Key Takeaways
- UAE-Philippines is one of the most active remittance routes due to a significant number of OFWs sending money home;
- Payout options include bank accounts, crypto-powered solutions, and internal P2P networks;
- Ogvio is one of the most affordable services for this route.
Stop overpaying - start transferring money with Ogvio. Sign up, invite friends & grab Rewards now! 🎁
As a Filipino expat, there comes a time when you need to understand how to send money from UAE to Philippines. Maybe it’s tuition fees for your younger sibling, a hospital bill that cannot wait, or a monthly padala to help your Nanay or Tatay back home.
And when you’re in a crunch, every minute counts. But many money transfer services take advantage of that urgency by charging higher fees, though there are exceptions.
For the UAE-Philippines corridor, Ogvio relies on high-speed rail transfers such as Instapay or Pesonet. Better yet, you don’t have to sacrifice your hard-earned money to marked-up FX rates or hidden charges. Let me walk you through how to transfer money from UAE to Philippines, so you can move funds to your loved ones faster without overpaying.
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Table of Contents
- 1. How to Send Money From UAE to Philippines Online
- 1.1. To a Filipino Bank Account
- 1.2. To Another Ogvio User
- 1.3. To a Crypto Wallet
- 2. How to Send Money From UAE to Philippines Offline
- 3. Regulations Surrounding the UAE-Philippines Corridor
- 4. Best Platforms to Send Money from the UAE to the Philippines
- 5. Conclusions
How to Send Money From UAE to Philippines Online
Besides how to send money from UAE to Philippines, you might have a more pressing question: which method truly fits your situation?
Latest Deal Active Right Now:In general, you can send money from the UAE to the Philippines online or offline. Many Filipinos abroad lean toward digital P2P money apps for their ease of use, low or no cost, and immediacy.[1]
Those characteristics are often difficult to find in traditional remittance services. If you’re a digital-first money sender, online channels might better align with how you want to send money home.
📚 Read More: How to Send Money Online
Now comes the choice of platforms, and there are plenty to consider. Every name you might’ve heard of, such as Wise, Remitly, or Xoom, has its own fee structure, transfer schedule, and payout options. There are also neobanks like Ogvio that blend digital and fiat currencies into one, including PHP, AED, and even USDC.
FX Rate | Transfer Costs | Speed | Maximum Transfer Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wise | Mid-market | Account transfer fees + internal fees + VAT | Less than 24h | No explicit limit for AED |
Remitly | Marked-up | Transfer fees + VAT | Instant (Express); 1-5 business days (Economy) | Up to 110,000 AED |
Xoom | Marked-up | Bank account: $0; debit card: $1.99; credit card: $5.99 | Minutes to hours | Depends on the sending level |
Ogvio | Mid-market | Free for internal transfers; pay-in or pay-out fees for other methods | Instant | 50,000 AED |
Table: Comparison of money transfer platforms
Every platform above shines in its own way. Wise for competitive exchange rates, Remitly for high-value transfers, and Xoom for multi-channel settlement options. For most Filipino expats, though, both money and time come first, and Ogvio comparatively gives straightforward pricing, fair exchange rates, and rapid processing.
For those reasons, I’ll use Ogvio as an example throughout the tutorial that focuses on the online route. The core steps around how to transfer money from the UAE to the Philippines remain similar across platforms, but you may notice differences in the user interface, KYC requirements, and feature-specific quirks.
To a Filipino Bank Account
Many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) choose to move funds straight into a Philippine bank account as it bridges practical needs and family realities back home. On the receiving end, Filipino households benefit from:
- Familiarity. Parents often use the balance inside their bank accounts (e.g., through a debit card) for bills, utilities, tuition payments, or savings.
- Convenience. Once the funds arrive, your Tatay or Nanay back home can withdraw them immediately at nearby ATMs or link them to e-Wallets for ordering meals on Grab or shopping on eCommerce apps.
- Risk Management. Every transaction has a digital trail, unlike cash, which requires manual tracking and high-maintenance record-keeping.
Ogvio lets you send AED (or any other 40+ supported currencies) to Filipino bank accounts, including BDO Bank, BPI, Metrobank, etc. As you’ll see in the step-by-step, transfers are designed to be fast, transparent, and affordable, so more of your money reaches your loved ones back home.
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Table: Ogvio's asset movement
Now that the basics are all laid out, here’s how to send money from UAE to a Philippines-based bank account. Pay close attention to steps 1-5, since they focus on account creation and identity verification, which are the initial steps for whichever payout route you choose.
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: Ogvio's [Get Started] screen.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-ogvio-signup.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: Ogvio's [Get Started] screen.")
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Add Money] button on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-add-money.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Add Money] button on Ogvio.")
Ogvio will initially peg your balance to EUR/USD to preserve value against local inflation, but you can still convert it to any fiat currency of your choice with minimal friction.
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send Money] menu next to [Sell & Buy] on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-send-money-ogvio.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send Money] menu next to [Sell & Buy] on Ogvio.")
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [+ Send to new recipient] button on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-send-to-new.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [+ Send to new recipient] button on Ogvio.")
Your money is on its way from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or elsewhere to the Philippines. Check the [Activity] tab to monitor your transfer progress. If it’s been delivered successfully, you’ll see a [Transfer completed] window, and you can share that screenshot with your relatives who are eagerly waiting.
TIP: You can follow the same steps if you end up using your debit card, since it pulls funds directly from your bank account’s balance.
As you can see, Ogvio provides one of the quickest and cheapest ways to send money to the Philippines. Bank transfer deposits incur zero fees, and payout costs remain flat at PHP 50 no matter how much you send.
If you want to save up even more, Ogvio has partnered with BitDegree, which is hosting the Season 9 Airdrop. It’s running for a limited time with a prize pool of $20,000 up for grabs, which could be helpful for your next money transfer. Connect your Ogvio account and follow the rules to begin earning.
To Another Ogvio User
More often than not, recipients in the Philippines lose about 3 to 4% of the transferred amount to delivery fees and exchange rate spreads. That percentage can quickly compound without you realizing it, as Filipino remitters typically send money weekly or monthly rather than in one-off large transfers.
Let’s walk through a scenario. Say you transfer $300 biweekly, and each time you hit Send, around 3% or $9 is deducted. Over a year, you’ll make 24 transfers totaling $7,200, and that adds up to $216 lost to fees annually.
That amount could very well fund daily household expenses, utilities and rent, or school tuition and allowances. As a result, many OFWs move from one money transfer service to another in search of the right fit. Brand names don’t matter much, but clarity does.
There’s a way to trim these costs to zero, and even throw in a little earning opportunity along the way. Ogvio makes internal transfers completely free. The process is also simple: your recipient only needs to create an account and a personal @Tag. They don’t have to go through KYC, either, unless they want to access bank top-ups and withdrawals.
By inviting your relatives and friends to Ogvio, you get an extra $10 for every 3 invites who become active, and there’s no cap on how many people you can bring in!
For a clearer illustration, let me show you how to send money to Philippines from UAE through the Ogvio-to-Ogvio path. If you haven’t created an account, follow steps 1-5 in the previous chapter, then proceed with the following:
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send Money] menu on Ogvio's dashboard.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-send-money.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send Money] menu on Ogvio's dashboard.")
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send To Ogvio User] button.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-ogvio-user.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Send To Ogvio User] button.")
The transfer should arrive in seconds, making it an ideal solution for an urgent padala. Once the funds land in your relative’s account, they can keep it inside Ogvio’s USD-pegged wallet (or EUR-pegged, depending on your choice) for an inflation hedge. If they want to use the money for spending, they can withdraw it effortlessly to a bank account.
To a Crypto Wallet
Every cent going out for a transfer is important. When fees eat into remittances, they can quietly take away the effort behind the long hours, extra shifts, and sacrifices made to support loved ones. That reality is why many migrant workers are beginning to rethink how they send money. Crypto, especially stablecoins, has become a compelling alternative.
What was once considered a niche has entered the mainstream. Crypto transactions account for nearly half of all transfers within the UAE. Adoption continues to rise, so much so that the government has set out an ambitious plan to make Dubai a global blockchain-powered city.
Transfers using digital assets are often faster and lower in costs, especially compared to the 3 or up to 12% fees commonly charged by banks and brick-and-mortar providers. When you’re in a time crunch, blockchain transfers also settle in minutes, bypassing bank operating hours and holiday delays.
Here’s the hard truth: not everyone is comfortable with digital assets. Some counterfeit platforms expose users to scams or volatile currencies. Due diligence is no longer trivial, and you should take time to understand what protection every service offers.
Ogvio is built around clarity and user control. Here are the safeguards it puts in place:
- A self-custodial architecture;
- Advanced 256-bit AES encryption;
- Secure vaults immune to hidden access or interference.
Using Ogvio, you can remit funds affordably, securely, and quickly. As a matter of fact, you can complete the entire crypto transaction flow on a single platform, from topping up your account to sending funds directly to another crypto wallet. The UX is designed to feel intuitive for Filipino users, integrating familiar options such as GCash.
Here’s how to send money from UAE to the Philippines online, the crypto way:
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Card Transfer] option to add money on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-card-trf.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Card Transfer] option to add money on Ogvio.")
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Crypto Transfer] menu on Ogvio.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-crypto-trf.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: the [Crypto Transfer] menu on Ogvio.")
And that’s how to send money to the Philippines from UAE with crypto as the transfer rail, which works much like a fiat transfer since USDC serves as the intermediary. Now, your recipient can cash out their crypto to a bank account. Ogvio users can also explore trading opportunities on the Base network, with assets like BTC or ETH readily available to add portfolio diversification.
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How to Send Money From UAE to Philippines Offline
Cash pickup and home delivery remain popular options for Filipinos who prefer physical payouts. While digital and bank transfers continue to dominate, the majority of households still rely on cash for daily spending.
Physical delivery options are commonly used by Filipinos who live in small towns, coastal areas, or agricultural communities, particularly in regions like Luzon, Bicol, and Iwahig.
More than half of adults in the Philippines are underbanked.[2] Many recipients favor non-bank methods, especially when bank branches are far away or come with extra paperwork and fees.
Generally, there are two ways to receive money offline. Cash pickup requires the recipient to visit an agent location and present a transfer reference along with a valid ID. Another option is home delivery, where the funds are delivered right to the recipient’s doorstep, which can be more convenient because it eliminates the need to walk.
Since the Philippines is a major corridor with one of the largest inflows of remittances, many providers such as Western Union, Remitly, and WorldRemit offer cash-in-hand delivery.
Cash-based payouts often entail higher fees than digital ones. Western Union, for instance, adds an exchange rate margin of 1% with an average fee of 10 AED.
It’s possible to save up with the free first-time transfer promotion, but after that, you can’t avoid the costs. Nonetheless, for Filipinos residing in remote areas, physical withdrawals are a necessity rather than a choice. If you’re the sender and prefer going digital, don’t worry, you can still set up the transfer online and have the funds delivered offline.
Here’s how to send money to the Philippines from UAE. I’ll use Western Union as an example since it’s one of the most well-known services.
![How to send money from UAE to Philippines: [Cash pickup] as the delivery method on Western Union.](https://assets.bitdegree.org/images/how-to-send-money-from-uae-to-philippines-cash-pickup-wu.jpg "How to send money from UAE to Philippines: [Cash pickup] as the delivery method on Western Union.")
The money will be ready for collection in minutes. The recipient can then visit the nearby agent location that the sender selected when configuring the transfer.
📚 Read More: Ogvio VS Western Union
Regulations Surrounding the UAE-Philippines Corridor
Understanding how to send money from the UAE to the Philippines from a legal perspective puts you out of compliance risks.
Starting from the UAE side, the region has tightened its grip on cross-border remittance through the Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018. All providers are obligated to perform strict KYC as part of anti-money laundering (AML)/counter-financial terrorism (CFT) measures. Transactions must always be monitored, and suspicious activities must be reported.
Money transmitters in the UAE are also required to obtain a remittance license to operate lawfully. As a user, it is your responsibility to find a properly licensed service.
The Central Bank, fortunately, does not impose a maximum money transfer to Philippines from UAE limit. Instead, the actual cap is determined by the service provider.
A 5% Value Added Tax (VAT) may be charged by the remittance platform.
Likewise, in the Philippines, currency declaration rules don’t apply to electronic transfers. For large transfer amounts, expect more thorough identity verification and source-of-fund checks. Additionally, if you carry physical cash of over $10,000, you must notify the Bureau of Customs.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) oversees global remittance activities in the country, ensuring every licensed service complies with the local AML/CFT framework.
Keeping up with the times, the BSP encourages the use of technology, such as digital wallets and blockchain, to strengthen its oversight of remittance providers and ensure their compliance with prevailing laws.
If you observe closely, both countries share the same core pattern, and that starts with selecting a legally authorized money transmitter. Most importantly, KYC is non-negotiable, as it also works in your favor by protecting you from financial misuse.
Best Platforms to Send Money from the UAE to the Philippines
While researching the field, money transfer services generally fall into two broad categories: digital and traditional. Digital is where convenience meets efficiency. Cross-device experiences, faster processing times, and lower FX rates come as standard.
Traditional channels, including banks and exchange houses, typically charge higher. SWIFT transfers to the Philippines are known to be expensive, costing you $20 to over $100 for a single transfer. However, conventional banking customers often opt for this route, as it offers brand trust and a reliable offline presence.
Whichever way you’re going, I’ve shortlisted the best-in-class picks. Considering the preferences of Filipino senders who value both speed and budget, here are the top transmitters in the market:
- Ogvio. Ogvio gives you clearly disclosed fees at a mid-market FX rate, so you always know how much to pay. And you won’t be disappointed, since costs stay refreshingly low without percentage-based pricing or subscription models that quietly reduce your transfer value.
- Western Union. Operating through the reputable Al Ansari Exchange in the UAE, Western Union is a household name that connects you to 12,000 agent locations in the Philippines. Its payout partners include Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, and TrueMoney, which you can easily find across the country.
- Remitly. Remitly partners with the LuLu exchange to give users a flexible remittance experience right from your fingertips. Newcomers can get a one-time free transfer (T&Cs apply), and the service is well-suited for those who regularly use debit/credit cards.
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| A global money transfer service with an additional volatile currency rate pegging to USD or EUR. | A global service trusted for decades for sending money digitally or in person, though often pricier than newer alternatives. | A beginner-friendly cross-border remittance solution. | |
| Visit site Read review | Visit site Read review | Visit site Read review |
Table: Comparison of the best money transfer options for the UAE-Philippines corridor
For a more in-depth comparison, including fees, delivery time, payout methods, and ideal use cases, check out the full listicle below.
📚 Read More: Best Way to Send Money to the Philippines
Browse our collection of the most thorough Crypto Exchange related articles, guides & tutorials. Always be in the know & make informed decisions!
Conclusions
How to send money from the UAE to the Philippines is about finding the most efficient route for your hard-earned money to reach your loved ones back home. The process remains similar, even if you switch to another platform. Set up your account, select your transfer method, and add a recipient. From there, it’s simply a matter of carefully reviewing the details before confirming your transfer.
Thankfully, your landscape is no longer tied to slow, costly, and rigid infrastructures. Digital, traditional, fiat, and even crypto options are all on the table. Most people prefer online transfers, as they’re accessible by phone, quicker, and cheaper. Nonetheless, traditional channels still serve specific use cases for cash pickups in remote areas.
Ogvio is the all-around choice if you’re after speed, affordability, and flexibility. Create your @Tag, and be eligible for BitDegree’s Season 9 Airdrop with a $20,000 prize pool to share.
Scientific References
1. Lingyuan L., Guo F., Knijnenburg B.: ‘Beyond Just Money Transactions: How Digital P2P Payments (Re)shape Existing Offline Interpersonal Relationships’;
2. Co M., Centeno D.: ‘Effects of Filipino Consumers’ Financial Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control on Intentions to Formal Banking: Towards Financial Inclusion’.
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