Send Money from the UAE to the Philippines: Apps and Exchange Houses Compared

Paano magpadala ng pera from Dubai? Most kababayan in the UAE have a routine: payday, then a quick stop at the exchange house in the mall or a few taps in an app. The UAE market is crowded and competitive, which is good for you, but the rates on the board outside each exchange house can be confusing. This page explains how to compare them properly.

AED to PHP reference rate today

Why "reference only"? The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar at 3.6725 dirhams per dollar, a policy the Central Bank of the UAE has kept since the late 1990s. So the dirham to peso rate mostly moves with the dollar to peso rate. Our source, Frankfurter, calculates AED to PHP itself from central bank data; it is not an official BSP rate. Exchange houses quote their own rates, and these differ by branch, app, amount and time of day.

Where Filipinos in the UAE send from

Exchange houses

Exchange houses licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE are still the most common choice. GCash's official partner list for the UAE (checked 21 Oct 2026) includes Lulu Exchange, Al Fardan Exchange, Wall Street Exchange and Instant Cash, among others. Al Ansari Exchange is another big name that many Filipinos use; it was not on GCash's list when we checked, so confirm GCash payout in its app before relying on it.

Most exchange houses now have apps where you can pay from your UAE bank account or card and send to Philippine banks, GCash or cash pickup without visiting a branch. Branch rates and app rates can differ.

Apps and online services

• Remitly serves UAE senders through Remitly (DIFC) Limited, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. In July 2026 Remitly also announced a Stored Value Facilities and Exchange Business licence from the Central Bank of the UAE. It's on GCash's UAE partner list and pays to Philippine banks and GCash. See our Remitly review.
• Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria all appear on GCash's UAE list and are available online and through local partners.
• Wise received licences from the Central Bank of the UAE in October 2025, but its help centre says it can't yet support transfers from AED. Check again before you rely on it.

Bank and wallet apps

UAE bank apps and wallets like e&money (Etisalat) and FAB's PayIt also send to the Philippines, and both are on GCash's partner list. Convenient if your salary already lands there, but compare the rate.

How to compare UAE remittance options

Exchange houses compete on the rate on the board, but the real price is the pesos your family receives after the fee and rate together. Here's the method:

1. Note today's AED to PHP reference rate above.
2. Get the full quote from two or three providers for the same amount and payout method: rate, fee (plus VAT on the fee, where charged) and pesos received.
3. Divide pesos received by dirhams paid (including the fee). That's your effective rate.
4. Compare the effective rate with the reference. The smaller the gap, the cheaper the service.

Example with round numbers, not real quotes: if the reference were 17.00 and you pay 1,000 AED plus a 15 AED fee, and your family receives 16,700 PHP, your effective rate is 16,700 divided by 1,015, about 16.45. That's 0.55 below the reference, or about 3.2%.

Best option by payout method

• Bank deposit (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Landbank and others): usually the cheapest payout from exchange houses and apps. Some exchange houses have direct tie-ups with Philippine banks, which can speed things up.
• GCash: choose a service on GCash's official UAE list. The recipient's GCash should be fully verified and the name must match. See send money to GCash from abroad.
• Cash pickup: available through exchange house partners and global networks like Western Union at Philippine pawnshops and remittance centres. Your recipient needs valid ID and the reference number.

What you need to send from the UAE

• A valid Emirates ID. Exchange houses and apps verify you with it, and an expired Emirates ID is the most common reason a transfer gets blocked. Renew it on time.
• Your passport may be asked for on the first transaction or for higher amounts.
• Recipient details: full name as on their ID, bank account or GCash number, and sometimes address and relationship.
• Source of funds for larger transfers: a salary certificate or bank statement.

Step by step: sending from the UAE with an app

1. Download the app of your exchange house, Remitly or your bank, and register with your Emirates ID. Most apps scan the card and take a selfie.
2. Add your recipient with their full name as it appears on their Philippine ID, plus the bank account number or GCash number.
3. Enter the amount in AED and check the PHP amount shown. Note the fee and whether VAT is added to it.
4. Choose how to pay: UAE bank transfer, debit card, or pay at a branch. Bank transfers are often cheapest.
5. Confirm and save the reference number. Share it with your recipient if they'll collect cash.

If you send every payday, set up the same recipient in two apps. It takes thirty seconds to compare both quotes before you pay, and the cheaper one changes more often than you'd think.

Sending for bigger goals

For a house down payment, tuition or a hospital bill, the rules change a little. Exchange houses and apps may ask for a salary certificate or bank statement, and some set lower limits for cash payouts than for bank deposits. Send to a bank account rather than GCash for big amounts, ask the provider whether a better rate applies above a certain amount, and send a small test transfer first if the recipient account is new. For really large sums, ask your UAE bank for its international transfer rate too, then compare.

Timing tips for UAE senders

• Payday rush: exchange houses get busy at the end and start of the month. Apps avoid the queue.
• Weekends: the UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and Philippine banks don't credit deposits on PH weekends and holidays either. GCash credits are usually instant any day.
• Rate timing: because the dirham is pegged to the dollar, a strong or weak peso against the dollar shows up in AED to PHP too. If the peso moves a lot in a week, the pesos received move with it.

Common mistakes

• Comparing only the board rate. A high board rate with a high fee can still lose to a slightly lower rate with no fee.
• Paying by credit card. UAE card issuers can treat remittances as cash advances. Read our credit card guide.
• Using informal agents. Unlicensed "hawala-style" padala agents may offer a better rate but have no consumer protection and can be illegal. Stick to licensed exchange houses and apps.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to send money from the UAE to the Philippines?

It depends on the amount, payout method and day. Compare the pesos received from two or three options (for example an exchange house app, Remitly and Western Union) for the same amount. Bank deposits are usually cheaper than cash pickup.

How do I send money from Dubai to GCash?

Use a service on GCash's official UAE partner list, such as Remitly, Lulu Exchange, Al Fardan Exchange, Wall Street Exchange, e&money or Western Union. Choose GCash as the payout, enter the recipient's GCash number and full name, and pay from your bank account, card or at the branch.

Can I use Wise to send money from the UAE?

Not from AED yet. Wise received Central Bank of the UAE licences in October 2025, but as of 21 Oct 2026 its help centre says it can't support transfers from AED. We'll update this page when that changes.

Why is the AED to PHP rate on this page different from the exchange house board?

Our rate is a mid-market reference calculated by Frankfurter from central bank data. Exchange houses add a margin and set their own rates, which change during the day. Use our rate as a benchmark.

How long does a transfer from the UAE to the Philippines take?

GCash credits and deposits to major Philippine banks often arrive within minutes when paid from a UAE bank account or card through an app. Cash pickup is usually ready within minutes to hours. Deposits to smaller banks, transfers made after cut-off, and anything sent over a Philippine weekend or holiday can take longer. The provider shows an estimate before you confirm, and your first transfer may take extra time for identity checks.

Do I need an Emirates ID to send money?

Yes. Licensed exchange houses and apps in the UAE verify customers with a valid Emirates ID. Keep it renewed to avoid blocked transfers.

Is Remitly licensed in the UAE?

Remitly says its UAE service is provided by Remitly (DIFC) Limited, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and that it received a Stored Value Facilities and Exchange Business licence from the Central Bank of the UAE in July 2026.