Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Ocean Finance Card
Emirates
Ocean Finance Card
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| 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
- Ocean Finance Card scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- 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 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.
Ocean Finance Card
Ocean Finance Card suits applicants with poor credit who want a UK credit card with no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer option. Borrowing is the expensive part, with 39.9% charged on revolving balances, so the card only pays off if you clear balances or keep them off the card.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 9.0HigherThere is no annual fee, £0, and a balance transfer fee of 2.9%, so cost sits in the interest on revolving balances. |
| Offer | 9.3miles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | 9.3A transfer window of 6 with a 2.9% fee is the only offer, and rewards on spending are none. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.3 |
Choosing between them
Pick Emirates if apr and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Ocean Finance Card if balance transfer fee matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 310069 |
Additional countries for Emirates: 1. Additional countries for Ocean Finance Card: 1.
Where these facts come from
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Ocean Finance Card
- oceanfinance.co.uk: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Emirates | Ocean Finance Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 132 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 6 of 35 |
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 | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2.9%below the median | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
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
Ocean Finance Card
Pros
- The card is built for applicants with poor credit, and the eligibility check does not affect your credit score.
- Purchase protection covers spending inside a range set out in 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, so a supplier that fails to deliver has a claim route.
- Support runs on chat, phone and email, and the mobile app covers payments and balance checks.
Cons
- 39.9% sits above the 34.9% upper end of bad credit cards, so carrying a balance is expensive.
- Rewards on spending are none, so nothing comes back on everyday purchases.
Who each suits
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
Ocean Finance Card
Who it suits
- Applicants with poor credit who want a limit without paying an annual fee.
- Borrowers moving a balance who can cover the 2.9% transfer fee and clear it inside the intro period.
- People who put an eligibility check that leaves their credit score alone, and the purchase protection in 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, above cash back.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card fits day to day spending from money already in an account, with a borrowing rate of 15% instead of revolving card interest.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) suits customers shopping in the US who want a secured line, with an annual fee of $0.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card suits savers who prefer a secured card, with an annual fee of $0.
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 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.
Ocean Finance Card
What does it cost to hold the Ocean Finance Card?+
The annual fee is £0, so holding the card costs nothing to run. A balance transfer carries a fee of 2.9%, and anything left on the credit card balance is charged at 39.9% until it is paid.
What rate does the Ocean Finance Card charge?+
The rate is 39.9%, high against the bad credit card group, where the upper quartile sits at 34.9%. Interest only applies to balances you do not clear, so the card costs nothing extra if you pay in full each month.
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Emirates
Ocean Finance Card