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Table of contents
Mobile money transfer in the UAE can mean paying from an AED wallet, sending money to another UAE mobile number or transferring to a wallet abroad.
We already have a guide on the best money transfer apps, so here I’m going to focus on the best ways to send money to a mobile wallet.
With mobile wallets, you use a money transfer serviceand the receiver gets the money in their mobile wallet like GCash, M-Pesa or JazzCash.
I suggest choosing the wallet around how you add money and where your recipient needs it, particularly if you are paid in cash or through WPS.
You do not always need a separate wallet for a local payment, because Aani can send money from a participating account using a mobile number.
For overseas payments, the sending wallet and the recipient’s wallet are separate accounts, with an international transfer service connecting them.
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At a glance
e& money combines AED funding, local spending and sending abroad.
du Pay includes local payments and direct GCash delivery.
Payit offers several international transfer networks inside a FAB-operated wallet.
Al Ansari Wallet connects a stored balance with branch cash access.
Taptap Send now has an AED wallet for local and international payments.
botim combines its wallet with international transfer options inside the app.
Aani can make a local phone-number payment without adding another wallet.
What is a mobile wallet?
A mobile wallet stores money that you can use through your phone, including the payments and withdrawals supported by that account.
Holding an AED balance, paying with a linked card and sending to a foreign wallet involve different services.
Mobile wallets
Accounts such as e& money, du Pay and Al Ansari Wallet let you hold dirhams before spending or sending the balance.
You can add money through supported bank, card or cash channels, with some wallets also accepting salary payments.
For retaining several foreign currencies, multi-currency accounts in the UAE offer a different account structure from a local AED wallet.
Mobile money
Mobile money often means sending through a mobile account, with the recipient identified by their phone number rather than an IBAN.
A phone number can also identify a participating bank account through Aani, so it does not always mean a stored wallet balance.
Money transfer apps
Money transfer apps in the UAE let you arrange an international payment, including delivery to a foreign bank account or supported wallet.
Some also offer a stored balance, while others collect payment for each transfer directly from your card or bank.
Mobile banking apps
A bank app gives you access to your existing bank account, which can fund a wallet or make a payment directly.
For a local transfer, using your participating account through Aani can avoid adding money to another service first.
Apple Pay and Google Pay
Apple Pay and Google Pay can fund a supported transfer using your linked card, without typing the card number each time.
The card supplies the payment, while the transfer company or wallet handles the money movement and the recipient’s receiving method.
Using Apple Pay does not turn an overseas recipient’s phone into an account that can receive your international payment.
Who handles the international transfer?
Your wallet holds the dirhams and starts the payment, but a separate international transfer service or payment network can handle the international delivery.
For example, Al Ansari Wallet is operated by Al Ansari Digital Pay, with its international remittances powered by Al Ansari Exchange.
Payit offers different transfer services inside one wallet, so choosing bank delivery or cash collection can involve a different network and fee.
With du Pay, an MTCN identifies a Western Union transfer, while a TF PIN identifies a transfer handled by Transfast.
Keep the reference shown in your wallet, because it helps support trace the payment through the company handling that particular transfer.
Choose a mobile wallet
The best fit depends on whether you need branch cash access, salary funding or a payment to a particular recipient account.
Funding and payments from one AED balance
?
e& money
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
Local phone payments and GCash transfers
?
du Pay
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
Different transfer networks in a FAB wallet
?
Payit
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
Cash funding and withdrawal at exchange branches
7.1
Al Ansari Exchange
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
Keeping dirhams ready for family payments
8.5
TapTap Send
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
Minutes
"Taptap Send faciliates money transfers to bank accounts & mobile money wallets on popular networks with competitive rates."
Wallet payments inside the app you already use
?
Botim
Fees
Exchange Rate Markup
Transfer Speed
e& money
e& money gives you several ways to fund a transfer
You can add dirhams by bank transfer, supported cards or cash agents, then use the balance for payments and international transfers.
Debit-card and Apple Pay funding have no e& money top-up fee, while repeated cash funding and credit-card loading can cost extra.
I like the cash-funding option if you do not want every overseas payment to depend on a bank account.
Sending money
You can send from your AED balance to a bank account, cash collection point or supported mobile wallet abroad.
For example, e& money is a UAE remittance partner for GCash, the Philippine wallet used for local spending and transfers.
A first payment to a new international beneficiary has a limit of AED5,000 during the first 24 hours.
The standard international service fee can be AED15 plus applicable VAT, alongside the exchange-rate margin and any other transaction charges.
Receiving money
Local transfers and supported salary credits can put money into your wallet, ready for spending or sending without a separate top-up.
For money coming from overseas, confirm the specific receiving instructions rather than share only your mobile number with an international sender.
du Pay
du Pay connects local payments with GCash transfers
You can fund du Pay through a bank transfer, supported UAE card or kiosk, with no du Pay cash-in charge.
The account also supports local phone-number payments, bill payments and cash access, so it can serve more than your monthly remittance.
Sending money
Transfers to another du Pay account are free, while a domestic bank transfer costs AED2 before applicable VAT.
For the Philippines, du Pay supports direct wallet-to-wallet payments into GCash, which avoids requiring your recipient to collect cash.
Other international payments offer the bank, wallet or cash methods available for the destination, with the fee dependent on country and amount.
Receiving money
You can receive local payments from another du Pay user or a UAE bank account, including supported salary transfers.
Your account’s receiving allowance differs from its overseas sending allowance, so check available capacity before someone transfers a large local payment.
Payit
Payit gives you a choice of international transfer services
Payit is an AED wallet operated by First Abu Dhabi Bank, with local transfers and overseas payment options inside the same account.
You can add money using a supported local debit card or bank transfer, then choose the service that fits your recipient’s receiving method.
Sending money
The different services include Mastercard-supported bank transfers, MoneyGram cash collection and SWIFT transfers, with different charges rather than one universal international fee.
For example, the Payit Plus tariff charges AED10 for MoneyGram cash collection, while its India Easy Bank Transfer fee is AED5.
Its SWIFT service costs AED25–45, which makes the selected transfer method worth checking before assuming every Payit payment is free.
Payit also partners with GCash for UAE remittances, allowing supported delivery into the recipient’s Philippine wallet.
Receiving money
You can receive money from another Payit wallet or fund your own account through the available local payment channels.
Payit-to-Payit transfers and payments to FAB accounts are free, while transferring to another UAE bank costs AED2.
Al Ansari Wallet
Al Ansari Wallet makes branch cash access easier
Al Ansari Wallet holds an AED balance and lets you add or withdraw money at Al Ansari Exchange branches.
Cash-in and eligible UAE debit or prepaid-card top-ups are free, while branch cash withdrawal costs AED2 plus VAT.
In my opinion, it is worth considering if cash or a supported WPS salary payment is your usual starting point for sending money home.
Sending money
You can send free wallet-to-wallet payments to registered Al Ansari Wallet users, using their mobile number to identify the receiving account.
International payments use the wallet balance and Al Ansari Exchange’s remittance service, with bank delivery or cash collection available for supported destinations.
The wallet’s remittance limit is AED10,000 per transaction and per day, with a monthly ceiling of AED25,000.
Receiving money
You can receive local wallet payments and supported WPS salary credits, or add cash at an exchange branch when you need to fund the account.
This is a separate product from the Al Ansari Exchange app, so use the wallet’s account details and limits for wallet payments.
Taptap Send Wallet
Taptap Send now lets you keep dirhams ready to send
Taptap Send’s UAE wallet holds an AED balance that you can load and use for international payments or transfers to other UAE wallet users.
Its UAE service operates through T T S Financial Services Middle East LLC, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
You need an Emirates ID to verify the account, and the wallet remains a dirham balance rather than a collection of foreign-currency accounts.
Sending money
Wallet-to-wallet payments between UAE Taptap Send users are instant and free, while sending abroad uses the destination’s fee and exchange rate.
To Pakistan, the transfer fee is AED6 below AED700, with no transfer fee at AED700 or above.
The exchange rate still affects the recipient amount, so that threshold does not make the entire international payment cost-free.
If you are sending money from the UAE to India, an available wallet balance can fund the transfer to a supported Indian bank account.
Here is the amount received for AED3,500, with the transfer funded from a mobile-wallet balance.
Another UAE Taptap Send wallet user can send you dirhams, which you can retain for a later overseas payment.
Receiving a local AED wallet payment is different from having international bank details for holding dollars or pounds.
botim Wallet
botim brings wallet payments into the app you already use
If you already use botim, its wallet lets you manage a payment without opening a separate app for every transfer.
International sending requires your UAE mobile number, valid Emirates ID and the beneficiary details for the delivery method you choose.
Sending money
You can choose available bank deposits, cash collection, digital wallets or UPI payments, with the destination and method determining the fee.
UPI is India’s instant-payment network for bank-linked accounts, so it should not be confused with a separate stored wallet balance.
I suggest botim for an available delivery method you need, rather than assuming using the calling app automatically gets you the best rate.
Receiving money
Your botim Wallet can support local payments, and withdrawing its balance to a UAE bank account costs AED2 per transaction.
A bank withdrawal usually takes about two working days, which is worth allowing for if you need the money outside the wallet.
Sending to a mobile wallet abroad
You can send to a foreign wallet without keeping a balance in that country, because the international company handles conversion and local delivery.
For sending money from the UAE to the Philippines, GCash and Maya are examples of recipient wallets that can receive supported remittances.
For sending money from the UAE to Pakistan, Easypaisa and JazzCash let the recipient use the payment locally or withdraw through supported channels.
Remitly and Taptap Send both support GCash and Easypaisa delivery from the UAE, offering alternatives to the international service inside your usual wallet.
These AED1,000 examples compare mobile-wallet delivery to GCash in the Philippines and Easypaisa in Pakistan.
Last updated at 19/10/2026
AED PHP
Mid Market RateAED 1 = ₱17.179
Transfer AmountAED 1,000
1
Remitly
2
TapTap Send
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
₱17,250.00
AED 0.00
17.2500
-0.41%
Within minutes
₱17,150.00
AED 0.00
17.1500
0.17%
Minutes
AED PKR
Mid Market RateAED 1 = Rs 75.5936
Transfer AmountAED 1,000
1
Remitly
2
TapTap Send
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
Rs 76,010.00
AED 0.00
76.0100
-0.55%
Within minutes
Rs 75,700.00
AED 0.00
75.7000
-0.14%
Minutes
Taptap Send’s UAE-to-GCash ceiling is PHP50,000 per payment, while your recipient’s verification and remaining allowance can impose a lower limit.
For an AED1,000 payment to Easypaisa, your recipient needs enough capacity for the rupee amount, which can exceed a lower-tier wallet’s allowance.
If the recipient will withdraw everything, check their cash-out charge as well as the amount credited before choosing wallet delivery.
Sending money within the UAE
For a payment to someone nearby, my suggestion is to first check whether both of your existing accounts support Aani.
Aani allows payments up to AED50,000 through participating institutions, operating around the clock and processing transactions in under ten seconds.
It uses details such as a mobile number, email address or QR code to identify the receiving account.
The money stays connected to the participating account, so Aani does not require everyone to fund a separate stored-value wallet.
Domestic money transfers in the UAE can therefore be simpler through your bank, particularly when you already hold the money there.
Ziina is another option for local wallet payments, with free balance-funded transfers between personal accounts and charges for personal payments funded by cards.
For splitting a bill, paying from an existing balance avoids its 2.9% plus AED1 card-funded personal-payment charge.
Mobile money transfer fees
Check the cost of adding money, sending it and taking it out, because each can be charged separately.
Payment or action
Fee to consider
e& money international transfer
Standard AED15 service fee plus applicable VAT, FX margin and any additional charges
du Pay local bank transfer
AED2 plus applicable VAT
Payit MoneyGram cash collection
AED10 under the Payit Plus tariff
Al Ansari Wallet branch cash withdrawal
AED2 plus VAT
Taptap Send to Pakistan
AED6 below AED700, no transfer fee from AED700
botim withdrawal to a UAE bank
AED2
Promotional free transfers can change, so I suggest judging a regular monthly payment using the standard price and the amount your recipient receives.
Recipient wallets have their own limits, making the amount received as important as the dirham amount you pay.
Renew your Emirates ID before it expires, because account verification and international transfer access can be restricted when identity documents lapse.
How to make a mobile money transfer?
Decide where the recipient needs the money
Choose a local account, foreign wallet or cash collection before funding the transfer, because each requires different receiving details.
For wallet delivery abroad, confirm the wallet name and registered phone number rather than assume any mobile number can receive it.
Check your available allowance
Complete Emirates ID verification and check your remaining limit, including any temporary restriction for a new beneficiary.
Ask the recipient to confirm their wallet is verified and has enough space for the amount being received.
Fund the payment using the correct reference
Follow the wallet’s current bank or cash-funding instructions, including any account reference needed to match the money to your balance.
If you already hold money in a suitable wallet, avoid moving it through another account unless that reduces the total cost.
Confirm the amount received and keep the reference
Review the final recipient amount and delivery method, then save the reference needed to track the international payment.
What if the payment is pending, missing or sent to the wrong account?
Check whether the problem is the wallet top-up or the overseas payment, because they involve different stages and transaction references.
For a missing bank top-up, keep the bank’s payment confirmation and the exact reference entered when you sent the money.
For an overseas payment, contact the service you used with the beneficiary details and its MTCN, TF PIN or other transfer reference.
Report a wrong recipient immediately, because a payment already credited to a wallet may be impossible to cancel.
Is mobile money transfer safe?
Use a regulated service and check the legal company handling the wallet or remittance, especially when several brands appear during payment.
CBUAE rules require protections for customer funds and information, but a regulated wallet does not eliminate the risk of sending to a scammer.
Keep your PIN and one-time passwords private, and ignore anyone asking for a separate payment to release a completed transfer.
If an issue remains unresolved, make a formal complaint to the financial institution and check whether it qualifies for escalation through Sanadak.
For payments coming into the UAE, receiving money from abroad explains the account details and available receiving methods beyond local wallet transfers.
Compare the international transfer cost before sending from your dirham balance, including any wallet funding or withdrawal charge that applies.
Compare transfers from the UAE
Enter your AED amount and destination to compare available transfer rates, then check wallet delivery with your selected service.
Our methodology & why trust us
We checked wallet funding, transfer directions and account limits against official product information, current key facts statements and UAE payment-system guidance.
Our live comparisons cover eligible international transfer companies, while native wallet fees are researched separately rather than inferred from a generic bank quote.
I focused on how you can fund and use each balance, with our review methodology explaining the wider assessment process.
With 6+ years of hands-on experience in international money transfer services, Artiom has tested and analyzed dozens of companies, services, and apps firsthand. From sending money between the UK, EU, US, JP, and ID, to helping friends and family transfer large amounts abroad, he combines deep personal experience with industry insight.
He has worked on content and product at MoneyTransfers.com since 2019, with a focus on FX rates, transfer apps & companies, and comparison tools. His work has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Decrypt, PoundSterling, and more.
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