Aani UAE: How to Send Money in the UAE Using Only a Phone Number?
Sending money in the UAE has become faster and easier than ever. With Aani, the UAE’s instant payment platform, residents can transfer money within seconds using only a mobile phone number—no IBAN, bank account number, or lengthy transfer process required.
Launched by Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the UAE Central Bank, Aani is transforming digital payments by enabling secure, real-time money transfers 24/7.
What is Aani?
Aani is an instant payment platform that allows users to send and receive money across the UAE using a registered mobile number, email address, or QR code. Transactions are processed in real time, making it one of the fastest domestic payment solutions available in the country.
Features of Aani
- Transfer money using only a mobile number.
- Send and receive payments instantly, 24/7.
- Request money from friends and family.
- Split bills digitally.
- Make QR-code-based payments.
- No need to exchange bank account or IBAN details.
What is the Transfer Limit?
Aani allows users to transfer up to AED 50,000 per transaction, making it suitable for both personal and many business-related payments. However, for security purposes, individual banks may impose their own transaction limits, typically ranging between AED 2,500 and AED 5,000 per transfer. It’s advisable to check your bank’s transfer limits before initiating a high-value transaction.
Processing time
- Use Aani for near-instant money transfers, with payments typically completed in under 10 seconds.
Which Banks Support Aani?
A growing number of UAE banks and financial institutions support Aani, including Emirates NBD, FAB, ADCB, Mashreq, Dubai Islamic Bank, HSBC, RAKBANK, Emirates Islamic, Al Ansari Exchange, and many others.
How Does Aani Work?
Aani provides a fast, secure, and user-friendly way to send and receive money across the UAE. Users can access the service through their bank’s mobile banking app or via the dedicated Aani app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
With Aani, users can:
- Make instant transfers: Send money to anyone in the UAE using only a mobile number or email address, with the service available 24/7.
- Pay with QR codes: Complete payments quickly by scanning QR codes at participating merchants.
- Request payments: Easily ask friends, family members, or clients to send money with a simple payment request.
- Split bills: Share expenses and divide costs among friends or colleagues seamlessly.
According to Al Etihad Payments, Aani will soon introduce additional features, including electronic direct debit authorisation, instant direct debit payments, and a fully digitised cheque solution that enables cheques to be issued, cleared, and settled instantly.
How to Send Money through Your Mobile Banking App?
Many banks across the UAE have integrated Aani into their mobile banking platforms, allowing customers to activate and use the service directly within their banking app.
Steps to activate Aani:
- Open your banking app and navigate to Preferences, Offers, or Services (the exact location may vary by bank).
- Select ‘Aani Instant Payments’.
- Tap Activate and verify your identity using your passcode or a one-time password (OTP).
- Read and accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Choose the bank account you want to link to Aani for sending and receiving funds.
- Tap Confirm or Register to complete the enrolment process.
- Once activated, go to the Transfers section and select Instant Transfer to start making transactions.
- Through the Aani App
How to Transfer Money via Aani Mobile application?
Steps to register:
- Download the Aani app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Register using your mobile number and verify it with the OTP sent to your device.
- Select your bank from the list of account providers and log in through the app to complete authentication.
- Choose your preferred account as the default account for transactions.
- Review and accept the privacy policy and terms and conditions.
- Your Aani account is now active and ready to use.
After registration, you can access features such as Send Money, Request Money, Split Bills, and Scan to Pay to manage your transactions quickly and conveniently.
Is “Aani” secure to use?
- Yes. Aani is built with robust security measures to keep transactions safe and protect customers’ data at all times.
Final Thoughts
Aani is revolutionizing digital payments in the UAE by eliminating the need for bank account details and making transfers almost instantaneous. Whether you’re splitting a restaurant bill, sending money to family, or paying a friend, Aani offers a fast, secure, and convenient way to move money with just a phone number.