Today, tens of thousands of Russians live and work in Dubai and other emirates. Some are engaged in business, some are employed on contract, and others have simply decided to temporarily relocate to the UAE for new opportunities. Many, however, retain families, obligations, or interests in Russia, which raises a simple and understandable question: how to transfer money from the UAE to Russia .
At first glance, it should be simple: go to the bank, make an international transfer, and within a few days the money is in your Russian account. But in reality, things aren’t so simple. Banks operate with restrictions, fees are high, and transfer speeds leave much to be desired. So people are looking for alternatives—fast, convenient, and secure transfer methods.
Let’s take a closer look at all the main options: from traditional banks to modern services and traditional methods like hawala.
Bank transfer
SWIFT transfers through banks are the first option that comes to mind. Dubai has international banks, many of which serve Russian citizens and allow international transfers.
How does this work
You open an account with a UAE bank and send a transfer to a Russian account via the SWIFT systеm.
Pros
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Complete formality and transparency.
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Possibility of transferring large sums.
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Suitable for those who value reporting and documents.
Cons
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Long: money can take from 3-5 business days to a week.
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High fees: the bank in the UAE will take a percentage, the correspondent bank will too, plus the recipient bank’s commission.
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Restrictions: Not every bank is willing to transfer funds to Russia.
A bank transfer is suitable for those who value a strictly official procedure and require supporting documents. However, for most individuals and businesses, this method is inconvenient due to its cost and processing time.
International money transfer systems
Popular services like Western uniоn and MoneyGram used to be a convenient option. But today, they operate with restrictions, making transfers to Russia virtually impossible. Even when available, the fees are prohibitively high and the rates unfavorable.
Therefore, such systems are gradually fading into the background.
Exchange services
This is one of the most popular methods today. Exchange services are companies that help transfer money between countries without unnecessary bureaucracy.
How does this work
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In Dubai, you hand over cash dirhams to a service representative or to the company’s office.
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The exchange rate and amount are fixed.
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In Russia, the recipient receives money in rubles—in cash or by transfer to a card.
Everything is as simple as possible: hand it over here and receive it there.
Advantages
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Speed. Transfers take anywhere from a few hours to a day. Sometimes, the money arrives instantly.
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Favorable rates. Usually closer to the market rate than banks, which is especially important for large sums.
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Minimal formalities. No need for lengthy forms, documents, or confirmations.
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Flexibility. You can transfer both small amounts and large investments.
Who is this suitable for?
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For those who regularly send money to family in Russia.
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For freelancers and entrepreneurs who work in Dubai but spend money in Russia.
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For those who value speed and simplicity of the process.
What to consider
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Always check the rate and fix it in advance.
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Use only trusted companies.
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For very large amounts, it is better to consider special formats such as “table to table”.
Exchange services are the golden mean: fast, convenient, safe, and with a good rate.
Havala
Hawala , a traditional money transfer systеm that relies on trust and has existed for centuries, occupies a special place .
How does hawala work?
You give money to a middleman (hawaladar) in Dubai. They contact their partner in Russia, who transfers the equivalent amount to your recipient in rubles.
At the same time, the money does not physically cross borders—the transfer works through a network of mutual settlements between havaldars.
Advantages of hawala
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Lightning-fast speed. Money can reach the recipient in Russia within an hour.
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Favorable rates. Intermediaries often offer more attractive terms than banks.
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Flexibility. You can send any amount: from small transfers to millions.
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Simplicity. No paperwork or unnecessary formalities.
What is the strength of the method?
Hawala is built on trust and personal connections. Hawaladars have been operating for decades, and their business relies on their reputation. Therefore, in the regions where this systеm is widespread, both individuals and businesses trust it.
For the client, hawala is extremely convenient: deposit money in Dubai and receive the result in Russia, quickly and without unnecessary questions.
Table to table
The “table to table” format is essentially a type of exchange in which the transfer of money occurs synchronously in two countries.
What does it look like?
You meet in Dubai and hand over dirhams in cash. At the same time, in Russia, your partner or service representative hands over rubles to the recipient. Everything happens simultaneously, as if the two transactions were going hand in hand.
Advantages
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Maximum transparency. Money is transferred from hand to hand without delays.
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No waiting. Everything happens in a minute.
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Ideal for large sums, this format is most often used for purchasing real estate, businesses, or expensive goods.
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Simplicity. No extra steps—the exchange is straightforward.
When it’s convenient
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In large transactions, when every minute counts.
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For investors buying real estate in Dubai and wanting to pay in rubles in Russia.
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For those who value absolute reliability and synchronicity of the process.
How to choose the best method
When choosing a transfer method from the UAE to Russia, there are three factors to consider:
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Amount. For smaller amounts, exchange services or hawala are suitable. For larger transactions, “table to table” is better.
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Speed. If you need money urgently, hawala and exchange services are optimal.
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Benefit. Even a 2-3% difference in large transfers translates into tens of thousands of rubles.
Result
Today, transferring money from the UAE to Russia can be done in a variety of ways: from traditional bank transfers to modern services and traditional hawala. However, in practice, people are increasingly choosing methods that combine three qualities: speed, favorable rates, and convenience .
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For everyday transfers, exchange services are optimal.
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For the fastest possible transfer – hawala.
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For large transactions, the “table to table” format.
So, if you need to transfer money from Dubai to Russia , you have several reliable options. It all depends on your goals, amount, and priorities.
