Below is a practical, country‑agnostic guide to sending money online to people or businesses in the Middle East — how it works, the main options, step‑by‑step, what you’ll pay, and safety/regulatory things to watch for.

Quick summary

• Main ways: bank (wire/SEPA/ACH) transfers, online remitters (Wise, Remitly, Xoom/PayPal, Western Union, MoneyGram), local exchange houses or digital wallets (country‑specific: e.g., Al Ansari in the UAE, STC Pay in Saudi Arabia), and — in limited cases — crypto/stablecoins. (Wise.com)

1. Choose the right channel (tradeoffs)

• Bank-to-bank wire: secure and widely accepted; usually slower and more expensive for retail remittances (higher fixed fees + exchange‑rate spread).
• Online remittance services (Wise, Remitly, Xoom/PayPal, Western Union, MoneyGram): fast, easy from an app or website, transparent fees at many providers; delivery options include bank deposit, cash pickup, or mobile wallet. Good for most personal transfers. (Wise.com)
• Local exchange houses / regional fintech wallets: often cheapest and fastest for deliveries inside the Gulf and some Levant/North Africa countries — many have apps and cash‑pickup networks. Example: Al Ansari Exchange in the UAE. (alansariexchange.com)
• Crypto / stablecoins: sometimes used where banking rails are limited, but volatile, can be complex and subject to legal/regulatory limitations in both sending and receiving countries.

2. What you need before you start

• Recipient details (exact name as on ID, bank account number + bank SWIFT/IBAN if bank deposit, mobile number or wallet ID if using a wallet, or name + location for cash pickup).
• Your payment method (bank debit, ACH, card, PayPal balance). Funding method affects fees and speed.
• ID/KYC: most providers will require ID, possibly proof of address or source of funds for larger amounts.
• Check country restrictions and sanctions before sending — some Middle Eastern countries or specific recipients may be blocked or require extra checks. (Providers enforce sanctions/compliance.) (PayPal.com)

3. Typical step‑by‑step (example using an online remittance app)

1. Create an account with a provider (Wise, Xoom/PayPal, Remitly, Western Union, MoneyGram, or local exchange app).
2. Verify identity (upload photo ID, selfie, address proof if requested).
3. Enter recipient details and choose delivery method (bank transfer, cash pickup, mobile wallet).
4. Choose payment method (bank transfer, debit/credit card, PayPal, etc.) and review fees and exchange rate.
5. Confirm and pay. Get a transaction reference and estimated delivery time.
6. Track the transfer in the app and notify recipient (share reference/expected pickup code if needed). (Wise.com)

4. Fees, exchange rates and delivery speed — what to compare

• Up‑front fee: fixed fee or percentage. Card funding is usually more expensive than bank debit.
• Exchange‑rate margin: providers often add a spread to the mid‑market rate (this can be the biggest hidden cost).
• Speed: “minutes” for cash‑pickup/wallet, hours–1–3 days for bank transfers depending on rails and cut‑off times.
• Example: Wise promotes low fees and near‑real exchange rates for many corridor transfers; Xoom (PayPal) and others may be faster or offer cash pickup but can have higher spreads. Always compare a few providers for the exact corridor and amount. (Wise.com)

5. Country‑specific notes (examples)

• UAE and Gulf: large network of exchange houses and wallets (Al Ansari, UAE Exchange, local banks, STC Pay in Saudi). App‑based remitters and local exchange houses often support instant cash pickup or fast bank credits. (alansariexchange.com)
• Levant & North Africa (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon): bank deposits and cash pickup are common; exchange houses and remittance services support these corridors but fees/rates vary by country.
• Sanctions/blocked countries: always check provider country support before initiating (some services don’t support transfers to or from certain jurisdictions). Providers will block or hold suspicious transactions per sanctions/compliance rules. (PayPal.com)

6. Safety, compliance and tax

• Use regulated providers with KYC/AML controls (banks, licensed remitters, reputable fintechs).
• Don’t share account passwords or full card numbers to strangers. Use two‑factor authentication on your account.
• Large or repeated transfers may trigger additional identity/source‑of‑funds checks or tax reporting — keep receipts. Providers like PayPal/Xoom and banks provide transaction records. (PayPal.com)

7. How to pick a provider (fast checklist)

• Does the provider send to the recipient’s country and support the delivery method you need? (bank deposit, cash pickup, wallet)
• Total cost = fee + exchange rate spread (compare final amount receiver will get).
• Speed: does it meet your urgency?
• Limits: per‑transaction and daily/monthly limits for senders & recipients.
• Reviews and customer support: clarity of tracking, refund/complaint process.

8. Practical tips to save money

• Use bank funding rather than card if the provider charges lower fees for bank debit.
• For larger transfers, compare Wise (low spread for many corridors) vs local exchange houses for volume discounts. (Wise.com)
• Lock in the rate if the provider offers that feature, or send when exchange rates are favorable.
• For repeat payments, set up recurring options if supported (often cheaper or simpler).

Recommended starting providers to compare (examples)

• Wise — good for transparent fees and mid‑market exchange rates for many corridors. (Wise.com)
• Xoom (PayPal) — wide country coverage, multiple delivery methods, integrated with PayPal. (Investopedia.com)
• Western Union / MoneyGram — very large cash‑pickup networks, useful if recipient needs cash immediately.
• Remitly, OFX, WorldRemit — useful alternatives depending on corridor and speed.
• Local exchange houses / mobile wallets (Al Ansari, local banks, STC Pay, etc.) — often best for within‑Gulf transfers. (alansariexchange.com)

If you want, I can:

• Compare fees and delivery times for a specific corridor (example: "send $500 from USA to UAE bank account") across 3–4 providers right now, or
• Walk through a step‑by‑step on one provider (Wise or Xoom) with screenshots and where to click.

Which country in the Middle East and how much do you want to send? If you want a live price comparison, tell me sender country, recipient country, amount and preferred delivery method and I’ll compare current costs and speeds.