Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
CrediMax vs Emirates
CrediMax
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates
Where CrediMax and Emirates differ
| Compare | CrediMaxReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | BHD 0 | $99 |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Miles |
| Rewards rate | 30% cashback on talabat orders, up to 1% cashback on other spends | 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 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Perks | Airport lounge access worldwide via MasterCard Travel Pass, Up to 25% off travel bookings via trip.com, IHG Hotels and Ole Sereni Hotels, Up to 20% off car rentals at select partners, Purchase protection against theft or damage for up to 90 days, Free talabat Pro subscription and free food and grocery deliveries, Monthly flexible payment plan, Grace period of up to 25 days from statement date, up to 55 days, Annual raffle entry for cars and cash prizes, 24/7 support via online banking, mobile app and customer service | 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 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 19.49% to 29.49% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 5% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1999.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Emirates: 12 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only CrediMax offers Airport lounge access worldwide via MasterCard Travel Pass, Up to 25% off travel bookings via trip.com, IHG Hotels and Ole Sereni Hotels, Up to 20% off car rentals at select partners.
- 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.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
CrediMax
CrediMax is a Bahraini issuer built around talabat rewards, so it suits households and businesses that order food and groceries through the app and pay their balance down each month. Balance transfers get an intro period of 6 months under the Central Bank of Bahrain.
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 | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. |
| Offer | 9.2Annual fee BHD 0 on the talabat credit card, monthly fee BHD 0 on the prepaid card, cashback rewards. | 9.3Highermiles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.4Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 150 of 1020 | 151 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 8 of 35 | 9 of 35 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for CrediMax: 1. Additional countries for Emirates: 1.
Also worth a look
HSBC UK has balance transfer intro period at 17 to 36 months, against 6 months for CrediMax and 12 months for Emirates.
HSBC UK reviewSources behind this comparison
CrediMax
- credimax.com.bh: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Audience | Business, Student | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | CrediMax B.S.C. | Emirates |
| Headquarters | Bahrain | United Arab Emirates |
| Founded | 1999 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Debit cards
| Fact | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | BHD 0 | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Prepaid | Not confirmed |
| Card network | Visa | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 33 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CrediMax | Emirates | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Not confirmed | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 5%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
CrediMax
Pros
- The talabat credit card has an annual fee of BHD 0, and the prepaid card a monthly fee of BHD 0
- Cashback rewards tilt towards talabat orders, with a much smaller rebate on other spending, and the card adds a free talabat Pro subscription and free food and grocery deliveries
- Balance transfer offers run an intro period of 6 months, useful for clearing a balance on a set timetable
Cons
- The rewards rate leans on talabat orders, so spending elsewhere earns a much smaller rebate
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, which does not include live chat or a community channel
- Multi-currency is not among its features (rewards), where rewards is the only entry
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
CrediMax
Who it suits
- Households and businesses that order food and groceries through talabat and want the spending rebated
- Business and student cardholders, the two audiences CrediMax lists for its cards
- Card users clearing an existing balance inside a short transfer window
Who should look elsewhere
- Card shoppers after a secured credit card rather than a rewards card: Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) also has an annual fee of $0
- Readers who mainly want an account for spending abroad, since Wise is priced on an annual fee of £0
- Anyone shopping purely on the annual fee, since Varo Believe Secured Credit Card also charges $0
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
CrediMax
Current offer
Bonus
talabat Credit Card welcome bonus: BD 30 talabat credit
Spend BD 300 in eligible transactions within 45 days of card issuance; government, utilities and education transactions excluded
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Free bet
OSN+ Standard subscription offer: 4 months of OSN+ Standard
Active CrediMax Mastercard Platinum, World or World Elite credit card; Bahrain resident aged 18+; new OSN+ Standard Plan customers who have not used another OSN+ offer in 12 months; redeem at osnplus.com/en-bh/redeem?campaign=credimax; valid 17 August 2026 to 17 February 2027
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 | CrediMax | Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
CrediMax
What does the CrediMax talabat credit card cost to keep?+
The talabat credit card has an annual fee of BHD 0, and a no annual fee model is the standard CrediMax approach. The prepaid Cardy Ex carries a monthly fee of BHD 0. Rewards are paid as cashback, with the heaviest rebates on talabat orders.
Is CrediMax regulated, and where is it based?+
The legal entity is CrediMax B.S.C., licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, and its head office is in Bahrain. Customer service is listed on phone, email and help centre, alongside online banking, mobile app and customer service around the clock.
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.
Other options to compare
CrediMax
Emirates