Yes, Remitly is licensed to operate in the UAE. In July 2026 Remitly announced that the Central Bank of the UAE granted it a Stored Value Facilities licence with Exchange Business Category IV. Its UAE user agreement also names Remitly (DIFC) Limited as a firm regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
You use Remitly through its app or website, so it works the same way in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other emirate. Below: what the licence means, how sending from the UAE works, what is different when someone sends money to the UAE with Remitly, and what to check before you pay.
Is Remitly legal and licensed in the UAE?
Remitly says it is "among the first international remittance companies granted a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) and Exchange Business Category IV license by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates". The announcement appeared on Remitly's newsroom (dated 8 July 2026) and in its press release (dated 9 July 2026).
Two practical points. First, the announcement does not name which Remitly company holds the new licence. The UAE Central Bank's register of licensed institutions (August 2026) lists Remitly Fintech Services – L.L.C- S.P.C, Abu Dhabi, as a stored value facility; that register edition does not list a Remitly exchange business licence, so the Category IV licence is Remitly's own statement. Meanwhile Remitly's UAE user agreement (effective 17 November 2022) still names Remitly (DIFC) Limited, regulated by the DFSA. The company named in the terms you accept in the app is the one you contract with, so read that screen. Second, a licence tells you the firm is authorised; it does not tell you the price of your transfer. Compare the amount the recipient receives before you pay.
Sending money from the UAE with Remitly
How you pay. Remitly's UAE help guide says you pay in dirhams with a debit or salary card, Visa or Mastercard. Its UAE money-transfer page also lists credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Remitly's pages differ here, so the payment options shown in the app for your route are the ones that apply.
How much you can send. Remitly publishes a maximum of 110,000 AED per transaction from the UAE. It says your own limit may be lower depending on your verification level, payment method, destination and transfer history.
Speed and price. Remitly offers more than one delivery option on some routes and says the fastest, Express, works best with a debit or credit card where available. The fee, exchange rate and delivery time depend on the route, amount, payment method and option you choose, and Remitly shows them before you confirm. GulfSend does not publish Remitly's prices.
Sending money to the UAE with Remitly
This is a different service: the sender is in another country and the money arrives in the UAE. Remitly's UK and US pages list two ways to receive in the UAE: bank deposit and cash pickup. Wallet payout is not listed for the UAE.
If you are receiving money in the UAE, give the sender your full name exactly as it appears on your bank account and your UAE IBAN. If the sender is in another country, check Remitly's page for that country, because the available delivery options depend on where the money is sent from.
Before you pay
Check that your destination and delivery method are offered for your route.
Read the payment methods offered for your transfer; they can differ from Remitly’s general pages.
Compare the amount the recipient receives, after fees, not the headline rate.
Check the delivery time shown for the option you pick.
Make sure the recipient’s name matches their bank account exactly.
Keep the transfer reference until the money arrives.