Sending money from the UAE to Africa: costs and rules
- UAE to Egypt, AED 735
- 3.70% average total cost (AED 27.17) 1
- UAE to Sudan, AED 735
- 25.58% average total cost (AED 188.01) 2
- UAE to Sudan, exchange rate margin
- 22.24% 2
- Licence needed for remittances
- Category B or C, Central Bank of the UAE 3
Average cost by corridor
The table shows the RPW Q3 2025 averages for the two African corridors from the UAE checked for this page 1,2. AED 735 and AED 1,835 are the local currency equivalents of US$200 and US$500 that RPW tests 1,2.
| Corridor | Amount | Average fee | Exchange rate margin | Average total cost | Data collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE to Egypt 1 | AED 735 1 | AED 23.13 1 | 0.55% 1 | 3.70% (AED 27.17) 1 | 15 August to 2 September 2025 1 |
| UAE to Egypt 1 | AED 1,835 1 | AED 29.08 1 | 0.55% 1 | 2.14% (AED 39.18) 1 | 15 August to 2 September 2025 1 |
| UAE to Sudan 2 | AED 735 2 | AED 24.56 2 | 22.24% 2 | 25.58% (AED 188.01) 2 | 15 August to 20 August 2025 2 |
| UAE to Sudan 2 | AED 1,835 2 | AED 31.13 2 | 22.24% 2 | 23.93% (AED 439.18) 2 | 15 August to 20 August 2025 2 |
Corridors without current prices
The RPW corridor pages for the UAE to Ethiopia and the UAE to Kenya showed no price data when checked on 20 October 2026 4,5.
How individual services compare
UAE to Egypt: DirectRemit (NBD), listed as a bank, showed no fee and a 0.50% total cost for a bank account transfer taking two days, the lowest for AED 735 1. Al Fardan Exchange showed an AED 18.00 fee and a 2.51% total cost for bank account and cash services 1. A Western Union cash transfer at an agent cost 4.70% 1. Wise card transfers to a bank account cost 9.05% and 9.42% 1.
UAE to Sudan: the sample has four providers, Dahabshiil, Western Union, Al Fardan Exchange and Lari 2. A Dahabshiil cash transfer showed an AED 15.75 fee, a 0.83% margin and a 2.97% total cost, the lowest 2. A Lari cash transfer showed an AED 26.25 fee, a 30.04% margin and a 33.61% total cost, the highest 2.
Central Bank of the UAE rules for exchange houses
The Central Bank of the UAE sets licensing rules for exchange houses in The Standards for the Regulations Regarding Licensing and Monitoring of Exchange Business, reference N 35/2018 STA 3. The main points for remittances are:
- Exchange business may be carried out only by a person licensed in writing by the Governor, under section 1.1.1 3.
- A Category A licence allows currency exchange only. Category B adds remittances. Category C adds the payment of wages through the Wages Protection System, under section 2.2.1 3.
- Receipts must show the conversion rate and any transaction fees, under section 4.7.3 3.
- Back-end charges taken by foreign correspondent banks must be disclosed on the receipt if they are deducted from the amount the beneficiary receives, under section 4.7.4 3.
- Exchange rates, including rates for remittances, must be displayed in a prominent place during working hours, under section 4.8.1 3.
What the averages leave out
RPW prices are collected by researchers posing as customers and contacting firms in each corridor 7. Fees and taxes charged in the receiving country are not tracked in the database 7.
In Q3 2025 the global average cost was 6.36%, the Sub-Saharan Africa average was 8.46% and the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan average was 5.11% 6.
Common questions
What does it cost to send money from the UAE to Egypt?
The RPW average for AED 735 in Q3 2025 was 3.70%, or AED 27.17. Individual services ranged from 0.50% to 9.42% 1.
Why is sending money from the UAE to Sudan expensive?
Most of the RPW average of 25.58% came from the exchange rate margin, which averaged 22.24% in Q3 2025 2.
Who can send remittances from the UAE?
Exchange houses need a Category B or Category C licence from the Central Bank of the UAE to carry out remittances 3.
Does the World Bank track UAE to Kenya or Ethiopia prices?
The RPW pages for these corridors showed no price data when checked on 20 October 2026 4,5.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Egypt (Q3 2025 data)
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Sudan (Q3 2025 data)
- Central Bank of the UAE: The Standards for the Regulations Regarding Licensing and Monitoring of Exchange Business, N 35/2018 STA
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Ethiopia (no data shown, accessed 20 October 2026)
- World Bank Remittance Prices Worldwide: Sending money from the United Arab Emirates to Kenya (no data shown, accessed 20 October 2026)
- World Bank: Remittance Prices Worldwide main report and annex, Issue 54, Q3 2025 data (September 2025)
- World Bank: Remittance Prices Worldwide methodology (accessed 20 October 2026)
Related
- Sending money to Egypt: costs by corridor and inflows
World Bank Q3 2025 average costs to send money to Egypt from Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US, with 2025/2026 remittance inflows.
- Sending money to Ethiopia: costs and inflows
World Bank Q3 2025 average costs to send money to Ethiopia from the US, UK and Saudi Arabia, provider types, and National Bank of Ethiopia figures.
- Sending money to Kenya: costs and inflows
World Bank Q3 2025 average costs to send money to Kenya from the US, UK and Tanzania, provider types, and Central Bank of Kenya remittance figures.
- Sending money to Somalia: costs and rules
World Bank Q3 2025 average costs to send money to Somalia from the UK and US, and Central Bank of Somalia rules for money transfer businesses.
- Exchange rate margins explained
How the exchange rate margin adds to the cost of sending money, how the World Bank and SDG indicator 10.c.1 measure total cost, with RPW examples.