In the international money transfer market, you often hear the term “table to table.” It sounds unusual to the uninitiated, but in practice, it’s one of the most common methods of transferring money between countries. This format is especially popular on the Russia-UAE and Ukraine-UAE routes , where fast and reliable payments are required.
What does “table to table” mean?
“Table to table” is a scheme in which money is transferred in one country at an office (or through an intermediary), and in another country it can be received in the same format – “at the table”, directly from hand to hand.
Example:
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A client in Moscow pays 1,000,000 rubles at the intermediary’s office.
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A couple of hours later, his partner in Dubai comes to another office and receives 40,000 dirhams.
In other words, the money doesn’t physically cross the border. The transfer works through a network of intermediaries and mutual settlements between them.
How to organize a table-to-table meeting
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Choosing an intermediary.
It’s best to work with companies or services that have offices in both the sender’s and recipient’s countries. -
Agreeing on the amount and currency.
Usually, the amount of rubles/hryvnias to be paid and the amount of dirhams the partner will receive are agreed upon upfront. It’s important to clarify the exchange rate and commission. -
Meeting Appointment.
The sender comes to the intermediary’s office (or meets in person), hands over the money, and receives confirmation. -
Recipient identification.
In Dubai, the recipient provides a passphrase, passport information, or other identification. This is necessary to ensure that the money is not withdrawn by an unauthorized person. -
Cash withdrawal.
At the UAE office, you can receive the equivalent in dirhams or dollars. Processing time typically ranges from a few minutes to a couple of hours.
Advantages of the format
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Speed. You can receive your money the same day.
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Simplicity. Minimum paperwork and formalities.
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Flexibility. You can exchange rubles or hryvnias for dirhams, dollars, or euros.
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Convenience. Suitable for both personal and business transfers.
What to look out for
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Rate and fees. Check everything in advance to avoid surprises.
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Reliability of the intermediary. Work only with trusted companies or services.
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Transfer amount. For large transactions, it’s sometimes more cost-effective to transfer part of the amount directly and the rest via a banking instrument (for example, a manager can send a check).
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Documentary evidence. Always keep receipts or correspondence.
“Stol v stol” and other formats: what’s the difference?
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From hand-to-hand : in “table to table” money is not carried across the border directly, but is transferred through a network of intermediaries.
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From cash-to-cash : a similar principle, but “desk to desk” implies personal meetings in offices and hand-to-hand transfer.
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From bank transfers : faster and easier, but less formal.
Result
“Stol v Stol” is a convenient and reliable way to quickly transfer money from Russia or Ukraine to the UAE. It combines simplicity, speed, and clear rules: deposit money in one country and receive it in another. The key is to choose a trusted intermediary and clarify the terms of the transaction in advance.
