Best Emirates credit cards - earn more Skywards Miles

Compare cards that let you earn Skywards points

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first

1 - 3 of 3

Name	Max. intro bonus	Default earn-rate	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Link	Incentive	Representative example
The American Express Rewards® Credit Card Finder Award	10,000 points	1 point per £1 spent	£0	29.7% APR (variable)	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.7% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card Finder Award	20,000 points	1 point per £1 spent	Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum	73.8% APR (variable)	Check eligibility Read review	2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 73.8% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Platinum Card® by American Express Finder Award	60,000 points	1 point per £1 spent	£575 per annum	464.4% APR (variable)	Check eligibility Read review	Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points plus £200 Credit towards your next getaway with Amex Travel Online when you spend £6,000 in your first 6 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends 13 June 2023. Terms apply.	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £575 per annum, your representative rate is 464.4% APR (variable).	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.

What are Emirates Skywards credit cards?

If you’re a frequent flyer with Emirates or any of the airline’s partners, a credit card that earns Skywards Miles could help you get reward flights and upgrades faster. As well as earning points for your everyday spending, some cards offer you other travel benefits such as airport lounge access and complimentary insurance. Depending on the card you choose, you could also enjoy a lump sum of welcome bonus points as a new cardholder.

Which cards give Emirates miles?

There’s currently no UK credit card that lets you earn Emirates Skyward air miles directly, but you can convert American Express Membership Rewards points into Skywards Miles, at a ratio of one Membership Rewards point to one Skywards point.

You can connect your Amex account to your Skywards account, or call Amex and ask them to do it for you. You’ll need to transfer in multiples of 500 points, and the minimum you can transfer is 1,000 points.

Credit card jargon explained

APR. The annual percentage rate (APR) is designed to be a benchmark for consumers, providing an annual summary of the cost of your card. As well as the interest, the APR also takes into account any compulsory charges – like an account fee (if there is one). However, crucially, providers only have to award the advertised APR to 51% of those who take out the credit card – the other 49% could be offered a different (higher) rate, at the provider’s discretion. That’s why it’s often referred to as the representative APR.
Charge card. This is similar to a credit card but requires you to pay off your balance in full each month, in exchange for no hard credit limit.
Earn rate. This is the rate at which you’ll accrue air miles on your card transactions. For example, a credit card may have an earn rate of 1 air mile per £1 spent.

How to compare Emirates credit cards

Weigh up the following features when you compare Emirates credit cards so that you can find one that’s right for you:

Sign-up offers. Introductory benefits such as a lump sum of bonus points, an enhanced earn-rate, 0% interest periods or reduced annual fees for the first year add value to the card when you first get it. But it’s important to also consider the ongoing features if you’re planning to use the card beyond that promotional period.
Earn rate. Look at the number of points per £1 spent and your average spending to help you work out the value of a card. Remember to also consider the conversion rate if you’re looking at cards that let you transfer rewards points to Skywards Miles.
Interest rate. Pay attention to the rate of interest charged for purchases if you think you’ll carry a balance on your credit card because interest fees can easily outweigh the value of rewards. If you habitually pay off your monthly balances, interest rates may not be such a major factor.
Annual fee. The annual fees for rewards cards differ quite wildly from card to card. Make sure that these costs don’t outweigh the value you get from your rewards by considering your average spending and the number of points/miles that will give you each month and year.
Other benefits. Depending on the card you choose, you could get access to perks including complimentary insurance, airport lounge access, travel credit and personal concierge services. While these extras can add value to the card, make sure you consider whether or not you’ll use them to decide if they’re worth it for you.
Other costs. If you plan to use your credit card overseas, be aware that foreign transaction fees usually apply (they’re typically around 3%). Other potential costs include cash advance fees (that’s when you withdraw cash using a credit card, which is generally best avoided).

How to apply for an Emirates credit card

You can apply for any of the cards featured on this page online in around 15 minutes. Once you’ve chosen your card, be sure to use the issuer’s “eligibility checker” facility to find out if your application would stand a decent chance of getting approved. You can also check if you meet the eligibility criteria, which usually include:

Age. You’ll need to be at least 18 years old.
Residency status. You must be a UK resident to apply.
Income. Some credit cards require you to earn a specific amount of money before you’re eligible to apply. Be sure to check the “application requirements” for these details.

What are the alternative options for frequent flyers?

Looking for a new frequent flyer programme? British Airways offers cards that earn Avios directly, and Virgin Atlantic cards earn Virgin Flying Club miles.

1 - 6 of 6

Name	Ratings	Finder rating	Customer rating	Max. intro bonus	Earn-rate with brand	Default earn-rate	Annual/monthly fees	Representative APR	Incentive	Link
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card Finder Award	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	★★★★★ User rating	25,000 points	3 points per £1 spent	1.5 points per £1 spent	£250 per annum	110.7% APR (variable)	Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. New Cardmembers Only Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £250 per annum, your representative rate is 110.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
British Airways American Express® Credit Card Finder Award	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	★★★★★ User rating	5,000 points	1 point per £1 spent	1 point per £1 spent	£0	29.7% APR (variable)	Earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent. Spend £12K each year and get a travel companion voucher when redeeming Avios for a BA reward flight. - Earn up to 90,000 bonus Avios points per calendar year, 4,000 points per friend/family member that successfully applies for an American Express card (Excl. Basic card) and uses the Referral Programme. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1000pts for flights) Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	★★★★★ User rating	15,000 points	3 points per £1 spent	1.5 points per £1 spent	£160 per annum	69.7% APR (variable)	Earn an additional 15,000 Bonus Points when you spend £3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening until 13th June 2023. Earn 15,000 bonus points with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 1.5 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 3 miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Spend £10K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. Points value varies dependent on reward (min 3000pts) Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £160 per annum, your representative rate is 69.7% APR (variable).	Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Barclaycard Avios Plus Card	User survey ★★★★★	Not yet rated	★★★★★ User rating	50,000 points	1.5 points per £1 spent	1.5 points per £1 spent	£20 per month	77.6% APR (variable)	Earn 25,000 Avios when £3,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1.5 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £10,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1000pts for flights) Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £20 per month, your representative rate is 77.6% APR (variable).	Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Barclaycard Avios Card	User survey ★★★★★	Not yet rated	★★★★★ User rating	10,000 points	1 point per £1 spent	1 point per £1 spent	£0	27.9% APR (variable)	Earn 5,000 Avios when £1,000 spent on card over the first 3 months of opening. Earn 1 Avios for every £1 you spend. Spend £20,000 or more during the year and receive a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7000 bonus Avios. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1000pts for flights) Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).	Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card	Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	★★★★★ User rating	N/A	1.5 points per £1 spent	1 point per £1.33 spent	£0	26.9% APR (variable)	Earn 0.75 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 1.5.miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. Spend £20K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket. Points value varies dependent on reward (min 3000pts) Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 26.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 26.9% APR (variable).	Read review	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Check which cards you’re eligible for

Frequently asked questions about Emirates credit cards

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

Thank you for your feedback!

Chris Lilly

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Chris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.

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Emirates credit cards

Since the demise of MBNA's Skywards cards, it's no longer possible to get your hands on a dedicated Skywards credit card in the UK. But you can still earn points that are transferable for miles to enjoy premium travel benefits and discounts.

Compare cards that let you earn Skywards points