Best Money Transfer Services 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.
DisclosureMoneyTransfers aims to help users find the best money transfer provider for their needs. To support our free service, we may earn a commission from some of the providers listed in our search results. The commission may also impact the ordering of the providers shown. Our reviews are independent from this and are based on our editorial policy, research and testing of dozens of remittance providers on the market.
Table of contents
Sending money from the UAE through a money transfer service is usually cheaper than your bank or a walk-in exchange house, and you can do it from your phone.
All data on this page updates weekly, verified through our comparison engine and real test transfers.
The best service depends on the amount, destination, and pay-in/pay-out methods.
I suggest running a quick search using the form below to get the best deal on transfers from the UAE.
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At a glance
Here are the best money transfer services for transfers from the UAE:
Wise: best overall for everyday transfers and holding currencies
Taptap Send: cheapest for regular sends to Asia and Africa
Aspora: best for sending to India
Western Union: best for cash pickup and reach
Regency FX: best for large transfers, like property or moving savings home
The best money transfer services for UAE residents
It’s simpler and more natural to use banks and walk-in exchange houses for international transfers, but there are many online money transfer services in the UAE that do it better, faster, and much cheaper.
We track daily rates across 200+ services and pair that with our own testing.
Here are the ones that we found to be the best 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."
"Taptap Send faciliates money transfers to bank accounts & mobile money wallets on popular networks with competitive rates."
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"Aspora (formerly Vance) is built for Non-resident Indians sending money to India with zero markup, low flat fees, and on-time 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."
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"Regency's UK-based account management team has vast experience. Get support on all kinds of transfers, from overseas property transactions to business payments & more."
Wise
Wise is the overall best money transfer service for transfers from the UAE.
Wise is great for online only money transfers directly from your bank account.
It's the best and simplest option if you want to skip the exchange house and use the app instead.
It always uses the mid-market rate, and the fees start from 0.31%, depending on the destination and amount.
Here are a few examples:
The dirham is pegged to the dollar, so there's not much to win for transfers to the US in terms of cost, but it’s definitely more convenient than going to the exchange house.
You can send money from the UAE to 70+ countries.
I've had my Wise account for years. I use it for travel, spending abroad, and sending money to family, most recently across Asia and Europe with no issues.
The biggest downside to Wise in the UAE is that you don’t get access to the multi-currency account or the debit card.
This means you can only make transfers to and from UAE using your bank account.
It’s fine for most transfers, but can be a bit slower with slightly higher fees compared to other countries.
But it’s still much cheaper than using a bank or a currency exchange house.
Also, there’s no option to send or receive cash, since Wise is an online only service.
Wise is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE for digital remittance and payments, and keeps customer money separate from company funds.
"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."
Taptap Send
TapTap Send is the cheapest service for transfers to Asia and Africa.
TapTap Send is the overall cheapest option for transfers from the UAE, especially to Asia and Africa.
There are no fees on most destinations, instead, the cost is worked into the exchange rate markup (a percentage added on top of the exchange rate).
With TapTap, this is what you can expect for popular destinations:
It's an app only company, so there’s no physical stores or online platforms.
Taptap says 95% of transfers land within three minutes, and on the popular routes that held up in my testing.
Your recipient doesn't need an account.
During the transfer you can pick the delivery option from:
Direct to bank deposit
Direct to card deposit
Mobile wallets
Cash pickup
Cash delivery
And a few more local options
TapTap Send is one of a few companies that offers so many funding and delivery methods.
The biggest downside is its coverage. It is largely made for emerging markets rather than bigger destinations like the UK, US, or the EU.
This is where Wise does it a bit better.
TapTap Send is DFSA-regulated in the UAE and keeps customer money separate from company funds.
"Taptap Send faciliates money transfers to bank accounts & mobile money wallets on popular networks with competitive rates."
Aspora
Aspora is the best money transfer service for transfers to India.
Aspora offers the best money transfer rates to India from the UAE.
Aspora charges no markup, just like Wise, and adds a small fee instead (but less than Wise).
Here are a few examples of how the two compare:
For AED transfers, Aspora runs on LuLu International Exchange, which is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
So you're sending through established local networks (rails). This is what allows it to be faster and cheaper than other options.
Money goes straight to an Indian bank account or UPI, usually in minutes and rarely more than a day.
It's also moving into NRI banking, with NRE and NRO accounts in the app, handy if you manage money in India as well as send it.
There are no cash pickup options and well, it is only available for transfers to India.
"Aspora (formerly Vance) is built for Non-resident Indians sending money to India with zero markup, low flat fees, and on-time transfers."
Remitly
Remitly is the best app for fast cash delivery abroad.
Remitly is the most flexible app for sending money home to Asia.
Remitly offers economy and express transfers.
Express transfers are very fast but cost a bit more while Economy is cheaper but slower.
Most Express transfers will arrive within a day, regardless of the withdrawal method used (even for cash delivery if it's available).
If you don’t mind paying extra, this is the fastest option to send money from the UAE.
As for the Economy, it can take 1-3 days for the money to arrive, but it’s slightly cheaper.
First transfers often come with a promo rate (more on that in our money transfer offers page).
After that, Remitly adds a margin and a fee.
Here are a few examples:
It's one of the better options on transfers to India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Just like with TapTap Send, there are multiple deposit options and receiving options, from bank to mobile wallets to cash delivery.
Remitly runs in the UAE through its DIFC office, regulated by the DFSA.
And you sign up with your Emirates ID.
It has slightly bigger coverage than TapTap Send, but its biggest downside is that it is a bit more expensive than other options.
"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 is the best for cash deposits and in-person transfers.
Western Union is best when your recipient needs cash, or lives in an unbanked area.
With WU you can send money to over 200 countries from the UAE, with over 500,000 agent locations worldwide for cash collection.
This is as close as it gets to the exchange house.
Here are a few examples of what to expect from Western Union on popular destinations:
There's a dedicated UAE app for residents, so you can send from your phone with your Emirates ID, or walk into one of 900+ local agent locations and send cash.
You will need to pay by UAE card or bank transfer, and your recipient can receive cash, a bank deposit, or a mobile wallet deposit.
Cash pickups are usually ready in minutes while bank deposits take 1 - 2 working days.
Western Union is usually better than exchange houses like Al Ansari because of its reach and global presence.
It offers a good mix of online and in-person transfers compared to other options.
The biggest downside are the limits. You are usually limited to ~25,000 AED per transfer, but it varies by the deposit and withdrawal method you pick.
Regency FX
Regency FX is the best option for large transfers from the UAE.
Regency FX is the best option in UAE for large transfers (100,000 AED and up).
It is great for things like buying property back home, education fees, or moving your savings when you leave the UAE.
With Regency FX you get an account manager who handles your transfer, negotiates the rate, times your transfer, and helps you with the process.
There's no transfer fee, but they add an exchange rate markup:
| Corridor | They get (after fees) | Transfer speed | Transfer fee | FX markup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED / EUR | €11,864.43 | Minutes - 24 hours | AED 0.00 | 0.27 |
| AED / GBP | £10,181.49 | Minutes - 24 hours | AED 0.00 | 0.27 |
| AED / IDR | Rp 245,739,364.92 | Minutes - 24 hours | AED 0.00 | 0.27 |
| AED / INR | ₹1,300,341.62 | Minutes - 24 hours | AED 0.00 | 0.27 |
| AED / USD | $13,577.94 | Minutes - 24 hours | AED 0.00 | 0.27 |
Regency FX is FCA-regulated in the UK and holds client money in safeguarded accounts, separate from its own.
It serves UAE expats on that basis, so it isn't a locally licensed UAE house.
To be honest, I always suggest getting a quote from a few brokers at once to see who can get you a better exchange rate.
I usually suggest starting with these:
From there, you can pick the one that offered you the best exchange rate. Make sure to confirm if it’s the first time transfer rate or locked for future transfers too.
On the downside, there is no app and most of the work happens over the phone or the email (which is a benefit for many!).
"Regency's UK-based account management team has vast experience. Get support on all kinds of transfers, from overseas property transactions to business payments & more."
LuLu Money
LuLu Money is the best service for transfers from salary cards.
LuLu Money is the best local option if you want to pay for your transfer in cash or from a salary card.
The apps above mostly need a bank account or card.
With LuLu Money you can fund a transfer with cash, a WPS salary card, a prepaid card, or a linked wallet, which makes it more convenient.
Most costs come from the exchange rate markup:
You can send AED to 100+ countries through the app or visit any of 145+ UAE branches for physical cash transfer.
LuLu Money is run by LuLu International Exchange, licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
The biggest downside to using LuLu Exchange is their cost. It is generally more expensive compared to Wise or TapTap.
Al Ansari Exchange
Al Ansari Exchange has the biggest network of branches in the UAE.
Al Ansari is best for in-person cash transfers, but it’s rarely the cheapest option.
After 60 years it has the largest branch network in the UAE, which is largely for your convenience rather than the receivers.
You can also make transfers through the app, and you get prepaid cards, bill payments, mobile top-ups, and government services in one place.
You can pay by cash at a branch, bank transfer, card, or its PayPlus card.
Al Ansari is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE.
Compared to other options, Al Ansari is definitely the most convenient, but it lacks the deposit methods of TapTap Send and the exchange rates are worse compared to Wise.
Notable mentions
These aren't dedicated transfer services, but they're worth knowing. Both are super-apps you might already have, and both now send money abroad.
Botim Pay
Botim started as a calling and messaging app, and many UAE residents already have it.
Botim sends money from the UAE to 170+ countries, with payout to a bank account, mobile wallet, UPI, or cash pickup.
It's licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, and you send from your Botim wallet after an Emirates ID check.
It offers Send Now Pay Later service, and is convenient if you’re already a user.
But a dedicated money transfer service like Wise, TapTap Send, and Remitly is usually cheaper.
Careem Pay
Careem Pay is the money side of the Careem app, and works much the same way.
You can send money to 30+ countries through a partnership with LuLu Exchange, and it is regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE.
Careem claims transfers are around 50% cheaper than banks, with zero fees for Careem Plus members.
It's convenient if you're already a user, though wallet limits are at around AED 25,000 a month.
But like with Botim, a dedicated service like Wise or Taptap Send is usually cheaper.
Banks and exchange houses vs money transfer services
The obvious question is, why not just use your bank, or the exchange house down the road?
Well, you can, and millions do, but both usually much more and you end up with less money on the other end.
Your bank
UAE banks tend to add high markup on top of the exchange rate, often 2-3%, and then there are fees on top.
This is because most bank transfers are done over the SWIFT network which is more expensive and slower.
Exchange houses
Al Ansari, LuLu and similar are convenient and great for cash transfers.
Their rates are more competitive than banks, but these usually add higher markup and mask it behind the super-app interface for convenience.
To be honest, on small and occasional money transfers this is fine, since it is much more convenient.
But if you’re regularly sending money back home, a money transfer app can save you a fair bit of money over the long run.
Money transfer services
Money transfer services use something called local accounts.
These accounts are located all over the world. When you deposit AED it goes into AED local account, and the recipient just withdraws the equivalent amount from their end in their local account.
The money never crosses the border, so it's cheaper and faster than banks.
And, these companies have no other costs or overheads, so they are able to offer better exchange rates and lower fees, since the running cost is much lower compared to exchange houses.
Cash still has its place If your recipient has no bank account, or you pay in cash or from a salary card.
This is where an exchange house or a cash-payout app like Western Union is still a good choice.
How you pay for a transfer
How you fund a transfer in the UAE changes what's available and what it costs.
Debit or credit card
Usually the quickest way to deposit money, but cost a bit more.
Credit cards can trigger a cash-advance fee, so debit is usually better.
Bank transfer
This is the default option, you pay from your UAE bank account.
It is the cheapest but can be slower, especially on larger transfers.
Cash at an exchange house
Great for sending cash and is more native.
Usually best if you prefer to deal with cash, and your recipient needs cash as well.
Otherwise, money transfer services in the UAE are much cheaper.
Salary or WPS card
If you're paid onto a salary card, apps like LuLu Money let you send straight from it.
You can connect it to the service and make deposits from it as usual.
Wallet balance
Send money directly from a Botim or Careem Pay wallet (assuming you’ve already topped up).
This is probably the easiest and most convenient way to send money abroad, but its more expensive compared to dedicated money transfer apps.
For domestic transfers within UAE
Aani Aani is an instant domestic payment system, so you can move money between UAE accounts in seconds.
Cheapest way to send from the UAE
Cost comes down to the exchange rate markup and fees on top, regardless of using a bank, mobile wallet, exchange house, or a money transfer service.
In any transfer both values will move the cost, and the few things that affect it are:
The destination
The amount
How you pay for your transfer
How the receiver is getting the money
Here are the cheapest money transfer services for sending money from the UAE to popular destinations:
Fastest services
Speed depends on the corridor, the amount, the payout method, and any checks.
As a general rule, the faster you need it, the more expensive it will be.
Here are the fastest money transfer services to send money from the UAE:
Money transfer company | Transfer speed |
|---|---|
Taptap Send | Usually minutes |
Remitly | Express in minutes, Economy a bit longer |
Western Union | Cash pickup in minutes |
Careem Pay, Botim | Usually minutes |
Wise | Minutes, larger or exotic transfers 1-2 days |
Exchange houses | Instant within their own network |
For domestic transfers within UAE
To avoid delays, verify your account when you sign up, and expect a first transfer to take longer while checks run.
If you’re sending large amounts of AED, let your bank know so they don’t flag your transfer as suspicious.
Easiest apps to use
Any service with an app will be the easiest way to send money from the UAE.
And to be honest, I think local super-apps like Botim and Careem Pay are the easiest in terms of convenience (not the cheapest, but the easiest).
Company | Platforms | Funding | Payout | Multi-currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Botim | iOS, Android | Wallet, card | Bank, cash, wallet, UPI | No |
Careem Pay | iOS, Android | Wallet, card | Bank, cash on some routes | No |
Wise | iOS, Android, Web | Card, bank transfer | Bank, wallet | No |
Remitly | iOS, Android, Web | Card, bank transfer | Bank, wallet | No |
LuLu Money | iOS, Android | Cash, salary card, card, wallet | Bank, cash, wallet | No |
Best for large transfers
On large transfers, the support you get is much more important than the costs, simplicity, or how fast it gets delivered.
A currency broker gives you an account manager, a locked exchange rate, and support during the transfer, which no bank or app really matches.
I personally wouldn't want to handle a transfer over 100k AED myself, I would rather a professional do it for me.
Here are the best services for sending large amounts of AED abroad:
Money transfer company | Amount and corridor | Account manager | Total received |
|---|---|---|---|
Regency FX | AED 1,000,000 AED/GBP | Yes | |
Key Currency | AED 1,000,000 AED/GBP | Yes | |
OFX | AED 1,000,000 AED/GBP | Yes |
Regardless of what option you pick or decide to go with, I suggest running a quick live search to get the best deal right now.
Even if you decide to go with Al Ansari, you can check what rates are offered by top money transfer companies and apps, and compare it to the one you get in the store.
Find the best deal on AED transfers
Fill in the form below to get the best deal on money transfers from UAE right now.Our methodology & why trust us
We compared over 200 money transfer services to build this list, using live data from our comparison engine and our own test transfers.
Every provider here is licensed to serve people sending from the UAE. That means one of:
Licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)
Regulated in the DIFC by the DFSA, or in the ADGM
An FCA-regulated broker serving UAE expats
Instead of providing a generic ranking, we picked each service for a specific job, like cheapest to Asia, best for India, or best for large transfers.
Where a local exchange house or super-app is genuinely the better choice, we included it too, regardless of any monetary deals in place.
A UAE page that ignored them wouldn't be much use.
We rate every provider on fees, rates, speed, safety, limits, ease of use, and real customer feedback.
Prices and features change often, so the page updates weekly to stay fresh.
At a glance
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Contributors
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