How to send money to Ethiopia from UAE with the best AED-ETB rate

The exchange rate determines the price you will pay when buying Ethiopian Birr.

A better exchange rate means more money being sent to Ethiopia.

If you are paying for services in Ethiopian Birr from the United Arab Emirates, this can make a huge difference.

The current rate between the UAE Dirham and Ethiopian Birr is 43.9852, and it fluctuates all the time.

The cost of sending money from Ethiopia to Ethiopia, is made-up of a combination of fees and exchange rates:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate determines a mid-price for buying currency. The current mid-market rate from AED-ETB is 43.9852 ETB per UAE Dirham.

• Fees: Outside of exchange rates, you may need to pay a fee to send. Taptap Send currently offers the lowest fees on transfers to Ethiopia from the United Arab Emirates. They charge 0 AED per transfer. Although this does include large transfers as well, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The amount received in Ethiopian Birr is the amount you started with, minus the amount you paid in the exchange and fees.

Here's a tip, if you're making a large transfer, you can also use a forward contract to lock in an agreed exchange rate between the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

Using a debit card to send via money transfer company is the payment method that will get you the best price when sending from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia.

Here are all the ways to send money from United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the fastest and cheapest way to send money from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia.

Using a money transfer company such as Xe for payments from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia, means you can send via a bank transfer and benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money with a debit card from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia is easy with Taptap Send.


Taptap Send is a leader in debit card money transfers from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia. They are the best option of the 3 transfer companies compared.

Credit cards

When it comes to credit card transfers from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

Ensuring you fully understand regulations in the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia will aid in keeping your money safe.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators contains details on regulation for sending money between the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

Some companies offering money transfers between the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can send or receive.

Rates and fees for different transfer amounts could change - that’s why it’s best to compare AED-ETB rates for your specific transfer amount.

For regular transfers to Ethiopia, shopping around each time can make a huge difference.

For sending large amounts of AED to Ethiopia we'd recommend using Xe. They offer a combination of rates and fees when sending from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia that is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

There are different options for receiving Ethiopian Birr in Ethiopia.

The most popular are direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

Not all companies offering transfers from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia will offer every method for incoming Ethiopian Birr, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Again, a comparison of AED to ETB providers will tell you if the method for receiving is supported.

One of the most common ways to transfer money from the United Arab Emirates into Ethiopia is by sending directly to a bank account. Xe is the best company for bank transfers between the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia.

P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular because of convenience but are better for domestic transfers. For receiving international payments they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer options like multi-currency accounts.

If using a money transfer company to send Ethiopian Birrs to Ethiopia, you will need to verify your ID at the sign up stage.

The documents you need will vary and in some cases you might need more than one.

ID can be verified in the United Arab Emirates through a government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license.

If the recipient needs an ID to collect money in Ethiopia, it will be similar.

Large transactions between United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, can be subject to additional checks. This includes proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes.

One of the reasons Xe has scored so highly for transfers to Ethiopia is their easy sign up process in the United Arab Emirates.

Sending regular, or larger amounts of money between United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia could mean there are tax declarations to consider.

Some transfers into Ethiopian Birr may need to be reported to tax authorities in Ethiopia, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Ethiopia has many different tax obligations for residents and non-residents.

When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in the United Arab Emirates or Ethiopia to discuss your personal circumstances. This ensures you are not missing any specific tax needs associated with your transfer.