Compare the best ways to send money to United Arab Emirates

The exchange rate determines how much AED the recipient will get when you transfer money to United Arab Emirates.

For example, today, the average exchange rate between US Dollar and UAE Dirham is 3.673.

The rate constantly fluctuates depending on the destination currency and the market conditions, so timing your transfer can help you save a lot of money.

Sometimes, waiting a day or two can help you get more AED.

If you do need to send AED now, we suggest using Wise. Their rate for transfers to United Arab Emirates was the best over the past 6 months.

The cheapest way to pay for your transfer to United Arab Emirates is via Bank transfer with Regency FX. It is 0.4% cheaper than the next best option.

The way you pay affects the cost, speed, and the amount of AED you receive.

Here are your cheapest options:

*Based on a $2,000 transfer to United Arab Emirates using our 6-month comparison data. Transfer time is based on averages from multiple companies.

Avoid using a Credit card option for transfers to United Arab Emirates, as it’s the most expensive.

Credit card transfers to United Arab Emirates come with cash advance fees and higher interest rates on AED.

Xe, for example, charges $458.7 when paying with a credit card vs $0 via bank transfer by Regency FX.

When possible, avoid sending AED over the SWIFT network. Despite its name, SWIFT transfers to United Arab Emirates are slower with steeper fees.

Some services have limits on how much you can transfer, both minimum and maximum thresholds.

Different services might offer better rates or lower fees for different transfer amounts.

For example, we recommend using Wise if you need to send large amounts of AED abroad.

In general, the quicker you need AED delivered, the more it will cost you in fees.

Transfer speed to United Arab Emirates depends on the AED amount, the time you initiate the transfer, and your payment method.

Take, for instance, an urgent need to transfer $2,000 from the US to United Arab Emirates.

Overall, of 16 companies serving United Arab Emirates, Paysend is the fastest regardless of the deposit method, appearing 34.2% of the time in our searches.

For bank or debit card deposits, services like Wise excel in this regard, offering near-instantaneous and cheapest AED transfers with $19.24 or $20.42 fees respectively and 0% markup.

Credit card transfers via Wise to AED can take up to a day with a $71.76 fee and 0% markup (keep cash advance fees in mind).

For most urgent transfers to United Arab Emirates, cash pickup will be the fastest, via Western Union or Ria Money.

Avoid SWIFT for AED transfers as it's slower due to intermediary banks in United Arab Emirates.

There are a few ways to send money to United Arab Emirates:

Online

You can send money to United Arab Emirates with a money transfer provider. You can either choose to use a managed service like an FX broker, or an online-only company.

We found that Wise is the overall best online money transfer provider according to our 6-month analysis. They’ve appeared 86.1% of the time for AED transfers in our search system.

App

Most money transfer services supporting United Arab Emirates transfers have an app, often, offering a better AED rate. You can use our guide to the best money transfer apps to find the one that fits your needs.

In-person

Cash transfers to United Arab Emirates in person via Ria Money Transfers or Western Union are almost always instant, but require the recipient to visit the nearest agent to collect AED.

Money orders

Another option is to send a money order using the postal service in your country. It is a less accepted method but often can be sent to harder-to-reach locations.

There are different ways to receive money in United Arab Emirates. You can make a direct bank deposit, send cash for pickup or home delivery, or use a mobile wallet.

If you want a direct transfer to your bank account, Wise offers the best service for bank transfers to United Arab Emirates.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers to United Arab Emirates.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Regency FX.

When you're sending or receiving money in United Arab Emirates, you have to be ready to show some ID.

The exact documents you need might vary by destination. Usually, you will have to show a government ID like a passport or driver's license.

If you're making a large transaction to United Arab Emirates, a provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where your money comes from.

That’s why we suggest Wise in this case. They know how to handle large AED transfers and will help you get things done fast.

There might be tax implications to consider when sending money to United Arab Emirates.

Some AED transfers may need to be reported to tax authorities, especially for larger amounts.

When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in your country or in United Arab Emirates.