My younger brother works as a delivery driver in Dubai. He sends money home to our mother every week. For two years, we used a bank. Then we discovered a better way. Now I have become an expert in sending money from Pakistan to UAE. I also know how to find a money exchange near me that does not cheat you. Here is everything I learned.
Why I Stopped Using Banks for Sending Money from Pakistan to UAE
The bank charged me a fee of one thousand rupees every time I sent money from Pakistan to UAE. On top of that, their exchange rate was always lower than the real market rate. For example, if one UAE dirham was worth eighty rupees in the market, the bank would give me only seventy six rupees. On a Transfer of fifty thousand rupees, I was losing almost two thousand rupees every single week. That is eight thousand rupees a month. Over a year, that is almost one lakh rupees thrown away.
How a Money Exchange Near Me Saved My Money
A customer in my shop saw me struggling with the bank app and told me about a money exchange near me. He said that a money exchange near me specializes only in currency. They do not have the same overhead costs as banks. So they can offer better rates for sending money from Pakistan to UAE. I found a money exchange near me that was registered with the State Bank. Their fee was only three hundred rupees per transaction. Their exchange rate was only half a rupee below the market rate. My brother started receiving almost three hundred more dirhams every month.
How to Find a Trustworthy Money Exchange Near Me
Not every money exchange near me is honest. I learned this when one shop offered me a rate that was too good. When I asked for a receipt, the man hesitated. I walked out. A reliable money exchange near me will always give you a printed receipt with a transaction ID. They will ask for your original Computerized National Identity Card. They will never ask you to send money from Pakistan to UAE through informal channels. I now use the same money exchange near me for the last two years. The owner knows my name and my brother’s name. He even calls me when the rate for sending money from Pakistan to UAE becomes very good.
The Step by Step Process of Sending Money from Pakistan to UAE
First, I visit my trusted money exchange near me. I fill out a simple form with my brother’s name, his bank account number in Dubai, and the amount I want to send. Second, I show my original Computerized National Identity Card. The staff makes a photocopy. Third, I hand over the cash in Pakistani rupees. Fourth, the money exchange near me gives me a tracking number. Within four to six hours, my brother receives a text message that the money has arrived in his account. Some money exchange near me shops also offer home pickup for an extra fee, but I prefer to go myself because I enjoy talking to the owner.
Comparing Different Money Exchange Near Me Options
Over six months, I tested four different money exchange near me shops. I sent the same amount from each one. The first shop was the fastest but had the highest fee. The second shop had the best rate but took two days. The third shop had a very nice office but their rate was average. The fourth shop was a small counter inside a grocery Store. That fourth money exchange near me became my permanent choice. They had the best combination of good rate, delivery within six hours, and a fee of only three hundred rupees. I recommend that you do the same test. Send small amounts first. See which money exchange near me gives you the best deal for sending money from Pakistan to UAE.
Final Advice for Regular Senders
Never send money from Pakistan to UAE on a Friday or Saturday. The UAE weekend means banks there are closed, so your money will arrive on Sunday or Monday. Send on Sunday or Monday instead. Also, keep track of the exchange rate. If the Pakistani rupee weakens, sending money from Pakistan to UAE becomes more expensive. In that case, send a larger amount once every two weeks instead of every week. A good money exchange near me will advise you on timing. Build a relationship with one shop. They will treat you like family, not just another person sending money from Pakistan to UAE.