No more free remittances for NBD customers starting September: What expats need to know
Emirates NBD, one of the largest banking groups in the UAE, has officially announced that it will begin charging customers a fixed fee of Dh26.25 (₹598.50) ($7.15) (inclusive of VAT) for international money transfers made through its DirectRemit service.
This change will take effect from Monday, September 1, 2025, and marks a significant shift in the bank's longstanding policy of offering free remittances to selected countries.
The update was shared in an email sent to customers, in which the bank stated:
'Effective Monday, September 1, 2025, charge of Dh26.25 will be applicable for International Transfers (Including DirectRemit) remittance service initiated from ENBD X or Online Banking.
The fee is inclusive of VAT.'
What's Changing?
Previously, Emirates NBD customers enjoyed instant and fee-free money transfers to banks in countries considered part of the bank's "popular remittance corridor." These included India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom, with a minimum transfer amount of Dh100.
Starting in September, the Dh26.25 charge will apply uniformly across all international transfers initiated via:
The ENBD X mobile app
The bank's online banking platform
This effectively ends the free transfer benefit previously associated with DirectRemit, the bank's digital remittance tool that allowed cross-border transactions to be completed in less than 60 seconds.
Additionally, the bank has introduced a cancellation fee of up to Dh26.25 for recall or cancellation of any local or international transfers, bringing another layer of change to its remittance services. This applies whether the transaction is completed or pending.
How Does It Compare to Other UAE Banks?
International wire transfer fees across UAE banks generally range from Dh20 to Dh60, depending on the channel and destination. With this fee update, Emirates NBD is aligning DirectRemit with the industry standard applied to most other international transfers offered by UAE-based banks.
No other changes have been announced to the exchange rate margins or processing times associated with DirectRemit. The core functionality of the service, quick, digital cross-border money transfers—remains unchanged aside from the new fee.
Advice to Customers
Customers are encouraged to:
Review their recent transfer history to assess how the new fee structure will impact their remittance habits
Compare rates and fees with other available remittance services in the market
Stay informed through official bank channels for any future changes or updates
This adjustment signals Emirates NBD's broader move to standardize its digital banking offerings, bringing them in line with conventional cross-border transfer practices within the UAE banking sector.
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