Sending money from Dubai to France or Europe: what are the options?

You live in Dubai and must to transfer money regularly to France or Europe ? Whether you’re sending money to support your family, making an investment or topping up an account, choosing the right method is crucial. A poor exchange rate, hidden charges or excessive delays can quickly prove costly.

There are several options for sending money from Dubai to France or Europe: using local banks, using specialist platforms such as Wise or Remitly, or using authorised money changers. Fees and processing times vary depending on the method chosen.

In this article, we’ll explore the available options together: transfers via local banks, online platforms such as Wise or Western Union, and authorised money changers.

We will compare their costs, average processing times and the transparency of their AED/EUR exchange rates.

Ready to send your money with complete peace of mind ? Follow the guide.

Why send money from Dubai to France / Europe?

A lot of residents of Dubai send money to help their families, pay bills, invest, or simply transfer their savings to their European accounts. The main reasons cited are:

1. Supporting the family : Many people send money to help their loved ones with their day-to-day lives.
   
2. Education : some cover school or university fees in Europe.
   
3. Investments : buying a property or investing in a bank product.
   
4. Secure savings : It’s reassuring to invest your money in France or elsewhere in Europe.
   
5. Personal expenditure : to pay off a loan, a bill or a holiday.

What are the main methods?

Here are the most commonly used methods for send money to France and Europe.

A. Local banks in Dubai: how do they work?

Here is an overview of the local banks in Dubai To send money to France or Europe:

1. Emirates NBD

• International bank transfers made online or via mobile are free of charge. You just need to avoid using the counter or a branch.
  
• Since 1 September 2025, a new fixed fee of 26.25 AED has applied to certain countries when using DirectRemit. But here’s the good news: France and Europe are not affected, so there are no DirectRemit fees for these destinations!
  

2. Bank of Sharjah : Outgoing international transfers cost 100 AED, or even 150 AED if the destination country’s currency is different.
   
   
3. Central Bank of Dubai (CBD) : Online, a SWIFT transfer costs around 21 AED for most countries (from January 2025). In branch, up to 105 AED.
   
   
4. HSBC UAE : There are no charges for transferring money from the mobile app to another online bank. What’s more, transfers between two HSBC accounts (via “Global Transfers”) are instant and free!
   
   
5. Other banks (ADCB, Mashreq, FAB, etc.)

• Generally speaking, fees range from 40 to 120 AED, plus a mark-up on the exchange rate. Transfers often take 1 to 5 working days.
  
• Certain special accounts or VIP tiers may reduce these charges.

B. Online platforms

Here is an overview of the online platforms which you can use to send money to France or Europe:

1. Wise (formerly TransferWise)

• Transparent fees: approximately 0.36 % to 0.4 % of the amount + a small fixed fee (~1–2 USD).
  
  • Example: for 100,000 AED, the fees amount to approximately 0.69 %, or nearly 691 AED.
    
• Real-time market exchange rate, with no hidden margins.
  
• Very fast, often instantaneous or within a few seconds.

2. Remitly

• Fees vary depending on the speed (Express or Economy), the amount and the payment method.
  
• Sometimes free for new customers, particularly for the first few transfers of up to 4,000 AED to Europe.
  
• Competitive rates, transparency before confirmation.
  
• Fast delivery via Express (minutes–hours), or a more economical option via Economy (3–5 days).
  

3. Western Union

• Foreign exchange fees and margins vary considerably, depending on the method and the country.
  
  • Example: online, margin of up to 6 % for the euro (France).
    
• Quick options for receiving payment in cash or into your account (depending on the method, this may take a few days).

4. Other platforms

• Paysend: a fixed fee of 9 AED for transfers to a bank card in France. Instant or near-instant transfers.
  
• OFX: offers a rate close to the market rate (e.g. 1 AED ≈ 0.2387 EUR in early 2025). May be competitive depending on the volume.
  
• CurrencyFair: exchange rates very close to market rates, with fees up to eight times lower than those of a traditional bank.
  
• Hubpay: a local app in the UAE – fast, with no hidden fees, and easy to use for sending money to France.

C. Licensed currency exchange bureaux in Dubai

Let’s talk about the authorised physical currency exchange bureaux in Dubai, as many residents still use them to send money to Europe.

1. Al Ansari Exchange

• A very extensive network, found in almost every shopping centre.
  
• Fixed fees: usually around 15 to 25 AED per transfer.
  
• Processing time: from a few minutes to 2 days, depending on the country and the method.
  
• Exchange rates are sometimes not as good as Wise’s, but they’re quick and convenient.

2. UAE Exchange (renamed Unimoni)

• Very popular, and the market leader for many years.
  
• Fees averaging around 20 AED.
  
• You can choose to have the money paid into a bank account or collect it in cash.
  
• A good option for those who prefer personal contact.

3. Lulu Exchange

• Part of the Lulu Group, which is very well known in the Emirates.
  
• Competitive rates, particularly for Asia, but they’re still reasonable for Europe.
  
• Transfers usually arrive within 24 to 48 hours.

4. Other exchanges (Al Rostamani Exchange, GCC Exchange, Wall Street Exchange, etc.)

• Found just about everywhere in Dubai.
  
• The fees range from 15 to 30 AED.
  
• The speed and rate depend on the destination country.

Benefits of authorised currency exchange bureaux:

• Very easy to find: you can find them in every neighbourhood and shopping centre.
  
• Instant: often processed immediately for a cash withdrawal.
  
• Friendly: direct contact, face-to-face explanation.

Limitations:

• Exchange rates that are less favourable than those offered by Wise or CurrencyFair.
  
• This requires a visit to a branch, which can be inconvenient.
  
• Less convenient than apps for regular deliveries.

In short: authorised currency exchange bureaux are ideal for those who want to pay in cash or who feel more comfortable dealing face-to-face.

A comparison of the main methods for sending money from Dubai

Here is a A comparison of the three main methods for sending money from Dubai to France / Europe :

Method	Fixed vs variable costs	Average lead times	Strengths / Limitations
Banks (e.g. Emirates NBD)	Fixed at ~26.25 AED (DirectRemit from September 2025)	1–5 working days	Reliable, but often more expensive
Online platforms (Wise, Remitly, etc.)	Variables (low percentage + fixed costs)	Immediate or within a few minutes/days	Highly transparent and cost-effective
Physical substitutes (Al Ansari…)	A fixed charge of approximately 40 to 60 AED for Europe or the United States	Minutes to a few days	Fast, user-friendly, but with less favourable rates

A simple summary to remember:

• Banks: high charges (≈26 AED), moderately slow, secure.
  
• Online platforms: low, variable fees; fast; competitive rates.
  
• Physical currency exchange bureaux: average fixed fees (40–60 AED), very quick, but less favourable exchange rates.

The AED/EUR exchange rate: watch out for fluctuations

Let’s talk about the AED/EUR exchange rate and, above all, its fluctuation:

1. The official rate : The dirham (AED) is pegged at US dollar (USD) : 1 USD = 3.6725 AED. Therefore, for the euro (EUR), the exchange rate depends directly on the strength of the USD against the EUR.

• Practical example

• If 1 EUR = 1.10 USD, then 1 EUR is worth approximately 4.04 AED.
  
• If the euro rises to 1.15 USD, 1 EUR becomes 4.22 AED.
  
• If the euro falls to 1.05 USD, 1 EUR falls to 3.85 AED.
  

2. Fluctuation : It does not stem from the dirham itself (as it is pegged to the dollar). It stems mainly from movements in the EUR/USD exchange rate.

• The result is that when the euro strengthens, you get more for your dirhams.

In practice, when processing transfers, banks often add a margin of 1 to 3 % on the actual market rate.

Platforms such as Wise apply almost the exact exchange rate, which means you save a lot on large sums.

Authorised currency exchange bureaux (Al Ansari, Lulu, etc.) offer less favourable exchange rates than online platforms, but better than some banks.

In summary:

• The AED/EUR exchange rate fluctuates solely because the euro is rising or falling against the dollar.
  
• The best way to save money is to compare the mark-ups charged by each service.

Send your money securely… and invest it wisely

We’re now coming to the end of this guide together. You now know What are the main options for transferring money from Dubai to France or Europe? : local banks, online platforms such as Wise or Remitly, and authorised money changers.

You have found out about their fees, average processing times and the points to bear in mind regarding the AED/EUR exchange rate.

In short, there are quick, transparent and cost-effective ways to send your money with confidence, provided that you choose approved service providers and compare before each transfer.

But apart from one-off transfers, have you thought about to invest this money directly in Dubai ?

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