7 bills and services you can pay at UAE money exchange houses

Dubai: If you do not have a UAE bank account yet or primarily rely on cash for your daily needs, exchange houses offer more than just affordable and convenient remittance services in the UAE.

They provide a wide array of value-added services that many expatriates depend on for bill payments and other essential transactions. Here’s a quick guide to all the work you can get done there.

Exchange houses allow you to settle utility bills conveniently for local electricity, water, gas, and sewage providers. Here are all the bills you can pay:

• Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa)
• Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC)
• Al Ain Distribution Company (AADC)
• Etihad Water and Electricity (Etihad WE)
• Ajman Sewerage

Some exchange houses also accept cash payments for gas bills from providers such as Lootah BCGas and SERGAS Group. Additionally, residents of Ajman can pay their Ajman Sewerage bills at money exchanges, too. For communities with district cooling, you can also settle your Empower bills in cash.

Certain airlines such as Air Arabia and flydubai, allow cash payments for tickets booked online or in-person through exchange houses. International airlines like Cebu Pacific and SriLankan Airlines also offer this option.

If booking online, choose the ‘Pay Later’ option to complete the payment at a designated exchange house. You will have 24 hours to complete the payment and the ticket will only be booked once the payment is complete.

You can register for the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) insurance scheme at Al Ansari Exchange branches. This scheme protects workers against involuntary job loss, offering 60 per cent of their average basic salary for three months after losing a job. Just make sure to bring your Emirates ID if you are registering for ILOE. 

Pay your domestic workers’ salaries through the Wage Protection System (WPS) at money exchange houses. Make sure you have the Emirates IDs for both employer and worker. This system ensures timely salary payments and provides proof for workers.

The WPS not only allows employers to pay their domestic workers’ salaries in a time manner, but also provides proof of salary payments. For domestic workers, exchange house can be an easy way to withdraw their salary in cash and access salary statements, if needed.

Exchange houses facilitate payments for e& and du home internet and phone bills, too. Simply provide your account number at one of the counters to make the payment. Mobile top-ups for prepaid accounts are also available, which you can pay for in cash.

Most banks in the UAE allow customers to pay credit card bills at exchange houses they have partnered with, through the UAE Funds Transfer System (UAEFTS). This system links banks and other financial institutions like exchange houses, making transferring money to your account easier.

Tip: Confirm with your bank if they partner with your preferred exchange house, as not all exchange houses work with all banks.

You can pay off your traffic fines with cash at some exchange houses, although this service is often limited to fines issued by specific authorities, such as Dubai Police or Abu Dhabi Police.

Note: Services offered vary by exchange house and location. Always check with your nearest branch to confirm which payments they accept.