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All comparisons
Head-to-head, 2026

Barclays Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard Citi Strata Premier

Annual fee, welcome offer, top earning categories, and key benefits — compared side-by-side using Perqt's catalog data.

Lower annual fee: Citi Strata Premier

Barclays

Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard

Annual fee
$499
Network
mastercard
Welcome value
~$840
Min spend
$3,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 4×Emirates purchases · Emirates Skywards
  • 3×Airline and hotel · Emirates Skywards
  • 2×Dining · Emirates Skywards
  • 1×All other purchases · Emirates Skywards

Key benefits

  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit · $120
  • Cash + Miles special rate · $0
  • Priority Pass Select lounge access · $0
  • Emirates Skywards Gold status · $0
  • $0 Fraud Liability protection · $0
Full Barclays Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard review

Citi

Strata Premier

Annual fee
$0
Network
mastercard
Welcome value
—
Min spend
$4,000 / 3mo

Top earning rates

  • 3×Air travel and other hotel purchases · ThankYou Points
  • 3×Restaurants · ThankYou Points
  • 3×Supermarkets · ThankYou Points
  • 3×Gas and EV charging stations · ThankYou Points

Key benefits

  • $100 Annual Hotel Benefit · $100
  • Trip Delay Protection · $0
  • Lost or Damaged Luggage Protection · $0
  • MasterRental Coverage · $0
  • The Reserve by Citi Travel Hotel Benefits · $0
Full Citi Strata Premier review

Wondering which one is right for your wallet?

Spec sheets can't tell you which card actually earns more for the way you spend. Perqt connects to your wallet, runs the math against your real transactions, and tells you which of these two — or another card entirely — gives you the biggest annual uplift.

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