How to send money to UAE from Australia with the best AUD-AED rate

Comparing based on your specific needs is the best way to send money from Australia to the United Arab Emirates with confidence.

For AUD/AED

• Wise is our top pick for sending Australian Dollar to United Arab Emirates. For example, sending 12,000 AUD to AED will cost you $48.41 in fees, and you will receive 30,550.53 AED.

• We would recommend Key Currency for low cost, affordable transfers from UAE Dirhams to United Arab Emirates. We found that Key Currency is 0.01% cheaper than the second-best option. The cost is a combination of a fee of 0 AUD and an exchange rate for converting Australian Dollar to UAE Dirham that is 0.25% different to the mid-market rate.

• Fastest way to send money to the United Arab Emirates from Australia is with Wise. For example, if you send 12,000 AUD with Wise to United Arab Emirates, the transfer time is same day based on our data.

Our analysis, and search results, include 12 providers that operate between Australia and the United Arab Emirates. These are ranked by speed, overall cost and ease of use.

Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have in Australia when you need to send money to the United Arab Emirates.

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for UAE Dirham when you send Australian Dollar to the United Arab Emirates.

The current exchange rate between the Australian Dollar and UAE Dirham is 2.5425, and it constantly fluctuates.

When calculating the cost of sending money from Australia to the United Arab Emirates, a combination of fees and exchange rates ensure the best deal:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current AUD-AED mid-market rate is 2.5425 AED per Australian Dollar. Finding a provider as close to this number as possible will ensure more UAE Dirham for your money.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged on top of a transfer. Key Currency currently offers the lowest fees of 0 AUD per transfer (based on $12,000 transfer). Although, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The total amount received in UAE Dirham is the biggest indicator in the total cost of sending money to Australia from the United Arab Emirates. The higher the total amount received in the United Arab Emirates, the lower the cost of sending from Australia.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more AED for the same amount of Australian Dollar. But, the best way to lock in a price between Australia and the United Arab Emirates is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is our recommended option for money transfers between Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Key Currency offers the best price on a bank transfer.

Here are all the ways to send money from Australia to United Arab Emirates:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the best payment method for money transfers from Australia to the United Arab Emirates.

A money transfer company like Key Currency offer bank transfers between Australia and the United Arab Emirates with lower fees and better exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.

On average, Key Currency is the cheapest provider for bank transfers of the 12 we tested when sending AUD to the United Arab Emirates.

Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Australia to the United Arab Emirates with a debit or a prepaid card is very simple with Wise.


Wise is a leader in debit card payments for transfers from Australia to the United Arab Emirates, competing among a total of 12 active money transfer companies on this route.

Credit cards

We recommend avoiding credit cards where possible due to a lack of support and high fees.

If you have to use a credit card, we recommend comparing your options to find the company with the lowest fees.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both Australia and United Arab Emirates to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from Australia to the United Arab Emirates.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using Wise if you need to send large amounts of AUD to United Arab Emirates. The combination of rates and fees when sending to the United Arab Emirates is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving Australia, or entering the United Arab Emirates. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in United Arab Emirates. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from Australia to the United Arab Emirates will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from Australia into UAE Dirham. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Australia and United Arab Emirates.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Key Currency.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between Australia and the United Arab Emirates, you will need to verify your ID.

The exact documents you need might vary and in some cases you will need more than one.

For the most part, in Australia this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In the United Arab Emirates it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in the United Arab Emirates, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between Australia and the United Arab Emirates, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend Wise in part due to their easy sign up process in Australia.

When sending large amounts of money between Australia and the United Arab Emirates there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into UAE Dirham may need to be reported to tax authorities in the United Arab Emirates, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in the United Arab Emirates based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Australia or the United Arab Emirates to discuss your personal circumstances.