Banks and Money Exchange in Satwa Dubai: Branches & Services Guide
Banks and money exchange in Satwa Dubai are concentrated around Al Satwa Road, Al Bada’, Satwa Bus Station, the Big Mosque and the Roundabout area. The neighbourhood has a particularly strong network of exchange houses, making it convenient for foreign currency, remittances, cash pickup and other everyday money-transfer needs.
Current Satwa options include Al Ahalia, Al Ansari, LuLu Exchange, Redha Al Ansari, Index Exchange, Al Fardan, Federal Exchange, Sharaf Exchange, Al Ghurair, Deniba and Onyx. Banking services are available too, but some results labelled with a bank name are ATMs or cash deposit machines rather than full branches.
Exchange businesses in the UAE are licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of the UAE, so use established regulated providers and confirm the rate, fee and transaction details before paying.
Quick Answer
For banks and money exchange in Satwa Dubai, exchange houses offer the widest choice. Al Ansari currently has two Satwa branches, LuLu Exchange lists multiple Satwa locations, Al Fardan is opposite Satwa Bus Station, Federal Exchange is opposite Satwa Masjid, and several other providers operate along the same local corridor.
Use an exchange house when you need foreign cash or a remittance. Use an ATM or CDM for withdrawals or deposits, and use a full bank branch when your task needs bank staff.
Do not choose a provider from the headline exchange rate alone. Compare the fee and the final amount the recipient will receive.
Why Satwa Is Convenient for Money Exchange
Satwa is a compact residential and commercial area where many everyday services sit within walking distance of each other.
The wider Al Satwa neighbourhood connects with Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road, Bur Dubai and central Dubai, while its busy bus network makes the area accessible without a car.
The concentration of exchange houses is particularly useful because you can often compare more than one provider without travelling to another district.
Under the current Central Bank framework, currency exchange and money-transfer services are licensed financial activities. Different licence categories can cover foreign currency exchange, remittances and, for eligible providers, salary processing through WPS.
That does not mean every exchange house offers every possible service at every branch. Check the provider when your transaction involves WPS, cash pickup, a less common currency or a specialised transfer route.
Money Exchange Branches in Satwa
The most useful way to compare Satwa branches is by location, opening hours and the task you need to complete.
| Provider | Satwa location | Current published hours or guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ahalia Exchange | Satwa branch near the ENBD area | 8:30 AM–10:00 PM daily |
| Al Ansari Exchange | Al Satwa Road | 8:00 AM–11:30 PM daily |
| Al Ansari Exchange | Al Satwa 2, Al Bada’a | 8:00 AM–11:30 PM daily |
| LuLu Exchange | Near Satwa Bus Station | Current locator shows open until 11:00 PM |
| LuLu Exchange | Centro Building, Satwa | Current locator shows open until 11:30 PM |
| LuLu Exchange | Satwa Roundabout | Current locator shows open until 11:30 PM |
| Redha Al Ansari | RTA Satwa Bus Station, Shop 4 | Current map listing shows 8:30 AM–10:30 PM |
| Index Exchange | Al Satwa Street | 8:30 AM–10:00 PM Sat–Thu; split Friday hours |
| Al Fardan Exchange | Opposite Satwa Bus Station | 8:00 AM–11:00 PM daily |
| Onyx Exchange | Opposite Jollibee, beside West Zone | 9:00 AM–midnight |
Hours can change during Ramadan, Eid, public holidays or operational updates. If you are making a special trip late at night, check the branch locator on the same day.
Al Ahalia Exchange Satwa
Al Ahalia’s official UAE branch directory currently lists a Satwa branch near the ENBD area. Its published hours are 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM from Monday to Sunday.
This is one of the established choices for users specifically searching for an exchange house within Satwa rather than a nearby district.
Al Ansari Exchange Satwa
Al Ansari currently lists two Satwa branches.
The Al Satwa Branch is at Shops 12 and 13 in Al Satwa Home Building on Al Satwa Road. The Al Satwa 2 Branch is in Al Bada’a Building on Al Hudaiba Road.
Both are currently listed as open 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM daily.
Because both locations can appear simply as “Al Ansari Exchange Satwa” in searches, check the branch address before walking or driving there.
LuLu Exchange Satwa
LuLu has one of the broadest branch footprints in the neighbourhood.
Its current Satwa locator lists:
- Satwa Bus Station;
- Centro Building Satwa;
- Satwa Roundabout.
The Bus Station outlet is currently shown as open until 11:00 PM, while Centro Building and the Roundabout branch are shown open until 11:30 PM.
If you are already travelling through the terminal, the branch near Al Satwa Bus Station can be particularly convenient.
Redha Al Ansari Exchange
Redha Al Ansari has a current money-transfer location at RTA Satwa Bus Station, Shop No. 4. Current map data lists daily hours of about 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
Its published key-facts material covers international bank transfers and other remittance services, including the possibility of intermediary or beneficiary-bank charges on some transfers.
That is a useful reminder that the advertised transfer fee is not always the only cost affecting how much arrives.
Index Exchange Satwa
Index Exchange’s official branch locator confirms a Satwa branch on Al Satwa Street.
Current hours are:
- Saturday–Thursday: 8:30 AM–10:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM–11:30 AM and 4:00 PM–10:00 PM
The split Friday schedule makes it especially important to check branch-specific timings rather than assuming all exchange houses operate continuously throughout the day.
Al Fardan Exchange Satwa
Al Fardan currently lists its Satwa branch opposite the Bus Station, with hours of 8:00 AM–11:00 PM daily.
Its location makes it another practical option when you are arriving by public transport or comparing providers around the terminal.
Federal Exchange Satwa
Federal Exchange confirms a Satwa branch at Shop 1 and 2, Al Kendi Building, opposite Satwa Masjid on Al Satwa Road.
This is useful for people on the Masjid side of Satwa who do not want to walk towards the Bus Station or Roundabout.
Sharaf Exchange Satwa
Sharaf Exchange maintains a dedicated Satwa branch page. Its broader service menu includes currency exchange, money transfers, bill-payment services and WPS/payroll-related services.
Sharaf also publishes service charges separately, which is useful when comparing the real cost of a transaction rather than judging the exchange rate alone.
Al Ghurair Exchange Satwa
Al Ghurair’s official website confirms its Satwa location on Al Diyafah Street.
If you are on the 2nd December Street/Diyafah side of the neighbourhood, this may be more convenient than walking towards the main Bus Station cluster.
Deniba International Exchange
Deniba’s official branch page lists a Satwa Branch opposite the Big Mosque, with dedicated branch contact details.
The same site lists services including currency exchange, worldwide remittances, bank transfers and WPS.
Onyx Exchange Satwa
Onyx Exchange currently lists its Satwa branch opposite Jollibee and beside West Zone Supermarket.
Published branch hours are 9:00 AM to 12:00 midnight, making it one of the later-closing verified exchange options in the area.
Exchange Houses Near Satwa Bus Station and Roundabout
A landmark-based approach can save time because many providers are clustered close together.
Around the Bus Station you can find or quickly reach providers such as LuLu Exchange, Redha Al Ansari and Al Fardan.
Around the Roundabout side, LuLu has a dedicated Roundabout outlet, while other exchange houses sit along Al Satwa Road and the nearby commercial streets.
If you are unsure which side of the neighbourhood a search result refers to, use the Satwa Roundabout map before travelling.
The guide to services near Satwa Roundabout can also help when you need pharmacies, shops or other practical services during the same trip.
Banks, ATMs and Cash Deposit Machines in Satwa
The banking side of Satwa requires more care than the exchange-house side.
A search result containing a bank name can refer to:
- a full retail branch;
- a cash-withdrawal ATM;
- a cash deposit machine;
- a cheque-deposit facility;
- or a machine hosted inside another business.
Do not assume a place offers teller services just because the bank’s logo appears on the map.
Emirates Islamic
Emirates Islamic’s current website still lists a Diyafah branch on Diyafa Street among its branches offering safe-deposit lockers.
For regular banking hours and services beyond lockers, check Emirates Islamic’s live branch information before visiting because hours can differ by service.
ADCB, Emirates NBD, Mashreq and RAKBANK Searches
These brands frequently appear in Satwa-related searches, but the result may be an ATM or CDM rather than a full branch.
That distinction matters if you need:
- account opening;
- account maintenance;
- document verification;
- complex transfer support;
- cheque services;
- teller assistance.
For a simple cash withdrawal or deposit, an ATM/CDM may be enough. For staff assistance, confirm that the selected location is explicitly labelled as a branch in the bank’s own locator.
How to Choose Banks and Money Exchange in Satwa Dubai
Different financial tasks need different facilities.
| What you need | Usually the most practical choice |
|---|---|
| Change physical USD, GBP, EUR or other cash | Licensed exchange house |
| Send money overseas | Exchange house or bank; compare total cost |
| Collect an eligible cash remittance | Provider named in the transfer |
| Withdraw AED | ATM |
| Deposit cash to your own bank | Your bank’s CDM/ATM |
| Open or close a bank account | Full bank branch |
| Fix an account/KYC issue | Full bank branch |
| Process salaries through WPS | Approved provider offering WPS |
| Compare several cash exchange quotes | Nearby exchange houses |
An exchange house is not a substitute for a full bank branch, and a machine with a bank name is not necessarily a branch.
For banks and money exchange in Satwa Dubai, identifying the service type first is often more useful than searching for the closest financial logo.
Money Transfer and Remittance Services
Many Satwa exchange houses provide international remittance as well as cash currency exchange.
The Central Bank’s current exchange-business framework recognises currency exchange, remittance and, under the relevant licence category, WPS salary processing as regulated exchange activities.
Depending on the provider and destination, remittance options can include:
- transfer to a foreign bank account;
- transfer through partner exchange networks;
- eligible cash pickup;
- domestic UAE transfer;
- WPS/payroll services.
Redha Al Ansari’s current key-facts material, for example, lists international bank-transfer destinations including India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, among many others.
The exact service, payout currency, transfer speed and charges can differ by destination and provider.
For a deeper explanation of the process, see the guide to foreign exchange rates and international money transfers.
Exchange Rate vs Transfer Fee: What Should You Compare?
The branch showing the best-looking rate does not automatically give the best overall deal.
For a remittance, compare four things.
1. Exchange rate
Check how much destination currency you receive for your AED.
2. Transfer or service fee
A provider may charge a fixed or variable transaction fee.
3. Intermediary or beneficiary-bank charges
Some bank-account transfers can be affected by deductions outside the exchange house itself.
Redha Al Ansari’s published money-transfer statement explicitly notes that intermediary and beneficiary-bank charges can apply in some cases.
4. Final amount received
This is usually the most useful number.
If one provider quotes a better exchange rate but a larger transaction fee, another provider may still deliver more money to the recipient.
Sharaf Exchange’s current website separately publishes service charges, which illustrates why rate and fee should be considered together.
Do not rely on a static article for today’s exchange rate. Rates can change during the day and should be checked at the point of transaction.
What Identification or Information May Be Required?
Licensed exchange businesses operate under Central Bank rules and customer-protection and compliance requirements.
The exact requirements depend on the provider, transaction size, service type and customer status.
For a remittance, be prepared for identity verification and to provide accurate beneficiary information. A bank-account transfer may also require account or IBAN details.
For larger, unusual or compliance-sensitive transactions, the provider may request further information in line with its regulatory obligations.
If you are travelling specifically to make an important transfer, confirm the required documents with the provider first instead of assuming every branch uses the same process.
Opening Hours and Late-Night Options
Because banks and money exchange in Satwa Dubai use different operating schedules, branch timing should be checked individually.
Some current examples are:
- Al Ahalia: until 10:00 PM;
- Index: until 10:00 PM on most days;
- Redha Al Ansari Bus Station: current map listing around 10:30 PM;
- LuLu Bus Station: current locator shows until 11:00 PM;
- Al Fardan: until 11:00 PM;
- Al Ansari: until 11:30 PM;
- LuLu Centro and Roundabout: current locator shows until 11:30 PM;
- Onyx Satwa: until midnight.
These are current published/listed timings, not permanent guarantees. Ramadan, Eid, public holidays and branch updates can change them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not assume every search result labelled “Satwa” is in central Satwa. Nearby locations may be grouped under the wider area.
Do not confuse an ATM or CDM with a bank branch. A machine cannot handle every banking task.
Do not choose a money transfer solely by the advertised rate. Compare fees and the final amount received.
Do not rely on an old screenshot for branch hours. Friday schedules, holidays and operating hours can change.
Do not assume two branches of the same company are the same location. Al Ansari and LuLu both have multiple Satwa outlets.
Do not use an unverified money-transfer shop simply because it appears nearby. Currency exchange and money transfer are regulated activities in the UAE and require Central Bank licensing.
Conclusion
Banks and money exchange in Satwa Dubai provide a broad mix of services, but exchange houses are the area’s strongest financial-service network. Current verified Satwa options include Al Ahalia, Al Ansari, LuLu Exchange, Index Exchange, Al Fardan, Federal Exchange, Sharaf Exchange, Al Ghurair, Deniba, Onyx and Redha Al Ansari.
Choose a provider by task and location, not brand name alone. For remittance, compare the exchange rate, fee and final beneficiary amount. For banking, confirm whether you are heading to a full branch, ATM or CDM.
That approach makes it much easier to complete the right transaction without travelling to the wrong financial location.
