Filipino workers make up one of the largest expat communities in the UAE, and this corridor runs both ways every single day — a fresh arrival converting savings into dirhams, and, far more often, a portion of salary heading back to a family in Manila, Cebu or Davao. The good news for anyone sending home: this is one of the most fought-over corridors in UAE remittance, and that competition keeps rates honest.
Sending money from the Philippines to the UAE
Moving to the UAE and want your peso savings converted and ready? The realistic routes are:
- Bank transfer: major Philippine banks — BDO, BPI, Metrobank — handle outward international transfers over SWIFT. It's the standard choice for a larger one-off move, though it's usually the slowest and not the cheapest.
- Digital apps: some app-based services can send out of the Philippines and show the rate and fee before you commit. Check that the app supports sending from the Philippines, since coverage varies.
- Money changers and remittance centers are widely available in the Philippines too, and can be worth checking if you'd rather deal with a person than an app.
Outward transfers are overseen by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). You'll typically need a valid ID, the recipient's UAE account details and IBAN, and a stated purpose for the transfer.
A bank wire can take longer than an app or wallet transfer because correspondent banks may be involved; your bank quotes the expected time. For how the receiving side works once money lands in a UAE bank account, our guide to transferring between UAE banks covers that in more depth.
Sending money home to the Philippines from the UAE
For most readers, this is the direction that matters — money heading home, usually on a schedule. Providers compete hard for it, which works in your favor.
- Exchange houses: LuLu Exchange and Al Ansari have wide branch coverage in the UAE and send to Philippine bank accounts and e-wallets; ask for the fee and the amount received before you pay. Deciding between the two? Our Al Ansari vs LuLu comparison lays them out side by side.
- Digital apps such as Remitly do the whole thing from your phone.
- Your UAE bank can send too, and some publish Philippines routes: FAB lists instant transfers of up to PHP 500,000 per transaction with zero transfer fees, and Emirates NBD DirectRemit lists PHP 50,000 per transfer with a zero fee. Compare the amount received, not only the fee.
The Philippines has one of the most e-wallet-friendly remittance setups anywhere — GCash and Maya can both receive international transfers directly, with several UAE-relevant providers supporting direct top-ups to either wallet, no bank account needed. On the bank side, transfers move through InstaPay (instant, capped at ₱50,000 per transaction under BSP rules) for smaller amounts, or PESONet (same banking day, no per-transaction cap) for larger ones.
Here’s why the rate matters more than the fee label, using made-up numbers. Imagine the mid-market rate is exactly 15 pesos per dirham. Provider A charges no fee but converts at 14.70; Provider B charges a 15 AED fee and converts at 14.95. On 1,000 AED, A delivers 14,700 pesos, while B delivers (1,000 − 15) × 14.95 = 14,725.75 pesos. The no-fee option delivered less. Real rates differ, so compare the pesos that arrive for your own amount.
Fees on this route vary by provider, amount and payout method, and the exchange-rate margin is usually what separates providers. The delivery estimate is shown before you confirm.
Sending to GCash from the UAE
GCash is the Philippines' biggest e-wallet, and it's one of the easiest ways to get money to family there — funds land straight in the recipient's GCash balance, no bank account needed, and it's spendable or withdrawable almost immediately. That convenience is why "send to GCash from UAE" is such a common search.
You don't top up a GCash wallet directly from your UAE bank; you send through a remittance provider that offers GCash payout. Several UAE exchange houses, apps and banks do; FAB, for example, publishes GCash transfers of up to PHP 50,000 “within 60 seconds”. Which providers support GCash, and any wallet or per-transfer limit (GCash caps balances and monthly volume by verification tier), change over time, so confirm GCash delivery is offered and check the current limits before you send a larger amount.
You'll need the recipient's GCash-registered mobile number and their name as registered on the wallet. As always, the provider that looks cheapest on fees isn't always the one that delivers the most pesos — compare AED to PHP on the amount that actually reaches the wallet.