What does remit mean?

To remit means to send money to someone in another country, usually as a payment or support. In finance, a remittance is a transfer of money by a foreign worker to their home country. In the UAE, remittance (remit) refers to money sent by expat workers — from Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, and other communities — back to their families. The UAE is the world's 3rd largest remittance-sending country, with over $43 billion sent abroad annually. remit.ae is the UAE's independent comparison platform for all CBUAE-licensed remittance providers.

What is remittance in UAE?

Remittance in UAE refers to money transferred by expatriate workers living in the UAE back to their home countries. The UAE sends over $43 billion in remittances annually, making it one of the world's largest remittance-sending nations. The most common corridors are UAE to India (AED to INR, ~$14B/yr), UAE to Pakistan (AED to PKR, ~$6B/yr), UAE to Philippines (AED to PHP, ~$3.5B/yr), and UAE to Bangladesh (AED to BDT, ~$2.5B/yr). All remittance providers in UAE must be licensed by the Central Bank UAE (CBUAE). Compare CBUAE-licensed providers at remit.ae.

Remitly AE (Remitly in the UAE) is a digital money transfer app available in the United Arab Emirates. It is licensed by CBUAE and allows UAE residents to send money internationally — particularly to India, Pakistan, Philippines, and other corridors. Remitly offers two speed options: Economy (1-3 business days, better rate) and Express (minutes, higher fee). Compare Remitly rates versus Al Ansari Exchange, LuLu Exchange, Wise and other UAE providers at remit.ae.

What does e-remit mean?

E-remit (electronic remittance) means sending money internationally through a digital or online platform, without visiting a physical exchange house or bank branch. In the UAE, e-remit services include apps like Wise, Remitly, and WorldRemit, as well as online banking transfer portals from UAE banks. E-remit is popular among UAE white-collar workers for bank-to-bank transfers. For cash pickup and walk-in services, UAE exchange houses like Al Ansari and LuLu Exchange remain the most used. Compare all UAE e-remit and exchange house rates at remit.ae.

What is the best money transfer app in UAE?

The best money transfer app in UAE depends on your destination and priority. Wise: best exchange rate (mid-market), transparent fees, ideal for bank-to-bank. Remitly: fastest delivery (minutes via Express), good for India/Pakistan/Philippines. WorldRemit: good for mobile wallet delivery. For walk-in cash transfers, UAE exchange houses (Al Ansari Exchange, LuLu Exchange, GCC Exchange) have 200+ branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. All must be CBUAE-licensed. Compare current rates at remit.ae — always verify final rate with your provider.

What is the best way to transfer money from UAE to India?

The best way to transfer money from UAE to India (AED to INR) depends on your priority. For the best exchange rate: Wise (mid-market rate). For walk-in with cash: Al Ansari Exchange or LuLu Exchange (200+ UAE branches each). For fastest delivery: Remitly Express (minutes). UAE exchange houses are generally competitive for amounts over AED 1,000. Compare current AED to INR rates from all CBUAE-licensed providers at remit.ae — always verify final rate directly with your provider before sending.

Which is the cheapest money transfer from UAE to India?

The cheapest money transfer from UAE to India changes daily as exchange rates fluctuate. Wise typically offers the mid-market AED to INR rate with a small transparent fee. Al Ansari Exchange and LuLu Exchange are often competitive for larger amounts (AED 1,000+) with zero transfer fees but a small FX margin. Compare all providers' total cost — rate plus fee — at remit.ae. Always verify the final rate with the provider before sending.

Is remit.ae a money transfer service?

No. remit.ae is an independent editorial comparison platform — not a money transfer service. We do not transfer money, hold funds, or act as a financial institution. remit.ae compares live rates and fees from CBUAE-licensed providers including Al Ansari Exchange, LuLu Exchange, GCC Exchange, Wise, Remitly, Western Union, and others. Always send money directly through the licensed provider you choose.

What is WPS and how does it affect money transfers from UAE?

WPS (Wage Protection System) is a UAE Central Bank mandatory system requiring all UAE employers to pay salaries electronically between Day 24-28 of each month. After WPS salary credit, demand at UAE exchange houses spikes sharply as workers send money home. Al Ansari Exchange and LuLu Exchange branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can have long queues during WPS week (Days 24-28). Digital apps like Wise and Remitly avoid queues. remit.ae tracks WPS timing to help UAE workers compare providers during peak remittance periods.

BDO Swift Code — Banco de Oro SWIFT Code for UAE Transfers

BDO Unibank Primary SWIFT / BIC Code

BNORPHMM

Valid for all BDO branches in the Philippines

BNOR

Bank code

Country

Metro Manila

XXX

Branch (opt)

About BDO Unibank

BDO Unibank (Banco de Oro) is the largest bank in the Philippines by total assets, with over 1,600 branches and 4,000 ATMs nationwide. It is the top choice for OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) remittances, serving millions of Filipino families receiving money from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, US, and UK.

BDO operates the BDO Remittance service and is integrated with all major international money transfer operators. For UAE senders, BDO is the most requested bank for direct deposit delivery.

How to Send Money from UAE to BDO

UAE residents sending to a BDO account need to provide these details to their transfer provider:

Bank Name

BDO Unibank Inc.

SWIFT / BIC Code

BNORPHMM

Account Number

10-digit BDO account number

Account Holder Name

Full name as registered with BDO

Bank Address

BDO Unibank Inc., 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City 0726, Philippines

Tip for UAE senders: Many UAE exchange houses (Al Ansari, LuLu Exchange) deliver directly to BDO accounts without needing a SWIFT code — they use their own banking corridors. SWIFT is required for UAE bank-to-bank international wires.

UAE Providers That Support BDO Deposits

RemitlyFastest

Express delivery in minutes to BDO account. Economy option offers better AED to PHP rate. Very popular with UAE OFWs.

Review →

Al Ansari ExchangeWalk-in

Direct bank transfer to BDO Philippines. 200+ UAE branches. Walk-in service with cash payment option.

Review →

LuLu ExchangeNo fee

Supports BDO and all major Philippine banks. Located inside LuLu hypermarkets — no transfer fee promotions available.

Review →

Western UnionCash option

BDO account delivery via Western Union UAE agents. BDO branch can also pay out Western Union cash pickups.

Review →

Compare all providers for AED → PHP →

BDO Remittance Portal

BDO operates its own BDO Online Remittance service, which allows overseas Filipinos to send money directly from foreign bank accounts to BDO Philippines. The service is available at bdo.com.ph and through accredited BDO remittance partners worldwide.

For UAE-based OFWs, the most cost-effective route is typically a third-party fintech (Remitly, Wise for bank transfers) rather than BDO's own portal, as the AED-to-PHP rate offered via BDO Direct can carry higher margins.

OFW tip: Compare BDO's direct remittance rate with Remitly and LuLu Exchange before sending. A 0.5% better rate on AED 1,000 saves approximately PHP 280 per transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BDO SWIFT code?

BDO Unibank's primary SWIFT code (BIC) is BNORPHMM. This 8-character code identifies BDO — the largest bank in the Philippines — for international wire transfers. When receiving money from abroad, your sender needs this code plus your full BDO account number and account name.

How do I receive money from UAE to my BDO account?

To receive money from the UAE into BDO, give your sender: (1) SWIFT code: BNORPHMM, (2) Your full BDO account number (10 digits), (3) Your full name as on the BDO account, (4) Bank name: BDO Unibank Inc., Philippines. UAE providers like Remitly, LuLu Exchange, and Al Ansari can send directly to BDO accounts. Transfer typically arrives in 1–2 business days.

BDO vs GCash for OFW remittance from UAE — which is better?

BDO bank transfer is better for large amounts (above PHP 50,000) because of higher receiving limits and direct bank credit. GCash is faster for smaller amounts and does not require a bank account — funds arrive in minutes. Many UAE OFWs use GCash for regular monthly remittances and BDO for large one-time transfers like property payments or tuition.

Related Philippine & SWIFT Code Pages

remit.ae is an independent comparison service. SWIFT codes are provided for informational purposes — always verify with your bank before initiating a transfer. Stack Jewels LLC.