How to send money to South Africa from UAE with the best AED-ZAR rate

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Rand when you send UAE Dirham to South Africa.

The current exchange rate between the UAE Dirham and Rand is 4.5143, but it constantly changes.

When calculating the costs of money transfers between United Arab Emirates and South Africa, opt for the best combination of fees and exchange rates:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: Today, the AED-ZAR mid-market rate equals 4.5143 ZAR per UAE Dirham.

• Fees: Fees are charged on top of a transfer. The company offering the lowest fee is Key Currency, only 0 AED. We would recommend searching for your exact send amount to get an idea of fees.

• Amount Received: The amount received in Rand is the biggest indicator the total cost of sending money from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa. Essentially, the more the recipient receives in South Africa, the less it is costing to send from the United Arab Emirates.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of UAE Dirham. But, the best way to lock in a price between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is the our recommended option for money transfers between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

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

Bank transfers

Paying via a bank transfer is often the better option for sending money from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa.

By using a money transfer company such as Key Currency for transfers from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa, you can send money and while benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa with a debit or a prepaid card is easy with Taptap Send.


Taptap Send is a one of the better options in the market for international debit card transfers from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa.

Credit cards

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

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both United Arab Emirates and South Africa to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using TorFx if you need to send large amounts of AED to South Africa. The combination of rates and fees when sending to South Africa is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving the United Arab Emirates, or entering South Africa. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in South Africa. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from the United Arab Emirates into Rand. TorFx is the best company for bank transfers between United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

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

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 Key Currency.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, you will need to verify your ID.

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

For the most part, in the United Arab Emirates this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In South Africa it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in South Africa, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend TorFx in part due to their easy sign up process in the United Arab Emirates.

When sending large amounts of money between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into Rand may need to be reported to tax authorities in South Africa, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in South Africa based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in the United Arab Emirates or South Africa to discuss your personal circumstances.