Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Santander UK
Emirates
Santander UK
Higher score in this comparison
Emirates vs Santander UK: the differences
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Santander UKReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | £0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 24.9% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 2.95% |
| Rewards type | Miles | None |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 0%Lower |
| 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 |
| 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: Balance transfer intro period (12 months), Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Santander UK scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1988.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 24.9%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Emirates: 0% vs 2.95%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Santander UK: 0% vs 5%.
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.
Santander UK
Santander UK pairs a balance transfer credit card with a debit card whose monthly fee is £0. It suits UK residents who want one high street name behind everyday spending, and who plan to move an old balance across before spending again on credit.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 8.8A monthly fee of £0 and a balance transfer fee of 0% keep holding costs down, though currency conversion at 2.95% is the expensive part. |
| Offer | 9.3miles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | Not confirmed |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick Emirates if apr and currency conversion fee matter most.
Pick Santander UK if balance transfer fee matter most.
Spending 1,000 abroad
Emirates
0
0% of 1,000
Santander UK
29.5
2.95% of 1,000
Emirates comes out 29.5 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.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
Santander UK
0
0% of 3,000
Santander UK comes out 150 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.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Emirates | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 138 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 7 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Santander UK plc |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1988 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Santander UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 24.9%above the median | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 2.95%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 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
Santander UK
Pros
- The balance transfer offer runs for 12, a clear window for moving and clearing an old balance.
- One provider covers the current account, the debit card and the credit card, so the same bank handles the transfer.
- Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with Santander UK plc behind the accounts.
Cons
- Currency conversion of 2.95% is the weak point, ranking 213 of 259 brands on that fee.
- The rewards type is none, so nothing comes back on credit card spending.
- An APR of 24.9% is steep, and with a rewards type of none there is nothing to offset a balance left over from month to month.
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
Santander UK
Who it suits
- UK residents who want a current account and a credit card from one high street brand.
- Anyone with an old balance to move across during the 12 transfer window.
- People who pay the credit card in full each month and want an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if you spend abroad regularly: its currency conversion fee of 0.1% sits a long way under the 2.95% charged here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if you would rather build credit from a deposit, since it is a secured card with a monthly fee of $0.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), if a US dollar secured card with a monthly fee of $0 suits you better than a UK current account.
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
Santander UK
Current offer
Bonus
Get 240 GBP for switching to Everyday Current Account: 240 GBP
Switch to Everyday Current Account
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | Santander UK |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Santander UK
What does the Everyday current account cost each month?+
The account carries a monthly fee of £0, so holding it adds no regular charge to your bills. The card that comes with it is a debit card, so spending draws on money already in the account rather than adding to a balance. Keeping a small buffer there is the practical use.
How long is the balance transfer offer?+
The transfer offer runs for 12 and the balance transfer fee is 0%. That is the window for moving an existing balance from another card and paying it down. Start the transfer at the beginning of a billing period so the full window is available to you.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Emirates
Santander UK