Most Indians living in UAE need to send money back to their families in India. Many also send money back for Mutual Fund and stock investments.

In this post, we will discuss more about remittances for NRIs and discuss some of the easiest ways to send money from UAE to India.

While NRI money transfer from UAE to India is a seamless process, you should always stay updated with transfer fees and exchange rates. 

Best Ways to Send Money from UAE to India

There are several ways you can send money from UAE to India. For instance, you can do a bank transfer or use a specialist money transfer service.

However, it is important to keep in mind that each option has its advantages and disadvantages, so the best option for you will depend on specific transfer and personal requirements.

Below are the top 2 types of services you can choose to send money from UAE to India:

1. Traditional Bank Transfers

Traditional bank transfers are among the easiest and fastest methods of remitting money to India. Most UAE banks have the option to transfer money directly from within their apps to bank accounts in India. While this is a reliable option for fund transfers from UAE to India, they may not be the chepaest. They usually have slightly higher exchange rates than pure play remittance services. Service charges and other fees might apply for both sender and receiver.


Here is a quick comparison of the table of the top banks that Indians bank with, to send money from UAE to India:

Banks


Key Requirements for Transfer

Method for Transfer


Charges (AED)



Emirates NBD (ENBD bank)


  • Sufficient funds in the account
  • A routing code
  • Beneficiary account details
  • Details of existing home address
  • Log in to online banking
  • Under the bank accounts tab, click international transfer, followed by selecting your beneficiary (Indian account)
  • Enter the amount and currency
  • Enter the beneficiary's mobile number
  • Free international transfers via Online Banking and Mobile Banking
  • If visit a branch, charges will be based on the banking package




Emirates Islamic Bank


  • Details of existing home address
  • Sufficient funds in an account
  • Routing code (if applicable)
  • Details of beneficiary account
  • Log in to online banking 
  • Under the Transfers option, select international transfers
  • Follow the online transactions to complete the transfer 


  • Free international transfers via Online Banking and Mobile Banking




Mashreq Bank


  • Sufficient funds in the account
  • SWIFT code
  • Beneficiary account details
  • Details of your existing home address
  • Log in to online banking 
  • Under the Transfers option, select international transfers
  • Follow the online transactions to complete the transfer 



  • Usual transfer rate AED 26.25; may vary based on the correspondent bank charge, amount, currency, type of charges selected, and the customer class or segment


2. Online Remittance Apps: Seamless Money Remittance from Dubai to India on the Go

Online or mobile remittance apps available today are a great option to help you send money from Dubai to India. You can easily compare the service providers based on United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) to Indian Rupee (INR) remittance exchange rates before proceeding with the transfer.

Here is a quick comparison of the table of the top online/mobile remittance apps to send money from Dubai to India:

Remittance service provider

Features

Time taken for remittance to happen

Charges (AED)


Remitly


  • One of the best ways to send money from UAE to India via credit or debit cards
  • Funds get credited to a bank account in India within the same day

3-5 days from receiving payment

5 AED


Wise (formerly TransferWise)


  • Allows you to send money, track transfers, pay bills, review exchange rates, and more
  • Fully secure with encrypted transfers

Anywhere from a few seconds to five business days

7.24 AED (fixed) + variable (~4%)


Al Ansari Exchange


  • Select from various payment options and transfer money against the best exchange rates 
  • Pay through various options, like cash at the branch, online Bank Transfers, Credit Cards, VISA Debit Cards, Direct Debit, or Payplus cards

 1 to 3 working days

Charges to India may vary depending on services and the amount of money being transferred


Lulu Exchange


  • One-stop solution for all your international money transfer needs and makes transactions simpler and safer
  • Offers you the most accurate and current exchange rates for transferring from UAE to India

Most of the transfers are credited within not more than 30 minutes

Below transfer of 1000 AED - fees of 19.50 AED

Above 1000 AED - fees of 26.50 AED


Western Union


  • Allows you to send money, track transfers, pay bills, review exchange rates, and more
  • Fully secure with encrypted transfers

2 to 5 business days


~15 AED to ~140 AED based on the mode of payment and amount


Skrill


  • An international money transfer service on a versatile mobile wallet
  • Allows users to send money to themselves or someone else quickly and with zero fees

Within 24 – 72 hours


0% to ~5% based on mode of payment

Forex markup of upto ~5%

Platform fees maybe applicable

In Conclusion

Sending money from UAE to India is simple and convenient now. When choosing a service provider, consider your specific needs and preferences, then compare different options to find the best deal. 

What is important here is to remain informed and vigilant about exchange rates and fees, which can significantly affect the value of your transfers. This makes it important to always stay updated, do a thorough comparison before committing, and ensure you're getting the most for your money.

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