Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Sainsbury's
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's
Emirates vs Sainsbury's: the differences
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | £0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 20.95% |
| Rewards type | Miles | Points |
| 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 | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 34 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 2.88% to 3.88%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 | Nectar points |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1996.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 20.95%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Sainsbury's: 2.88% to 3.88% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 12 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 Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
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.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a points credit card for shoppers who already spend with the supermarket and want no annual charge, paying 20.95% on borrowing. The balance transfer offer, with a fee of 2.88% to 3.88% across a 34 intro period, is the reason to look past the everyday card when old balances need clearing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.3Highermiles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Emirates | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 171 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 13 of 35 |
| Rewards cards | 42 of 122 | 47 of 122 |
What we checked
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Sainsbury's
- clearscore.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wp.estoaresearch.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- goodmoneyguide.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- lovemoney.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Sainsbury's Bank plc |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1996 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Sainsbury's | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 20.95%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 34 monthshighest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2.88% to 3.88%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
Sainsbury's
Pros
- Spending in the supermarket earns the stronger rate set out in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere, so card spend in a single place is worth more.
- Clearing an old balance is possible: the transfer window runs 34 and the charge for moving the balance is 2.88% to 3.88%.
- The card is issued by Sainsbury's Bank plc, trading since 1996, rather than by a newer entrant.
Cons
- Borrowing is not cheap: 20.95% applies to anything carried from one statement to the next, so the card only pays when balances are cleared.
- The balance transfer is a paid deal rather than a free one, with 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved and 20.95% charged outside the 34 window.
- The reward is points tied to a single supermarket chain, and the thinner part of 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere covers everything else.
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
Sainsbury's
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put most of their card spend through the supermarket and already collect Nectar points.
- Borrowers clearing a balance on another card who can use the 34 window and pay the 2.88% to 3.88% fee.
- People who pay their statement in full each month and want a credit card carrying an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, where everyday spending comes straight from the account balance instead of accruing 20.95% on a credit card.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, which also charge an annual fee and suit anyone focused on secured credit building rather than points at 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere.
- Anyone who spends little in the supermarket, since the thinner rate in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere then covers most of the card use.
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 | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Sainsbury's
What does it cost to keep the card open?+
The annual fee is £0 on the main card, so there is no charge for holding it year on year. That applies to the card as issued; the balance transfer deal is the only other fee the terms set out, at 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved. Borrowing, not holding, is what costs money here.
What rate is charged if I carry a balance?+
Purchases that are not cleared each month are charged at 20.95%. That rate is the card's real cost, and it applies whatever the rewards are doing, so the card suits someone who pays in full each statement rather than revolving a balance month to month.
Other options to compare
Emirates
Sainsbury's