UAE expats gain big as Indian rupee tumbles

Currency recently touched 89.48 per US dollar, 24.26 vs Dh1, its weakest reading ever

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE Your Money Editor

The Indian rupee's steep drop recently has opened one of the strongest payout windows in years for UAE-based Indian workers, students and business owners sending money home.

The currency touched Rs89.48 per US dollar on November 21, its weakest reading on record, after months of pressure from US tariffs, foreign investor exits and tighter global liquidity.

For residents earning in dirhams — pegged to the US dollar — the shift has produced an unusually favourable exchange rate that many households say they hadn't seen coming this year.

Remittances routed through UAE exchanges now convert into materially more rupees, prompting a wave of early transfers as families move to capitalise before conditions change.