Send money to the UAE from the UK
Send money to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) securely with competitive GBP/AED exchange rates, no transfer fees, and expert support from currency specialists.
Send money to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) securely with competitive GBP/AED exchange rates, no transfer fees, and expert support from currency specialists.
£10bn transferred each year
Authorised by the FCA in the UK and regulated around the world
Expert guidance and 24/7 customer support
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
Sending money to the UAE is simple. With Currencies Direct, you can create a free account, agree your exchange rate and make your transfer in just a few steps. Once we've received your funds, we'll convert them into dirhams and send them securely to your recipient's UAE bank account.
Register online or open an account over the phone. Our team is here to guide you through the process if you need help.
Choose when to transfer your money and secure your exchange rate online, or speak to your dedicated account manager for expert guidance.
Send us your funds via bank transfer. We'll convert your money and send it securely to your chosen account.
The cost of sending money to the UAE depends on the interbank exchange rate at the time of your transfer, the exchange rate offered by your provider, and any margins or fees added to the transfer.
The exchange rate you get from your provider determines how many UAE dirhams you’ll receive for your GBP/AED transfer. Currency specialists tend to offer better rates than high-street banks, and it's often good to shop around.
Some providers may charge a fee for your transfer to the UAE, either as a fixed amount or a percentage of the transfer. UAE banks may also charge a fee for receiving an international payment, depending on the bank and type of account.
Currency markets are always moving, so the timing of your transfer can affect how many dirhams you get for your pounds. For example, the GBP/AED exchange rate reached highs of AED5.04 and lows of AED4.47 through 2025. This could mean a AED57,000 difference on a £100,000 transfer.
The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar, so its value against the pound is largely influenced by movements in GBP/USD. This means changes in the pound's value against the US dollar can affect how many dirhams you receive for your pounds.
Exchange rates change constantly. Check the latest GBP to AED interbank rate before sending money to the UAE and see how market movements could affect your transfer.
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The exchange rates quoted in this section are based on the interbank rate. This gives you an accurate view of market performance, but it’s important to note that we cannot offer customers these rates – no provider can. Some companies advertise the interbank rates only to add on extra fees when you transfer. We buy currency at the rate banks use between themselves, rates not available to everyday businesses or individuals. We add a small increase to that rate, payable by the customer — that’s how we make our money. Customers also receive expert support throughout their transfer. If there are any additional charges, these will be made clear to you.
As a specialist currency provider, we combine competitive exchange rates with expert guidance to help you get more from your transfer. Whether you're sending a one-off payment, transferring a large sum or setting up regular payments, we'll help you find the right solution.
Get competitive GBP/AED exchange rates with no transfer fees, helping more of your money reach its destination.
Your own dedicated currency expert is on hand to answer questions, explain your options and provide market guidance whenever you need it.
Send money to the UAE with confidence. Currencies Direct is authorised by the FCA and regulated around the world. Your funds are safeguarded, and your transfer is handled securely from start to finish.
Whether you're making a one-off payment or setting up regular transfers, we offer flexible solutions tailored to your needs, such as forward contracts and automated payments.
Banks tend to offer less competitive rates, charge higher fees and offer limited support or services. You could get a much better deal using Currencies Direct.
The table below highlights some of the key differences between using a specialist currency provider and a typical UK bank for sending money to the UAE.
|
|
Currencies Direct |
Typical high-street bank |
|---|---|---|
|
Transfer fee |
£0 |
May apply |
|
Exchange rate |
Competitive specialist rates |
Exchange rate may include a larger margin |
|
Personal support |
Dedicated account manager |
Usually limited |
|
Best for |
International money transfers |
General banking services |
“Excellent support from Jamie… Thanks to Jamie's responsive and helpful support, my currency transfer from the UK to the UAE was secured at a great rate and completed swiftly. Currencies Direct provided an excellent end-to-end service.” – Rosie
Read the full review on Trustpilot
“Excellent overall. Very good exchange rate for a payment from UK to Dubai. Payment sent Tuesday and even with a UAE bank holiday on Thursday and Friday, payment received first thing on Monday morning” – Derek McCabe
Read the full review on Trustpilot
People send money to the UAE for all sorts of reasons, from buying property and relocating overseas to supporting family or covering everyday expenses. Whether you're looking to send money to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE, the reason for your transfer can influence the amount you send, how often you transfer money and the services that best suit your needs.
Buying a property in the UAE can involve large transfers, payments at different stages or an agreed developer payment plan for an off-plan property. Planning ahead and having a currency expert on hand can help you manage your payments and keep your property purchase on track.
If you're relocating to the UAE, we can help you transfer pensions, savings and other regular payments. Whether you’re covering everyday living costs or moving your finances overseas, we offer flexible transfer options and ongoing support.
Send money to family or friends in the UAE quickly and securely. Whether you’re helping with living expenses, school or university fees, or a one-off payment, you can make transfers online or through our app 24/7, giving you the flexibility to send money whenever it’s needed.
Whether you're relocating, working, studying, supporting family or buying property, we can help you send money from the UK to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other major destinations across the UAE.
Dubai is one of the UAE's best-known business and expat destinations, with a large international community and a diverse economy spanning finance, trade, tourism and services. People send money to Dubai for property purchases, living costs and other expenses when relocating or working in the emirate.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and a major centre for government, business, finance and energy. Its large international workforce and established residential and commercial property market make it a common destination for people relocating, working or buying property in the UAE.
Ras Al Khaimah is an increasingly popular destination for international property buyers, with developments such as Al Marjan Island, Mina Al Arab and Al Hamra attracting interest from overseas. The emirate's property and tourism sectors have grown in recent years, making it an increasingly prominent destination for people looking to relocate or invest in the UAE.
Buying a property, moving savings or transferring an inheritance to the UAE often involves sending a significant amount of money overseas.
Larger transfers may require additional checks, such as providing proof of identity or source of funds information, so preparing in advance can help avoid delays.
Exchange rate movements can also have a bigger impact when transferring larger sums, while planning ahead gives you more flexibility around important payment dates, such as a UAE property completion.
Large transfers may require additional checks, so having your identification and source of funds information ready can help keep your transfer on track.
Whether you're completing a property purchase or moving savings overseas, starting the process early gives you more time to consider your options and choose when to transfer.
Tools such as forward contracts, rate alerts and market orders can help you manage exchange rate risk, which can be particularly valuable when sending large amounts of money overseas.
If you're living in the UAE or managing ongoing costs there, setting up regular payments can make it easier to stay on top of your finances.
Whether you're transferring a UK pension, paying a UAE mortgage or covering recurring local costs such as property service charges and utilities, automated transfers can save time and reduce the need to arrange each payment manually.
With regular payment plans, you can schedule transfers to suit your needs and explore options that help you manage future exchange rate movements.
Set up recurring transfers to the UAE on a schedule that works for you, helping you manage regular expenses without arranging each payment separately.
Regular transfers can help cover mortgages, pensions, property service charges, utilities and other ongoing AED payments.
Forward contracts can help customers fix an exchange rate in advance, giving greater certainty when budgeting for regular transfers.
To send money to a bank account in the UAE, you'll usually need the recipient's details, the amount you want to transfer and, in some cases, additional information to meet regulatory requirements.
The recipient's full name, as it appears on their account
Their SWIFT/BIC code
Their IBAN (International Bank Account Number), which is 23 characters long and starts with ‘AE’
The amount you want to send
A payment reference, if applicable
Proof of identity
Evidence of the source of your funds
The reason for your transfer
Good to know: The United Arab Emirates has a four-day working week – Monday to Thursday. Government employees have a flexible half day on Fridays. So, money arriving Friday may not be processed until the next working day (usually Monday unless there are public holidays).
Your security is our priority. We have measures in place to keep your funds safe, and we’re here to help you protect yourself from fraud. There are important steps you must take to protect yourself from fraudsters, including checking that your payee is genuine and that their account details are correct.
Ready to send money to the UAE? Open a free Currencies Direct account in minutes to access competitive exchange rates, specialist transfer tools and support from a dedicated currency expert.
The best way to send money to the UAE depends on how much you’re sending, how quickly you need it to arrive and whether you need ongoing support. For many UK-to-UAE transfers, using a specialist currency provider can offer competitive exchange rates, low or no transfer fees and dedicated support compared with a typical high-street bank.
For larger transfers, such as buying a property or moving savings to the UAE, a specialist provider can also offer tools such as forward contracts and market orders to help you manage exchange rate movements. If you're buying property overseas, read our guide to the best way to transfer money when buying property abroad for more information. For regular payments, such as pensions, mortgages and household bills, setting up automated transfers can make managing ongoing costs easier.
With Currencies Direct, you can send pounds to a UAE bank account in UAE dirhams, with no transfer fees and support from a dedicated currency specialist.
Once we’ve received and cleared your funds, we can transfer your UAE dirhams on the next working day if we receive your payment by 13:30. Occasionally, additional documents may be required, which can affect the transfer time.
We don’t charge transfer fees. The overall cost of your transfer depends on the exchange rate you secure when converting pounds to UAE dirhams. Your recipient's bank may also charge a fee for receiving an international payment, depending on the bank and type of account.
The cheapest way to send money to the UAE depends on how many Emirati dirhams you receive for your pounds after all exchange rates and fees have been taken into account. A transfer advertised as having no fee may not be the cheapest if the provider applies a larger margin to its exchange rate.
To compare the total cost of sending money to the UAE, check the exchange rate you’ll receive, any transfer fees and whether the recipient’s UAE bank could charge an incoming payment fee. For larger transfers, even a small difference in the exchange rate can have a significant impact on the amount received.
Currencies Direct charges no transfer fees and offers competitive GBP/AED exchange rates, helping you keep more of your money when sending pounds to the UAE.
You'll typically need the recipient’s full name, as it appears on their account, their IBAN and their bank's SWIFT/BIC code. For larger transfers, we may also ask for proof of identity or evidence of the source of your funds.
Yes. You'll typically need the recipient's UAE IBAN and their bank's SWIFT/BIC code when sending money to a UAE bank account.
An IBAN, or International Bank Account Number, is used to identify a bank account when sending and receiving international payments. UAE IBANs are 23 characters long and begin with 'AE'.
Yes. Currencies Direct is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. Client funds are safeguarded, and we use bank-level security measures to protect your transfers. Read our security of funds page for more information.
Yes. Whether you’re transferring savings, making a property payment or moving an inheritance, we can help you send large sums securely. We don’t impose an upper limit on the amount of UAE dirhams you can send, although larger transfers may require additional checks. You’ll also have access to a dedicated account manager who can guide you through the process.
Yes. You can arrange regular transfers for UAE mortgages, pensions, property service charges, utilities or other recurring payments, helping you automate your finances and reduce admin.
The exchange rate available to you depends on market conditions at the time of your transfer. You'll always be shown your rate before you confirm your transaction, and you can also speak to one of our currency specialists about your options.
You can send UAE dirhams to eligible bank accounts across the UAE, including in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, provided you have the correct recipient and bank details. This will typically include the recipient's full name, IBAN and bank's SWIFT/BIC code.
Yes. We regularly help customers transfer funds for property deposits, completion payments, developer payments and other property-related costs. If you're buying a home in the UAE, including an off-plan property, our currency specialists can help you plan your transfers and manage exchange rate movements.
Yes. If you need to send money at a future date, a forward contract lets you secure a GBP/AED exchange rate in advance. This can help you manage the impact of exchange rate changes, which can be particularly useful for planned payments such as a property purchase, large transfer or regular payments.
