Page 159 - AAE PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2025

9/15/25, 3:45 PM UAE Expats Increasingly Drive Shift To Digital Remittances
A new study from Visa shows that nearly two in three residents now prefer mobile

apps and digital platforms over physical exchange houses for cross-border

transfers, citing convenience, privacy, and speed as key reasons.

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The findings, part of Visa's Money Travels: 2025 Digital Remittances Adoption

Report, highlight how financial technology is transforming the UAE's remittance

landscape.

According to the survey, 50 per cent of respondents said ease of use was their

primary motivation for choosing digital channels, while 46 per cent pointed to

safety, privacy, and faster processing. An overwhelming 95 per cent of UAE

residents send money abroad at least once a year, with nearly half doing so to

cover family or humanitarian needs, while others provide regular household

support or respond to emergencies.

This digital pivot comes at a time when the UAE remains the world's third-largest

sender of remittances, after the US and Saudi Arabia. According to Statista,

transaction values in the UAE are projected to grow at an annual rate of 16.91 per

cent to reach $6.59 billion by 2030, propelled by rising digital adoption and

population growth.

Salima Gutieva, Visa's vice president and country manager for the UAE, said the

shift reflects deeper changes in how expatriates manage financial support for their

families overseas.“For people in the UAE, digital payments are increasingly

central to how they provide support to their families and communities around the

world,” she said.“As one of the world's largest remittance hubs, the UAE plays a

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