One UK: 3% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Capital One UK: 18 months vs 12 months.
- Perks: only Capital One UK offers Free CreditWise credit score and report, Up to 56 days interest free on new spends, Section 75 protection on spends between GBP 100 and GBP 30,000.
- 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.
Our verdict on each
Capital One UK
Capital One UK suits UK shoppers building a score or clearing a balance, offering a balance transfer intro of 18 and credit tools with no fee to hold. The representative APR of 34.9% makes it a card to clear rather than revolve.
Emirates
Emirates suits people who already pay in dollars and spend with the airline, since the miles build fastest on Emirates purchases and there is no foreign transaction fee. It also suits anyone shifting a balance, with a fee of 5% and an intro period of 12. The catch is the annual fee of $99.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital One UK | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Annual fee £0 and a 3% balance transfer fee keep costs low, against 34.9% interest and 2.75% abroad. | 8.8HigherAn annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherBalance transfer intro of 18, free credit score tools, and no rewards (none). | 9.3miles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.4Higher |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Capital One UK
27.5
2.75% of 1,000
Emirates
0
0% of 1,000
Emirates comes out 27.5 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.
What we checked
Capital One UK
- capitalone.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Capital One UK | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 153 of 1020 | 151 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 35 | 9 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital One UK | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Capital One (Europe) plc | Emirates |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | 1996 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital One UK | Emirates | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 34.9%highest quarter | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 19.39% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.75%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 18 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Capital One UK
Pros
- Aimed at poor credit, so applicants turned down elsewhere can still apply.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, so help is easy to reach by phone, chat, email or a help centre.
- Credit building tools come as standard: a free credit score and report, an eligibility check that leaves the credit score untouched, and round the clock fraud security.
Cons
- Representative APR of 34.9% sits above the site average of 20.97%, so an unpaid balance costs quickly.
- Foreign purchases are charged 2.75% in currency conversion, above the site average of 1%.
- The rewards type is listed as none, so nothing comes back on everyday spending.
Emirates
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a currency conversion fee of 0% on a card that sits at the top of our list on that measure
- Earning miles rather than cashback, and Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open
- A balance transfer fee of 5% with an intro period of 12, useful for clearing a balance from another card
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 puts it near the top of our annual fee ranking, and Wise charges £0
- Interest of 19.49% to 29.49% applies on balances, and the lower end of that range is still above the site median
- A balance transfer fee of 5% still applies after the intro period of 12
Who each suits
Capital One UK
Who it suits
- UK applicants with poor credit who want a mainstream card rather than a secured one.
- Balances being cleared, where the 18 transfer window and 3% fee on the balance transfer card keep the move contained.
- Cardholders who pay in full and would rather build a score than chase rewards.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for frequent foreign spend, where Wise charges 0% on currency conversion against 2.75% on this card.
- Not for anyone after a deposit backed card, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 on a secured basis.
- Not for shoppers who want a rewards earn on everyday buying, as the rewards type here is none and Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) offers the same credit building route.
Emirates
Who it suits
- People who fly Emirates often and put most of their spending through the airline
- Anyone paying in dollars and spending abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Holders of a balance on another card who can clear it inside the intro period
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users who want a card with an annual fee of £0 and a simpler cost base
- Anyone building credit from scratch, since a card aimed at established credit history is the wrong tool and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is built around a deposit with an annual fee of $0
- Spenders who never touch the airline, since the highest rate applies only to Emirates spend
Current offers
Capital One UK
Current offer
First period offer
0% interest on balance transfers for up to 18 months and on purchases for up to 3 months: 0% for up to 18 months on balance transfers; 0% for up to 3 months on purchases
Balance Transfer card; up to 3% transfer fee (maximum 3%); up to GBP 8,000 starting credit limit; representative example assumes a GBP 1,200 credit limit with 34.94% p.a. variable interest on purchases giving 34.9% APR representative variable
Source, checked September 26, 2026
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 | Capital One UK | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital One UK
Is there an annual fee on the Capital One UK credit card?+
There is no annual fee. The card is sold on a no annual fee model, so the annual fee is £0 and the only real cost is interest. That interest is the part to watch, at a representative APR of 34.9%, because the card is aimed at poor credit and some applicants will revolve.
What rate applies if I do not clear the balance?+
The representative APR is 34.9%, above the site average of 20.97%. New purchases sit inside the interest free window the card offers, so the rate matters most once that window runs out or a transferred balance is still unpaid.
Emirates
What does the Emirates card cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $99 on the card. Interest on balances runs at 19.49% to 29.49%, and a balance transfer is charged at 5%. If you want a card with no annual fee, the annual fee on Wise is £0.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the card?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, and international purchases carry no foreign transaction fee. That makes the card one of the cheapest for spending abroad, provided the rate your issuer applies is competitive. It also means travel purchases do not eat into your miles with an extra layer of cost.
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Capital One UK
Emirates