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

Do you live in Dubai and regularly need to transfer money to France or Europe? Whether it's to support your family, pay for an investment or fund an account, choosing the right method is crucial. Poor exchange rates, hidden fees and long delays can quickly become costly.

To send money from Dubai to France or Europe, there are several options: use local banks, specialized platforms such as Wise or Remitly, or licensed money changers. Fees and delivery times vary according to the method chosen.

In this article, we'll explore the solutions available: transfers via local banks, online platforms such as Wise or Western Union, as well as licensed money changers.

We will compare their costs, average lead 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?

Many Dubai residents send money to help their families, pay bills, invest, or simply transfer savings to their European accounts. The main reasons for sending money are :

1. Supporting the family: many send money to help their loved ones in their daily lives.
   
2. Studies: some finance school or university fees in Europe.
   
3. Investments: purchasing real estate or banking investments.
   
4. Secure savings: investing your money in France or Europe is reassuring.
   
5. Personal expenses : to pay a loan, a bill or a vacation.

What are the main methods?

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

A. Local banking in Dubai: how does it work?

Here is an overview of local banks in Dubai for sending money to France or Europe:

1. Emirates NBD

• International transfers made online or via mobile are free of charge. Just avoid the counter or branch.
  
• As of September 1, 2025, a new fixed fee of AED 26.25 applies for certain countries with DirectRemit. But good news: France and Europe are not affected, so there are no DirectRemit fees for these destinations!
  

2. Bank of Sharjah: Outgoing transfers abroad cost AED 100, or AED 150 if the local currency does not match.
   
   
3. Central Bank of Dubai (CBD): Online, a SWIFT transfer costs around AED 21 for most countries (from January 2025). In branch, up to 105 AED.
   
   
4. HSBC UAE: No fee to transfer money from the mobile app to another online bank. What's more, between two HSBC accounts (via "Global Transfers"), it's instant and free!
   
   
5. Other banks (ADCB, Mashreq, FAB...)

• In general, fees vary between AED 40 and AED 120, plus a margin on the exchange rate. Transfers often take 1 to 5 working days.
  
• Certain special accounts or VIP segments may reduce these fees.

B. Online platforms

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

1. Wise (formerly TransferWise)

• Transparent fees: approx. 0.36% to 0.4% of amount + small fixed fee (~1-2 USD).
  
  • Example: for AED 100,000, the fee is around 0.69%, or almost AED 691.
    
• Real market exchange rate, with no hidden margin.
  
• Very fast, often instantaneous or within seconds.

2. Remitly

• Fees vary according to speed (Express or Economy), amount and payment method.
  
• Sometimes free for new customers, especially on first transfers of up to AED 4,000 to Europe.
  
• Competitive rates, transparency before confirming.
  
• Fast Express deliveries (minutes-hours), or more economical Economy deliveries (3-5 days).
  

3. Western Union

• Exchange fees and margins vary widely, depending on the method and country.
  
  • Example: online, margin up to 6% for Euro (France).
    
• Fast cash or account recovery options (depending on method, may take a few days).

4. Other platforms

• Paysend: fixed charge of 9 AED for sending to a bank card in France. Instant or nearby transfer.
  
• OFX: offers a rate close to the market (e.g. 1 AED ≈ 0.2387 EUR early 2025). Can be competitive depending on volume.
  
• CurrencyFair: exchange rates very close to the market, costs up to 8 times lower than a traditional bank.
  
• Hubpay: local application in the Emirates, fast, with no hidden charges, easy to access for sending to France.

C. Licensed money changers in Dubai

Let's talk about licensed money changers in Dubai, as many residents still use them to send money to Europe.

1. Al Ansari Exchange

• Extensive network, present in almost every mall.
  
• Fixed charges: often around AED 15 to 25 per transfer.
  
• Delay: from a few minutes to 2 days, depending on country and method.
  
• Exchange rates sometimes not as good as Wise, but fast and convenient.

2. UAE Exchange (renamed Unimoni)

• Very popular, long the market leader.
  
• Fees close to AED 20 on average.
  
• Possibility of sending to bank account or cash withdrawal.
  
• A good option for those who prefer human contact.

3. Lulu Exchange

• Associated with the Lulu group, well known in the Emirates.
  
• Competitive costs, especially to Asia, but to Europe they're still okay.
  
• Transfers usually arrive within 24 to 48 hours.

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

• Present all over Dubai.
  
• Fees vary between AED 15 and AED 30.
  
• Speed and rate depend on the destination country.

Advantages of licensed moneychangers :

• Very affordable: you'll find them in every neighborhood and shopping mall.
  
• Fast: often instantaneous for cash withdrawals.
  
• Convivial: direct contact, face-to-face explanations.

Limits :

• Less attractive exchange rates than Wise or CurrencyFair.
  
• Requires a visit to a branch, which can be restrictive.
  
• Less practical than apps for regular mailings.

In short: licensed moneychangers are ideal for those who want to pay in cash or feel reassured by face-to-face contact.

Comparison of the main methods for sending money from Dubai

Here is 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 ~26.25 AED (DirectRemit from Sept. 2025)	1-5 working days	Reliable, but often more expensive
Online platforms (Wise, Remitly...)	Variables (low percentage + fixed costs)	Instant or a few minutes/day	Highly transparent and economical
Physical changers (Al Ansari...)	Fixed fee of around AED 40-60 for Europe or the United States	Minutes to a few days	Fast, friendly, but less favorable rates

An easy-to-remember summary:

• Banks: high fees (≈26 AED), medium-slow, secure.
  
• Online platforms: low, variable fees, fast, low rates.
  
• Physical changers: average fixed costs (AED 40-60), very fast, but less favorable rates.

The AED/EUR exchange rate: beware of fluctuations

Let's talk about the AED/EUR exchange rate and its fluctuations:

1. The official rate: The dirham (AED) is pegged to the US dollar (USD): 1 USD = 3.6725 AED. So, for the euro (EUR), the 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 around 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: This does not come from the dirham itself (as it is linked to the dollar). It comes mainly from the EUR/USD trend.

• Result: when the euro strengthens, you get more for your dirhams.

When making transfers, banks often add a margin of 1-3% to the actual market rate.

Platforms such as Wise apply almost the exact rate, which means you earn a lot on large amounts.

Licensed money changers (Al Ansari, Lulu, etc.) offer less attractive rates than online platforms, but better than some banks.

In a nutshell:

• The AED/EUR rate moves only because the euro rises or falls against the dollar.
  
• The best way to save: compare the margins applied by each department.

Send your money safely... and invest it wisely

We've come to the end of this guide together. You now know the main options for transferring money from Dubai to France or Europe: local banks, online platforms such as Wise or Remitly, as well as licensed money changers.

You've discovered their fees, average lead times and the points to watch out for with the AED/EUR exchange rate.

In short, there are fast, transparent and cost-effective ways to send your money with complete confidence, as long as you choose approved service providers and compare prices before each transfer.

But beyond one-off transfers, have you thought about making that money work for you directly in Dubai?

Our agency, Dubai Real Estate, can help you invest in real estate in Dubai, a fast-growing market offering attractive rental yields and regulatory security that is unique in the region. Whether you're an expatriate or an investor, we can help you secure your investments and develop your wealth.

→ Contact our expert team today to find out more about investment opportunities in Dubai!