Send money to UAE
Quick answer: Where you send from decides the cheapest option to UAE. Across the 2 sending routes we price, the top-ranked estimates right now are Wise from United States (3,645 AED for $1,000); Western Union from India (1,872 AED for ₹50,000).
Latest pricing observation: . Quotes are kept per USD→AED pair, not per country, so check is served before you commit. Methodology.
Cheapest way to send money to UAE, by sending country
The top-ranked estimate on each route we price into UAE, from our own collected quotes. Choose your country for the full provider ranking.
USD → AED · 3 estimates
Wise: $1,000 becomes 3,644.99 AED · 0.00% over mid-market · 73 AED ahead of the lowest
INR → AED · 2 estimates
Western Union: ₹50,000 becomes 1,872.27 AED · 1.97% over mid-market · 65 AED ahead of the lowest
The UAE — home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi — is one of the world's largest remittance hubs, with a population that is over 88% expatriate. While the UAE is better known as a sending country (particularly to South Asia and Southeast Asia), significant flows also go into the UAE: from overseas Emiratis, international investors, and cross-border business payments. The AED is pegged to the USD at a fixed rate of 3.6725, eliminating exchange rate risk.
- The AED is pegged to the USD at exactly 3.6725, guaranteed by the UAE Central Bank (CBUAE). This means zero currency volatility — the only cost variable is the provider's transfer fee and any spread above the pegged rate.
- UAE IBAN format: AE + 2 check digits + 3-digit bank code + 16-digit account number = 23 characters total. Always use the IBAN for transfers to UAE accounts — SWIFT alone is insufficient for many UAE banks.
- Major receiving banks: Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Mashreq Bank, RAKBank, and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB). All accept inbound SWIFT transfers.
- The CBUAE (Central Bank of the UAE) regulates all financial transfers. The UAE has strict AML requirements — transfers above AED 55,000 (~$15,000) may require additional documentation.
- Western Union, Ria, and Al Ansari Exchange have extensive cash pickup networks across the UAE with agents in all major malls and commercial areas.
Guides, fees & how it works
What you need to send money to UAE
Full name
Recipient's full legal name as it appears on their bank account
IBAN
23-character IBAN starting with 'AE'
Example: AE460090000000123456789
Bank name
Name of the receiving bank
SWIFT/BIC code
Optional8 or 11-character SWIFT code identifying the bank (may be optional with IBAN)
How much does it cost to send money to UAE?
The top-ranked estimate on each sending route into UAE sits between 0.00% and 1.97% above the mid-market rate: tightest from United States (Wise), widest from India (Western Union).
How can my recipient receive money in UAE?
Recipients in UAE have 2 ways to receive this transfer: bank deposit; cash pickup.
Bank Deposit
Direct transfer to bank accounts in UAE.
Cash Pickup
Collect cash from agent locations in UAE.
How long does it take to send money to UAE?
Top-ranked providers advertise 17h 54m from United States (Wise), 3 days from India (Western Union).
Provider-stated speeds for UAE, not our measurement.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money to UAE
What is the cheapest way to send money to the UAE?
Because the AED is pegged to USD at 3.6725, there is no exchange rate risk or rate shopping needed for USD senders. The main cost difference is provider fees. For GBP/EUR senders, the GBP-to-AED or EUR-to-AED rate is where providers differ — Wise and Remitly are typically cheapest. For USD-to-AED, Western Union and Remitly are competitive due to the fixed peg.
What IBAN do I need to transfer money to the UAE?
UAE IBANs are 23 characters: 'AE' + 2 check digits + 3-digit bank code + 16-digit account number. Example: AE070331234567890123456. Your recipient can find their IBAN in their bank's mobile app or on a bank statement. Emirates NBD bank code is 033, ADCB is 030, FAB is 035, Mashreq is 033, RAKBank is 021.
How long does a transfer to the UAE take?
Specialist providers like Wise and Remitly typically deliver to UAE bank accounts within 1–2 business days via SWIFT. For USD transfers, same-day processing is often possible given the USD-AED peg simplifies conversion. Cash pickup at Al Ansari Exchange or Western Union agents is available within minutes.
Is the AED a fixed currency?
Yes. The UAE dirham (AED) has been pegged to the US dollar at exactly 3.6725 AED = 1 USD since 1997, guaranteed by the Central Bank of the UAE. This means USD-to-AED transfers have no currency risk — the rate is always 3.6725. For GBP, EUR, or other currencies, the exchange rate to AED varies with GBP/USD and EUR/USD movements.
Can I send money to Dubai specifically?
Dubai is part of the UAE, so any AED bank account transfer goes through the UAE banking system regardless of whether the bank is in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or another emirate. Emirates NBD and Mashreq are headquartered in Dubai. All UAE transfers use AED and follow CBUAE regulations regardless of the emirate.