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Side-by-Side Comparison|Updated March 2026

Shaurya SBI Card vs Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Detailed comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and value to help you choose the right credit card for your spending pattern.

SBI Card

Shaurya SBI Card

7.5/10
Annual Fee₹250
Base Rewards0.0625%
NetworkRuPay
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ICICI Bank

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

8.5/10
Annual Fee₹10,000
Base Rewards1%
NetworkVisa
View Full Details

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureShaurya SBI CardEmirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card
Annual Fee₹250₹10,000
Joining Fee₹250₹10,000
Fee Waiver Spend₹50,000N/A
Base Reward Rate0.0625%1%
Reward CurrencyReward PointsSkywards Miles
NetworkRuPayVisa
Editor Rating7.5/108.5/10
Forex Markup3.5%3.5%

Accelerated Rewards

Shaurya SBI Card

  • 0.31% on CSD
  • 0.31% on Dining
  • 0.31% on Movies
  • 0.31% on Grocery

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

  • 2.5% on Emirates Bookings

Pros & Cons

Shaurya SBI Card

Pros

  • Accelerated 5X reward points on CSD, dining, movies, and grocery spends.
  • Low annual fee of ₹250, easily waived on spending ₹50,000 annually.
  • Complimentary Personal Accident Insurance cover of ₹2 Lakh.
  • Welcome bonus of 1,000 reward points effectively offsets the joining fee.

Cons

  • No airport lounge access (available only on the Select variant).
  • Low base reward rate of 0.25% on non-accelerated categories.
  • Redemption fee of ₹99 + GST applies to reward redemptions.

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

Pros

  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access for the primary cardholder.
  • Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership providing priority check-in and boarding.
  • High reward rate of 2.5 Skywards Miles per ₹100 on all spends (except exclusions).
  • Generous movie benefit with Buy 1 Get 1 up to ₹750 off, 4 times a month.

Cons

  • High annual fee of ₹10,000 with no specified spend-based waiver.
  • High foreign currency markup of 3.5% despite being a premium travel card.
  • Miles are primarily valuable only for Emirates loyalists.

Our Verdict

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Shaurya SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.

Choose Shaurya SBI Card if

Tailored benefits for CSD canteen shopping and low maintenance costs.

Choose Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card if

Silver Tier status and high mile earn rate on Emirates bookings make it highly rewarding for loyalists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Shaurya SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card edges ahead overall with a stronger combination of rewards and value. However, Shaurya SBI Card could be the better pick if its specific category strengths match your spending habits.
What is the annual fee difference between Shaurya SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Shaurya SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹250, while Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹10,000. Shaurya SBI Card offers a fee waiver on ₹50,000 annual spend.
Which card has better rewards: Shaurya SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Shaurya SBI Card offers a base reward rate of 0.0625% with accelerated rewards on CSD and Dining. Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card offers 1% base rewards with bonuses on Emirates Bookings. The better choice depends on your primary spending categories.
Can I have both Shaurya SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
Yes, many users hold multiple credit cards to maximize rewards across different spending categories. Shaurya SBI Card and Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card can complement each other if they cover different reward categories.
Which card is better for beginners: Shaurya SBI Card or Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card?
For beginners, Shaurya SBI Card may be more approachable with a lower annual fee of ₹250. However, evaluate based on your expected spending pattern rather than fee alone.

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