Fact checked
When you’re wanting to send money online to family or friends in the UAE, it’s important to be on the lookout for cheap exchange rates, low fees and a simple transfer process. Compare a range of international money transfer providers here with Savvy to help you find the best exchange rates and lowest fees available. Consider a range of online options with us before getting your international money transfer underway today.
OFX |
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfersMore details |
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Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)More details |
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Xe |
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Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most moneyMore details |
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Western Union Money Transfer |
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world onlineMore details |
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Wise Money Transfer |
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.More details |
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TorFX |
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Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.More details |
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Currencyfair |
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.More details |
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Remitly |
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countriesMore details |
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Revolut |
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.More details |
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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.
If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.
There’s a wide choice of transfer companies to choose from and compare when sending money from Australia to the UAE online. Your main options for making these transfers include:
International money transfer services
These international transfer specialists offer a far better deal than if you use your standard bank to send money overseas to the United Arab Emirates. They offer a professional service with lower fees and better exchange rates, plus they’re experts at getting money across international borders quickly without using the slower SWIFT banking system.
Funds can either be sent to your recipient’s bank account or can be transferred immediately to a phone account through a non-banking money app. Savvy has partnered with a range of international money transfer providers offering a variety of services, ranging from retail transfers to full foreign exchange business accounts and handy exchange rate tools.
Bank transfers
Traditional banks can also transfer your money from Australia to the UAE reliably, but their charges can be anywhere up to $30 or more. In addition, a bank transfer will frequently take from three to five business days to arrive at its destination, compared to transfers from a specialist provider which can be completed instantly, on the same day or within two days. The exchange rate you’ll receive from your bank will also be less competitive than the rate offered by a specialist transfer provider, meaning you won’t be able to buy as much with your Australian dollars to send.
Cash transfers
From the comfort of your home, you can arrange for cash to be delivered to the UAE for pickup by your recipient. In some cases, cash deliveries can also be arranged right to your recipient’s doorstep. This service can be useful if you urgently need to send cash, but it won’t be the most cost-effective way of getting money to the UAE. This is because additional fees are added to an instant cash transfer, plus the exchange rate you’ll be offered may not be as competitive.
Research the mid-market rate
The cheapest exchange rate between two currencies is known as the ‘mid-market’ rate. This is exactly halfway between the buy price and sell price on the international currency market at any point in time. Aim to get your transfer as close to this rate as possible, as the closer to the mid-market rate your transfer is, the more dirham you’ll be able to send to your recipient.
Banks put a large margin on the exchange rate, which is why they’re more expensive to use than transfer companies. The ‘margin’ describes the difference between the mid-market rate and the exchange rate you’re quoted for your transfer. The margin online transfer companies add is less than what the banks add, which is why they offer a cheaper service overall.
Consider the fee structure
Some transfer companies do put a margin on their exchange rate, often in conjunction with charging a small fee (either a set fee of up to $15 or a percentage fee, which is usually between 0.4% and 0.65% of the transfer amount).
In general, percentage-based fees are cheapest for transfers of smaller amounts, such as less than $5,000. For larger transfers over $5,000, a set fee of up to $15 may be your cheapest option to send money to the UAE. This compares very favourably with bank fees up to $30.
Look out for special offers
Some companies waive their fee for large transfers. For example, you may not be charged a fee for transfers over a certain amount, such as $10,000, so if you are intending to make a larger transfer, it may be a good idea to compare your options in this area. In addition, several of these companies offer fee discounts to regular or business customers, while others offer the first one to two transfers for free and/or with a promotional exchange rate. Such offers are more common for smaller transfers.
Use currency tools
Some transfer companies offer online tools to assist you to get the top exchange rate and best money transfer. How many of these tools are provided will depend on whether you choose a full-service business online forex broker, who may also provide you with a business account manager, or a non-bank, app-based transfer provider.
Tools you may find useful include:
The exchange rate and fees offered are the major factors in determining how cheap your transfer to the UAE will be. However, it’s also important to look past these at some of the other key areas of money transfers. Here are other factors to take into consideration when comparing online transfer providers with Savvy:
Minimum and maximum transfer limits
There are minimum and maximum limits on how much you can send imposed by some transfer companies. These range from $1 right up to $250. Maximum limits range from $5,000 per day up to $500,000 or more in some cases. Companies that are more business-oriented tend to have larger maximum limits, in some cases up to $1.5 million or more. It’s important to ensure the transfer you need can be facilitated by your provider, so check what limits they may place on the size of your transfer.
Transfer speed
How long it will take for your money to be delivered will vary according to the transfer provider you choose. On average, transfer services will get your money to its destination within two days, but some may be able to be completed on the same day or even instantly. Transfer companies will typically get your money there quicker than the banks will, but factors such as the destination for your transfer, and the day of the week you send the money will affect the speed of transfer. If the speed of your transfer is important, you should compare your options based on the time it takes for them to reach their destination.
Exchange rate guarantees
Many, but not all transfer providers offer exchange rate guarantees. This means the exchange rate on offer is guaranteed not to change for a set number of hours. Guarantees are usually offered for up to 36 hours. Compare transfer companies and make sure the rate you’re offered is guaranteed to be the one you’ll get when your transfer actually happens.
Payment methods
Most international transfers can be paid for either by direct debit from your bank account, by BPAY, by EFTPOS using a debit card or by using a credit card. However, be aware that if you use a credit card to pay for your transfer, you may also incur additional fees imposed by your card provider. These fees can be expensive, such as 3% to 5% of the transfer sum. If you’re arranging a cash transfer in person, the transfer itself can also be paid using cash or with a digital wallet such as Apple Pay. You should always check with each provider that they support your preferred payment method.
There's no need to pay a dollar to compare money transfer services with Savvy, as you can do so for free at any time.
You can compare offers with competitive exchange rates, fees and transfer speeds in minutes with us.
We're partnered with trusted and licensed money transfer companies to bring more quality to your comparisons.
Compare companies with Savvy before deciding on your final choice of money transfer provider. All comparisons are free, so you can compare as often as you like. It’s also important to compare often as the exchange rate between the Australian dollar and the United Arab Emirates dirham is quite volatile. This is particularly important if you’re going to be transferring funds to the UAE regularly.
You’ll need to provide your name and email address to sign up for an account. You’ll receive a link to open your account online, so you can follow the prompts. This may involve you downloading either a mobile app store or following a link to a website where you’ll be assisted to set up your account.
You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to sign up for an account with most transfer companies. You’ll need to provide a government-issued identity document such as a driver’s licence or passport. The account-opening process is usually quick and easy and should take less than five minutes. You’ll only have to go through the set-up process once, after which you can make multiple transfers without having to show your ID again.
Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll need the details of the person you wish to send money to. You’ll need their name, bank details, email address and possibly mobile phone number, depending on which transfer method you choose. If you’re using a non-bank transfer app, you may need to provide their phone account number too.
Select your transfer amount and make sure you check all your recipient’s details are correct before sending your transfer off. You’ll be given a receipt number or a tracking number. Keep this information safe in case there are any queries or your transfer is delayed.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
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For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
