When Remit or Hold it comes to making the decision to remittance money back home from the UAE, the challenge is real. The Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee, and Philippine peso are currently trading at relatively low levels against the Emirati dirham and other major currencies and that raises a pressing question: should you remit now or hold off and wait for a better rate? In this article we’ll unpack the situation, explore the factors driving the low rates, weigh the pros and cons, and offer practical tips so you can make the smartest move for you and your loved ones.
What’s happening with the Indian Rupee in the UAE
The Indian rupee (INR) is currently experiencing pressure in its exchange rate from the UAE dirham, meaning that when you convert AED to INR it yields less than what many expatriates would hope. According to Dubai-based exchange rate sources, INR is trading at about AED 0.04 per Indian rupee in some listings.
For UAE-based Indians who send money back to India, this means each dirham converts into fewer rupees — which translates to less money reaching family or savings back home.
The situation for the Pakistani Rupee and Philippine Peso
Similarly, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) is under strain in these remittance corridors. Some data show PKR buying rates as low as AED 0.009 for one rupee, showing how weak the currency is compared to the dirham.
And for Filipinos working in the UAE, the Philippine peso (PHP) is trading at about AED 0.06 per peso in some cases. That means remitting from UAE means fewer pesos back home per dirham sent.
Why the “Remit or Hold?” question matters
Choosing whether to remit now or hold off is more than just timing and luck — it impacts real lives. When the exchange rate is unfavourable, fewer rupees or pesos reach families back home, affecting living standards, savings plans, paying off loans, or supporting children’s education.
On the other hand, waiting for a better rate carries its own risks: the currency might weaken further, or external factors (inflation, central-bank actions, global risk events) might make things worse. The focus keyword “Remit or Hold? Indian Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Philippine Peso Stay Low in UAE” touches on exactly this tension.
What’s driving the low rates for the Indian Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Philippine Peso
Several factors combine to explain why these currencies are staying low, particularly in the UAE remittance context:
- Local currency strength: The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar, offering relative stability and strength for expatriates converting AED into weaker home-country currencies.
- Home-country economic pressures: For example, Pakistan faces high inflation, external debt burdens, and currency pressures, which reduce PKR value.
- Global commodity & oil price influences: Many of these economies are vulnerable to higher oil prices, trade deficits, inflation, which undermine their currencies.
- Remittance flows & expatriate demand: Some remitters may wait for better rates, reducing immediate demand — but this itself can influence rates.
- Policy and central-bank moves: Currency intervention, restrictions on transfers, and macro-economic policy shifts all affect exchange rates.
Because of these combined factors, the Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee, and Philippine peso remain at levels where expatriates in the UAE face a tougher choice: send now or risk sending later and receiving even less.
Should you remit now or hold off? Let’s weigh the options
Remit now – the positives
- You lock in today’s rate, avoiding any further depreciation of your home currency.
- Your family back home gets the funds sooner, which may be critical if they need it for expenses, debt, or other priorities.
- If the home currency worsens, you avoid waiting and losing more value.
- Psychologically, sending when you can helps bring relief and stability to you and your family.
Remit now – the caveats
- You might regret locking in a rate if the home currency strengthens soon after.
- There could be transaction fees or hidden costs that reduce the benefit.
- If you send large sums, slight fluctuations matter more.
Hold off – the positives
- If the home currency improves, you could get a better conversion and more value for your AED.
- You gain time to monitor trends, maybe sending when your rate is more favourable.
- You may avoid transaction costs if you are not in a hurry.
Hold off – the risks
- The home currency may continue to weaken more, costing you more in the long run.
- Your family may need funds now, so waiting adds stress or delay.
- Uncertainty of timing: currency markets are unpredictable; waiting could backfire.

So what’s a smart approach?
Here are some practical guidelines to help you decide:
- Assess urgency: If your family needs funds now, that weighs strongly towards remitting sooner rather than later.
- Monitor rates regularly: Watch how the Indian rupee, Pakistani rupee and Philippine peso are moving against the AED and USD.
- Consider splitting your remittance: You could send part now and hold part, balancing between locking in some rate and waiting for a favourable move.
- Look at costs/fees: Ensure you compare remittance providers, hidden charges, and conversion margins so you get maximum value.
- Set a target rate: If you hold off, decide on a minimum acceptable rate you’re willing to wait for, rather than waiting indefinitely.
- Keep an eye on home-economy announcements: If your home country is about to make policy shifts, a currency move may be coming.
- Stay diversified: If you have options to save in a stronger currency or hold partly in AED/other stable currency, that can reduce risk.
Why the focus remains on Remit or Hold? Indian Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Philippine Peso Stay Low in UAE
Because for UAE-based expatriates sending money to India, Pakistan, the Philippines, this is not a theoretical question — it directly affects daily life, savings, support back home. The choice of whether to remit now with the home currency low, or wait and hope for improvement, is complex. And the fact that all three currencies (INR, PKR, PHP) are currently facing downward pressure makes the question all the more urgent.
When you ask “Remit or Hold? Indian Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Philippine Peso Stay Low in UAE”, you’re facing a decision that blends emotion, responsibility, financial calculation, and global-economic uncertainty.
Final thoughts: What I’d suggest
If I were in your shoes – living and working in the UAE, supporting family back home via remittances, watching these weak home-currencies – I would lean toward sending sooner rather than waiting — especially if the funds are needed. Because while there is a possibility the home-currency strengthens, the more probable risk is further weakness or loss of value, meaning your recipient ends up worse off.
That said, if you have the luxury of time, minimal immediate need, and are willing to monitor the situation, you can adopt a hybrid strategy: send a portion now to cover urgent needs, and hold off sending the rest hoping for improvement, with a clear target rate and a cut-off point.
At the end of the day, the question of Remit or Hold? Indian Rupee, Pakistani Rupee, Philippine Peso Stay Low in UAE comes down to weighing certainty vs. potential gain. And in a world of global uncertainty, sometimes locking in a sure outcome — sending now — brings more peace of mind than chasing ‘maybe this rate will improve’. Choose what gives your family back home the security they deserve — while still giving you control over your finances abroad.
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