Good news for expats: No Dh26.25 fee for sending money to India, UK, 4 other countries, Emirates NBD clarifies
Emirates NBD has addressed recent customer concerns regarding international money transfer fees, assuring that its popular DirectRemit service will continue to offer free transfers to six major remittance destinations, including India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and the UK.
Fee Clarification and Affected Corridors
Following an email notification sent to customers on Friday, which stated that from September 1, 2025, a transfer fee of Dh26.25 (inclusive of VAT) would apply to all international transfers via the bank's digital platforms, many customers expressed worry about the end of zero-fee remittances.
In a clarification statement sent in response to media reports, the bank said: 'To clarify: Emirates NBD will not be charging Dh26 for remittances to key corridors such as India, Pakistan, Egypt, and the Philippines.
These corridors will remain free of charge for our customers. The Dh26 fee applies only to non-core corridors, in line with Central Bank regulations.'
Further emphasizing the commitment to its customers, the spokesperson said: 'Emirates NBD remains committed to offering seamless and cost-effective banking solutions for our valued customers. As part of this commitment, Emirates NBD DirectRemit Transfers to India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and the UK will continue to be offered free of charge to all Emirates NBD customers.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential
Seeking Alpha
Read Now
Undo
Details of the New Transfer Fees and Service Expansion
The Dh26.25 fee will only apply to international transfers sent to countries outside the bank's designated zero-fee corridors, and only when transfers are initiated via online, mobile banking, or the ENBD X digital channels. Transfers within the six core countries will continue to have no charge, provided the transfer amount meets the minimum threshold of Dh100.
The bank is also expanding its DirectRemit service to over 30 additional countries, allowing customers to benefit from near real-time transfers. The spokesperson added:
'Customers will no longer be charged any correspondent bank fees and will just be charged a nominal transfer fee of up to Dh26.25 (inclusive of VAT).
All other international transfers will also incur a nominal fee of up to Dh26.25. These charges will be effective from September 1, 2025.'
Additionally, Emirates NBD's Private Banking, Priority Banking, and Personal Banking Beyond customers will continue to enjoy free DirectRemit and international transfers as usual.
How DirectRemit Works and Alternative Options
DirectRemit is a digital money transfer service enabling Emirates NBD customers to send money quickly, within 60 seconds, to India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and the UK.
This ease and speed have made it a preferred choice for many expatriates in the UAE.
O
utside of Emirates NBD, there are other apps such as Botim, Careem Pay, e& money, and Taptap Send, which offer free or minimal fees for money transfers from the UAE. Some of these apps require no registration fees, no minimum balance, and no bank account—only an active UAE mobile number, a debit or credit card, or online banking access.
These apps not only facilitate global and local money transfers but also support bill payments, merchant payments, and transfers directly to mobile wallets.
UAE's Significant Role in Global Remittances
The UAE ranks as the third-largest sender of remittances worldwide, after the US and Saudi Arabia. Last year, Indian expatriates sent $21.6 billion to India from the UAE, representing 19.2% of the country's total dollar inflows, making the UAE the second-largest source of global remittance to India after the US.
Filipino workers in the UAE remitted approximately $1.52 billion in 2024, contributing to the Philippines' record $38.34 billion in total overseas remittances for that year, as reported by Statista and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippine Central Bank). Major sources of these remittances include the US, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UAE.
What Customers Should Do Next
Emirates NBD is preparing to send electronic direct mails (EDMs) to customers affected by the fee changes and plans to release a formal press statement to further clarify the details.
Customers are encouraged to check the list of eligible zero-fee corridors on their Emirates NBD app or online platform before initiating transfers to confirm whether their intended destination qualifies for free remittance.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Soon, 1L postmen set to be MF distributors
New Delhi: As part of its efforts to double the investor base, the Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi) is working with India Post to train nearly one lakh postmen as distributors, in addition to focusing on four states to ensure that every district has at least 10 distributors by end of the year. Amfi chief executive Venkat Nageswar Chalasani said the industry body has adopted four states, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Meghalaya, where it is trying to train college students and is targeting 20,000 new distributors in these states in the first year. "By end of the year, we expect at least 10 distributors in each district of these states and at least 20 by next year," said Chalasani. Besides, tie-ups with leading academic institutions are in the offing to "train the trainers". AMFI has already partnered the department of posts to address legacy issues related to KYC of individuals, who did not have Aadhaar numbers seeded. The plan is now to extend it to training postmen as India Post revamps its operations, focusing on turning each of its verticals into a profit centre. If the move goes through, postmen will be like relationship managers in banks, who hawk savings products. For mutual funds nearly 45% of the investments are now coming from the bottom 30 towns, although overall 65% of the share is from the top 30 cities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Annually around 30,000 new distributors join the mutual fund industry but net additions hover around the 10,000-mark. While changing savings habits and online platforms have seen a surge in new investors into mutual funds, especially through systematic investor plans (SIPs), new distributors are seen to be critical in expanding the footprint to smaller towns and rural areas. There is a boom in mutual fund investments in the last few years resulting in the number of folios jumping from 2.1 crore in 2019 to 5.6 crore now. Chalasani said the target is to double it in the next few years. "Our campaign has created tremendous awareness and we will see a massive growth as there is a huge potential," he said, pointing to 80 crore bank accounts in the country. Currently, the assets under management in India are to the tune of 21% of GDP, compared to more than 100% in developed countries and 65% being the global average. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
GST, tariff hopes lift rupee; up 40 paise versus dollar
AI-generated image MUMBAI: The rupee recorded its biggest daily gain in a month, regaining the 86 level, with the domestic unit firming up 40 paise to close at 86.95 on Tuesday, up from 87.35 on Monday. The rally came on optimism that the U.S. may ease its stance on additional 25% tariffs after talks between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, raising hopes of a peace deal that could also reduce the likelihood of fresh sanctions on India's Russian oil imports. Optimistic rise Domestic drivers also supported the currency, including stronger consumption trends and the government's plan to cut goods and services tax (GST) rates - the biggest such reform in eight years. Economists said the move could lift near-term growth momentum, improve sentiment and help revive foreign portfolio flows that had recently turned negative. The rupee further drew strength from a recent credit rating outlook upgrade for India, which has bolstered confidence in the economy. According to Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities, the upgrade, along with reduced selling pressure from foreign investors and positive signals from India-Japan ties ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Tokyo later this month, has helped improve sentiment, with the rupee expected to trade in a range of 86.60-87.25. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Dilip Parmar of HDFC Securities noted that the Indian rupee outperformed Asian currencies due to risk-on sentiment, supported by growth-focused policies, renewed foreign fund inflows and a technical pullback. He added that the spot USD/INR rate is likely to find support at 86.80 and face resistance near 87.20 in the near term. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Hero launches new Glamour X 125; check price category, specs, performance and more
Hero MotoCorp unveiled the all-new Glamour X 125, priced at Rs 89,999 (drum variant) and Rs 99,999 (disc variant), ex-showroom on Tuesday. Bookings are now open both online and at dealerships, with deliveries expected to roll out soon. No longer just a modest commuter, the Glamour X 125 now arrives with a sportier and sharper design language. The bike features an aggressive front fascia with a sleek LED headlamp, a sculpted fuel tank with muscular shrouds, and dynamic dual-tone colour schemes. Buyers will have a choice of five striking paint options: Matt Magnetic Silver, Candy Blazing Red, Metallic Nexus Blue, Black Teal Blue, and Black Pearl Red. Engine & performance At its heart sits a 124.7cc single-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Xtreme 125R. The motor produces 11.4 bhp at 8,250 rpm and 10.5 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, paired with a five-speed gearbox. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Our healthy baby has a hole in his heart, please help us! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo This setup ensures that the Glamour X balances efficiency with a lively performance for daily commuting as well as longer rides. Features & tech Hero has equipped the Glamour X 125 with segment-first and premium features. The fully digital colour LCD display includes Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, gear position indicator, and distance-to-empty readout. Live Events The standout addition is cruise control, rarely seen in this segment. Other advanced features include: Ride-by-Wire throttle system Three ride modes: Eco, Road, and Power Panic Brake Alert, where the tail-lamp flashes during hard braking Low-battery kick-start function With these upgrades, the Glamour X 125 positions itself as one of the most feature-rich commuter motorcycles in India.
