Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs SBI Card
SBI Card
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SBI CardReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | ₹499 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%Lower | 45% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 1.99% to 3.5% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsHigher | 2 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 2%Lower |
| Rewards type | Miles | 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 | Excellent |
| 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: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Emirates scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 1998.
- APR is lower at Emirates: 19.49% to 29.49% vs 45%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Emirates: 0% vs 1.99% to 3.5%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at SBI Card: 2% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Emirates: 12 months vs 2 months.
- Support channels: only Emirates offers Email, Chat, Help centre.
- Features: only Emirates offers Rewards.
- Features: only SBI Card offers Virtual card, Travel.
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.
SBI Card
SBI Card suits business users in India who want a Visa credit line and a balance transfer route, though the pricing runs high. The APR of 45% is the figure to weigh, and the annual fee of INR 499 sits on top of it every year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8An annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 8.8Annual fee INR 499 and APR 45% against free annual fees on Wise, £0, and Chime Card, $0. |
| Offer | 9.3Highermiles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | 8.1The offer is the balance transfer option, fee 2% with an intro period of 2, on Visa network visa. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
SBI Card
60
2% of 3,000
SBI Card comes out 90 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.
Which one suits you
Pick Emirates if offer, trust, apr, currency conversion fee, and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick SBI Card if balance transfer fee matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 35 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 1 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Rewards | Virtual card, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Emirates | SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | India |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 1998 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone |
Debit cards
| Fact | Emirates | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | ₹0 to ₹9,999 |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | SBI Card | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 45%highest quarter | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 1.99% to 3.5%above the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 2 monthslowest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 2%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
SBI Card
Pros
- Balance transfers are available, with a fee of 2% over an intro period of 2.
- Runs on the Visa network, so the card is accepted wherever Visa is taken: visa.
- Virtual card and travel features are both listed, which suits spending abroad: virtual card and travel.
Cons
- The APR is 45%, which ranks 123 of 133 brands on rate.
- An annual fee of INR 499 applies, against £0 on Wise and $0 on Chime Card.
- Support runs on phone only, so there is no listed written channel for questions.
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
SBI Card
Who it suits
- Business owners in India who want a revolving Visa line and a balance transfer route for existing borrowing.
- Travellers who want a business card with travel features from a long established Indian issuer.
- Applicants with an excellent credit history, excellent, who can carry a high APR without strain.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if the annual charge decides it: the annual fee is £0 against INR 499 here.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, whose annual fee is $0, for applicants building a credit history from scratch.
- Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card), with an annual fee of $0, if the lowest annual charge matters most.
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 | SBI Card |
|---|---|---|
| India | 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.
SBI Card
What does an SBI Card cost to hold and borrow on?+
The annual fee is INR 499 on the cards in the range that charge an annual fee, and the APR is 45%. Borrowing at that rate is the main cost, and it sits at 123 of 133 brands in this comparison. Monthly fees run INR 0 to INR 9,999 on top, so the price depends on the card you pick.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion fees run 1.99% to 3.5% across the range and apply whenever a purchase is made abroad. Spending in the local currency avoids the conversion charge. Travel features are listed, virtual card and travel, though the conversion rate still applies to foreign transactions on any card in the range.
Other options to compare
SBI Card
Emirates