Today, many people are faced with the need to send money to the Emirates—whether to buy real estate, start a business, or support family. But traditional bank transfers often take too long, require documents, and incur hefty fees. Therefore, more and more people are opting for alternative methods: hawala and direct transfers .
Let’s look at how it works and, most importantly, how to safely transfer money from Moscow to Dubai .
Why aren’t banks always suitable?
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Long lead times. A SWIFT transfer can take 5–10 days.
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Commissions. Banks and intermediaries charge up to 3–5%.
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Bureaucracy. Certificates of origin of funds are required.
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Risk of blocking. Some payments are not processed due to sanctions.
When it comes to buying an apartment in Dubai or paying for a business deal, such delays are unacceptable. Therefore, many are looking for ways to securely transfer money from Moscow to Dubai without a bank.
What is hawala?
Hawala is an ancient money transfer systеm based on trust. It operates on the principle of mutual settlements:
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You transfer money to an intermediary (havalador) in Moscow.
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Its partner in Dubai issues the equivalent to your recipient in dirhams or dollars.
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Later, the havaladors settle accounts with each other.
The key is that the money doesn’t physically cross the border. Therefore, the transfer is fast and without any banking barriers.
Transfer from hand to hand
A format similar to hawala is hand-to- hand transfer.
It’s as simple as it gets:
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in Moscow you give cash (rubles or dollars);
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In Dubai, your partner or developer receives cash in dirhams.
This is a convenient method for those who want to pay for the transaction immediately or make a down payment on real estate.
How to safely transfer money from Moscow to Dubai via hawala?
To protect yourself and your funds, it is important to follow a few rules:
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Choose only trusted brokers. Check their recommendations and reviews.
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Fix the rate and amount in advance. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises.
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Draw up a receipt or agreement, especially for large transfers.
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Hand over the money in a safe place. Ideally, at the company’s office or with a receipt.
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Check the pickup method in Dubai. You can pick up in cash or send payment directly to the developer.
If you follow these rules, hawala and hand-to-hand transfers become not only a fast but also a safe instrument.
Advantages of hawala
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Speed. Money arrives the same day.
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There are no limits. You can transfer from $1,000 to $500,000.
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Flexibility. Rubles → dirhams, dollars → dollars, or any combination.
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Confidentiality. No bureaucracy or bank statements.
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Direct payments. You can pay the developer directly.
Summary: How to safely transfer money from Moscow to Dubai
If saving time and avoiding banking hassles is important to you, the optimal solution is hawala or personal transfer . These methods have long proven themselves among businessmen and real estate buyers.
