Best Money Transfer Apps in the UAE
Table of contents
Author: Artiom Pucinskij
We only list companies that are trustworthy and appropriately licensed. Our aim is to give you a comprehensive view of the regulated money transfer marketplace.
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Table of contents
The best money transfer app in the UAE depends on where you're sending and how your family wants to receive it.
For most people Wise is the easiest place to start.
If you want a licensed local app, LuLu Money is a decent option but a bit more expensive.
But I suggest running a quick live search using the form below to see which app offers the best exchange rate right now.
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At a glance
These are the top money transfer apps to send money from the UAE:
Wise: the best all-rounder, simple and transparent for everyday transfers
LuLu Money: the best local app, licensed here with a big branch and cash network
Remitly: the best for the Philippines, fast with cash pickup and GCash
Western Union: the best for cash and agents, in the app or in person
Taptap Send: the cheapest for regular transfers to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Africa
OFX: the best for large transfers like property or moving your savings home
Careem Pay: the best option if you already use Careem
Top money transfer apps
We've tested and compared money transfer apps for years and track their fees daily. Here are the best ones for sending money from the UAE.
"Over 15 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
"Remitly focuses on sending money to friends and family in Asia, Africa and South America. Wide coverage and well-suited to regular transfers home."
"Taptap Send faciliates money transfers to bank accounts & mobile money wallets on popular networks with competitive rates."
"OFX have been helping individuals and businesses send money for over 25 years. Transfer in 50+ currencies to 170+ countries, with 24/7 phone access to currency experts."
Wise
Wise is the overall best app for sending money from the UAE.
Wise is the one I'd try first.
It's the simplest to set up, the rate you get is the real mid-market rate, and the fee is shown upfront with nothing hidden in the exchange rate.
I've used Wise for years, and I still reach for it first because it just works. It's not always the cheapest for every country, but it does most things well.
Wise features:
Apple Pay, Google Pay, debit card or bank transfer to fund a transfer
Interbank exchange rates
Low fees starting from 0.31%
Available on iOS and Android
On cost, you pay around 0.31% depending on the amount and where you're sending.
Here's what your recipient gets on the top corridors right now:
Most transfers to India or the Philippines arrive the same day, and many arrive in seconds.
Wise is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE for digital remittance and payments, and keeps customer money separate from company funds.
But, this means it works as a foreign online platform you access from here, not a locally licensed exchange house.
"Over 15 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."
LuLu Money
LuLu Money is the best local app for international transfers.
LuLu Money is the strongest app that's based in the UAE.
Behind the app is LuLu Exchange, one of the biggest exchange houses in the country, with branches almost everywhere.
You get a proper app for quick transfers, plus a huge branch and cash network when you need it, and it's licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
LuLu Money features:
Send to a bank account, cash pickup, mobile wallet, or home delivery
Pay by card, salary card, bank transfer, or in cash at a branch
Use Emirates ID and a UAE number to sign up
Available on iOS and Android
LuLu is competitive on the main corridors, though not always the cheapest, so it's worth a quick live search before you send.
Transfers to bank accounts and wallets usually arrive the same day, and cash pickup is often ready in minutes.
Because it's CBUAE-licensed, LuLu is regulated here as an exchange house.
Remitly
Remitly app is the best for sending money to the Philippines.
Remitly is my pick for sending to the Philippines.
It's fast, it covers every way your family might want the money, and repeat transfers take seconds.
You can pick Express, which lands in minutes, or Economy, which is cheaper but takes a bit longer.
Your recipient can receive money as cash pickup, mobile wallets like GCash and Maya, bank deposit, or home delivery.
Remitly features:
Express or Economy options
Cash pickup, GCash and Maya, bank deposit, or home delivery
Pay by debit or credit card, or bank transfer
A promo rate on your first transfer
Available on iOS and Android
After the first-transfer promo, Remitly adds an exchange rate markup plus a small fee that changes with amount, speed and payout method.
Here's what your recipient gets in popular destinations:
It's rarely the overall cheapest, Wise is often cheaper, but few apps match it for fast, reliable delivery with a cash-pickup option.
Remitly is regulated in the DIFC by the DFSA, and you sign up with your Emirates ID.
"Remitly focuses on sending money to friends and family in Asia, Africa and South America. Wide coverage and well-suited to regular transfers home."
Western Union
Western Union app is the best for cash transfers from the app.
Western Union is the best for when cash is involved, either you paying in cash, or your recipient collecting it.
It has a dedicated UAE app and one of the biggest agent networks in the country, so you can send online or walk into a branch.
Your recipient can receive cash, or get it to a bank account or a mobile wallet.
Western Union features:
Start through the app and finish in the store
Cash pickup, bank deposit, or mobile wallet payouts
Pay by card, bank transfer, or cash at a branch
Dedicated UAE app
Available on iOS and Android
Western Union is competitive on smaller transfers and often waives the fee on your first one.
Beyond that, it charges a fee and adds an exchange rate markup.
Here’s how much you can expect to receive with WU:
Cash pickups are usually ready in minutes, bank deposits take a little longer.
The cheap rates don't apply to every pay-in and payout combination.
Paying in cash at a branch, or sending to a card, usually costs more than paying by bank and sending to a wallet or account.
If you only need cash pickup, MoneyGram is worth a look too.
It has a big UAE agent network, but for UAE senders it's cash and agent focused rather than a full online app.
Western Union is licensed to offer money transfers in the UAE, and you sign up with your Emirates ID.
Taptap Send
TapTap Send is the best and cheapest app for transfers to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Africa.
If you send regularly to Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Africa, Taptap Send is one of the cheapest ways to do it.
It's app-only and built around these corridors.
Most have no transfer fee and the markup is small, so more of your money lands on the other side.
Taptap Send features:
Bank deposit, mobile wallet, or cash pickup or cash delivery
No or low transfer fee on most corridors
Pay by debit or credit card, or bank transfer
Available on iOS and Android
In terms of fees, it's hard to beat on its main corridors, though like every app it's not the cheapest everywhere, so run a quick live search to compare.
Here’s what you can expect to receive with TapTap Send:
Most money transfers usually arrive in minutes, but it depends on how much you are sending.
TapTap Send is regulated in the DIFC by the DFSA, and you sign up with your Emirates ID.
"Taptap Send faciliates money transfers to bank accounts & mobile money wallets on popular networks with competitive rates."
OFX
OFX app is the best for large transfers from the UAE.
OFX is built for large transfers, like buying property back home, paying tuition, or moving your savings when you leave the UAE.
It comes with an app you can use to set up the transfers, but most of the process is done over the phone or email.
This is because you get an account manager who will handle your transfer for you and help you lock in the best exchange rates.
There are no transfer fees, just a margin on the rate that gets better the more you send.
OFX features:
No transfer fees, a rate margin that improves with size
A personal account manager for larger transfers
Tools to lock in a rate ahead of time
High limits, good for one-off large sums
Available on iOS and Android
OFX is not the cheapest option compared to Wise and TapTap Send, but it’s the only one on the list that gets you an account manager to help you through the process.
Here's what your recipient gets on larger transfers:
Transfers usually take one to two days, so it's not for anything urgent.
I always suggest getting a few quotes from money transfer brokers before picking one. Here are a few options:
From there, just pick the one that offered you the best rate.
OFX works as a foreign online platform you access from the UAE.
"OFX have been helping individuals and businesses send money for over 25 years. Transfer in 50+ currencies to 170+ countries, with 24/7 phone access to currency experts."
Careem Pay
Careem Pay app is the best for mobile money transfers.
If you already use Careem, Careem Pay lets you send money abroad straight from the app.
It sits inside the Careem super-app, so the money can come from your Careem balance or a linked card, and it's built to be cheaper than sending through your bank.
Still, it is more expensive than using a dedicated money transfer app like Wise or TapTap Send.
Careem Pay features:
Send international transfers inside the Careem app
Fund from your Careem balance or a card
You can use Emirates ID to set it up
Available on iOS and Android
Careem Pay positions itself as cheaper than a bank transfer, but check it against a specialist app before you send, it’s often more expensive.
There are per-transfer and monthly caps, so it suits smaller one-off transfers more than large one-offs.
What about Al Ansari, Botim and the other local apps?
You'll notice a few big UAE names aren't mentioned above.
Al Ansari Exchange
Al Ansari Exchange is the largest exchange house in the country, with a full app and branches everywhere.
It’s mainly for cash transfers, and like LuLu, it's a solid licensed local option.
But in our testing, it usually comes out to be more expensive compared to other apps.
Botim
Botim is best known as a calling and messaging app, now with money transfers built in.
It's very widely installed, handy if it's already on your phone, and covers India, Pakistan, Philippines and Egypt.
It’s great for small transfers like Careem Pay, but still more expensive with less money transfer features than the other options.
e& money
e& money is the wallet from e& (Etisalat).
Good if you're already in that ecosystem for bills and top-ups, with transfers added on.
Again, similar to other apps, this one is more for convenience rather than regular money transfers because it’s more expensive, has limited features, and less coverage than other apps on the list.
Salary cards
Salary cards like C3Pay and myZoi let you send money home straight from the card you're paid onto through the WPS, without needing a bank account.
You can’t really send money abroad directly from it in most cases, but you can link it to apps like LuLu Exchange and fund the transfer from your salary card.
Cheapest money transfer apps
The destination makes the biggest difference to cost. We track fees daily. Here are the cheapest options for the top routes from the UAE:
Paying for international transfers
Most apps take a debit card or a bank transfer.
Cash at an exchange house is still a big way people pay, and if you're paid onto a salary card through the WPS, you can usually send it straight from it.
Aani, the UAE's instant payment system, is starting to appear as a way to fund a transfer. There's no Open Banking for money transfers at the moment.
Money transfers regulations in the UAE
Money transfer apps in the UAE aren't all regulated the same way.
Some hold a DFSA licence in the DIFC (Remitly, Taptap Send), some are CBUAE-licensed exchange houses (LuLu, Al Ansari), and others like Wise and OFX are foreign online platforms you can access from here.
Types of money transfer apps
Not every app on your phone is built to send money abroad, even if it can.
Specialist transfer apps
Apps like Wise, Remitly or Taptap Send are built only for international transfers, usually the cheapest and fastest.
They hold money in both countries and pay out locally, so nothing actually crosses a border.
Exchange house apps
Local apps like LuLu or Al Ansari that are backed by a branch and cash network, licensed by the CBUAE.
These are great for cash transfers, but not great for online transfers and are usually more expensive.
Wallet or super-app
Careem Pay, Botim or e& money are made for everyday payments, with transfers added on.
It’s convenient, but generally lacks money transfer features, has transfer limits, and usually a bit more expensive compared to dedicated money transfer apps.
Bank app
Your UAE bank can send abroad, but the rate and fees are usually much higher than any other option here.
Currency broker
Currency brokers like OFX or Regency FX are built for large transfers with an account manager, not for small recurring transfers.
Many have an app to get you started, but you’ll end up handling the transfer over the phone, email, or online in some cases.
Mobile money
Mobile money apps like GCash in the Philippines or UPI in India are usually what your recipient collects into, not something you send from.
Apps like TapTap Send and Remitly offer mobile money and mobile wallets as delivery methods.
Whatever you're sending, the cheapest app changes by amount and destination, and it changes often.
Run a quick live search below to find the best deal for your transfer right now.
Find the best deal on money transfers from the UAE
Fill in the form below to get the best deals on money transfers from the UAE right now.Our methodology & why trust us
Every app here is regulated and safe to send money with, though not all in the same way.
Some hold a DFSA licence in the DIFC, like Remitly and Taptap Send. Some are CBUAE-licensed exchange houses, like LuLu. Others, like Wise and OFX, are foreign online platforms you access from the UAE.
To pick the best, we score every provider from 1 to 10 on:
Fees and rates
Transfer speed
Safety and trust
Product offering
Transfer limits
Ease of use
Customer feedback
We also run real test transfers, check which apps actually let a UAE resident sign up and send, and lead with the corridors that matter most from here, like India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Egypt.
All rates and fees come from our comparison engine and update weekly.
Learn more about how we test and review money transfer providers.
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