How to compare remittance providers properly
The advertised "zero fee" transfer is rarely the cheapest. Providers make most of their money in the exchange rate: a rate 2% below mid-market on a 5,000 AED transfer costs 100 AED, more than almost any fixed fee. Always compare the amount the recipient actually gets, which is what every calculator here shows.
As a rule of thumb in the Gulf: exchange houses and transfer apps charge a 0.5–1.5% margin plus a 15–25 AED fee; banks' international transfers charge 2–4% in the rate plus 50–100 AED. Several receiving countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) pay an incentive on formal-channel remittances that can offset a weaker rate.