Dubai real estate has remained one of the most attractive destinations for Ukrainian investors for several years. The reasons are obvious: a stable market, rapidly rising prices, no rental income tax, and the ability for foreigners to freely own property. But the main question is how to transfer money from Ukraine to Dubai to pay for real estate without unnecessary risks and delays?
Let’s look at the main options that Ukrainian investors are actually using today.
Bank transfers
The classic route is a bank transfer . However, for Ukraine, there are some important nuances:
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NBU restrictions : there are limits on currency transfers abroad;
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bureaucracy : the bank may request confirmation of the origin of the money and a sales contract;
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speed : translation may take from 3 to 7 business days;
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commissions : fixed and percentage fees.
Many investors note that for large sums, the process can be delayed, and sometimes not proceed at all due to restrictions.
Exchange services
In practice, more and more buyers are choosing exchange companies that help convert hryvnias to dirhams and deliver funds to the UAE.
How does this work:
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The investor deposits hryvnias in Ukraine (cash or card transfer).
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In Dubai, it receives the equivalent in dirhams.
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The service can immediately issue a manager a receipt for the developer.
Advantages:
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speed: translation takes from several hours to one day;
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Convenience: no strict bank checks;
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Flexibility: large sums can be transferred directly into dirhams.
It is no coincidence that many Ukrainians choose this particular path for housing transactions.
Havala
The hawala systеm in the UAE is popular not only among entrepreneurs but also among real estate investors.
Principle:
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the client transfers money to an intermediary in Ukraine;
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partner in Dubai issues the equivalent in dirhams;
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If necessary, a manager will arrange a check for payment of housing.
Why choose hawala:
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efficiency – you can receive money on the same day;
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minimum of documents;
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A convenient way to convert hryvnias to dirhams directly, without using dollars or euros.
Hawala has become a convenient tool for Ukrainians who want to resolve payment issues quickly and without bureaucracy.
Cash-to-cash
For many Ukrainian investors, the cash-to-cash format is also relevant :
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in Ukraine, hryvnia cash is transferred;
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In Dubai you can receive cash dirhams;
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Then you can deposit the money into the bank and issue a manager check.
This method is popular among those who value personal control over each transaction and prefer to work “hand-to-hand”.
Check manager
Regardless of how the money arrived in Dubai—through a bank, an exchange service, or hawala—the final payment almost always goes through a manager’s check .
This is a mandatory requirement in real estate transactions: a check issued by the bank to the developer or seller confirms that the funds are guaranteed to be blocked and will be paid.
What do Ukrainian investors choose?
In practice, the scheme looks like this:
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Transfer hryvnias through an exchange service or hawala.
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Receiving dirhams in Dubai.
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Issue of a manager check at the bank to pay for housing.
SWIFT is used less often, as it is longer and more complicated due to restrictions.
Result
Ukrainian investors are finding convenient and fast solutions for purchasing real estate in Dubai. Hawala, cash-to-cash, and exchange services have become a viable alternative to banks, and the check manager remains a key tool for completing the transaction.
These instruments allow Ukrainians to invest in real estate in the Emirates without unnecessary obstacles and bureaucracy.
