There are numerous cases where you may need to transfer money to the United Arab Emirates, or, conversely, from the Emirates. Helping relatives, registering a company in the UAE mainland or in a free economic zone, purchasing goods or real estate, or booking a hotel room are just some of the possible reasons.

How to transfer money to Dubai and other cities in the UAE?

There are several options for wire transfers in the UAE. The most common and reliable methods include:

• Western Union. The most well-known system of worldwide money transfer. One of its main advantages is a wide network of branches—it will not take you much time to find a relevant office to send the required amount. Furthermore, the transfer is carried out within a short period of time—money is received almost immediately. However, Western Union fees are generally higher than alternative systems and vary depending on the country, amount, and transfer method. Please note that when making transfers from the UAE, you must undergo KYC procedures, including providing your passport and contact information, in accordance with the AML/CFT requirements of UAE law.
• Unistream. This money transfer system is similar to Western Union but charges a lower fee—2.1-2.3%. Some of the advantages of Unistream include the availability of a Russian website that is designed to maintain online money transfers. By way of unistream.ru you can transfer money to any place from anywhere where an Internet connection is available (provided that there are sufficient funds available on the credit card (Maestro, Mastercard)).
• MoneyGram. MoneyGram is an analogue of the two previous systems of money transfers. The company's network of offices includes more than 320,000 locations worldwide, and its partners include financial institutions, national postal services and the largest retail networks in 198 countries, including in the UAE. Another advantage of MoneyGram is its reasonable fee: 1%.
• Electronic Payment Systems. PayPal, Webmoney, YooMoney and similar online systems are best suited for payment of goods and services. The transfer of large amounts of money via such systems is uncomfortable and is not cost effective.
• SWIFT transfers / bank wire transfers. Among the safest and most popular international transfer methods to Dubai and elsewhere in the UAE. It really just moves money between bank accounts, using the SWIFT international interbank messaging system. A SWIFT transfer can take from 1 to 3 business days, depending on the correspondent banks and currency used in your transaction. However, please note that in some instances the beneficiary bank may charge a fee. In addition to those noted above, SWIFT transfers may be made in other currencies (such as AED), but it will vary based on the recipient's bank account details.

The best way to transfer cash to the UAE varies, depending on your goals—personal or business support. Reliable Banking Solutions And Well-Developed Financial Frameworks Are Important For Companies Registered In The UAE Mainland Or Free Zones.

With Dubai-Freezone specialists, you will not only be assisted in selecting the optimal transfer method, but also with corporate account opening and compliance as well as seamless international payments in UAE.

• Checked / Updated: 05.17.2026
• Published on: 10.14.2014
• Author: Andrey Melnichuk