The Pasban remittance scheme, launched by the State Bank of Pakistan in late September, offers about AED 211m a year in prize draws for money sent to Pakistan through banks and licensed providers. Half of the regional prize pool is set aside for transfers from the Gulf, which includes the UAE. The first qualifying quarter began on 1 October 2026. For UAE exchange houses, banks and money-transfer apps that serve this corridor, the scheme is a new reason for customers to send through formal channels, and to send every month.
The short version
- A recipient qualifies by receiving at least AED 367 (the scheme sets it at US$100) a month through a bank for three months in a row within a quarter.
- Each quarter carries 2,521 prizes worth about AED 52.6m, with a top prize of about AED 1.32m.
- The GCC, including the UAE, gets 50% of the regional prize allocation, the largest share.
- The first draw is on 15 January 2027 and covers transfers from 1 October to 31 December 2026.
What happened
The State Bank of Pakistan launched the Pasban remittance scheme in late September, Gulf News reported. It is funded entirely by Pakistan’s banking industry, not the national budget, and entry is free: there is no ticket, minimum balance or extra charge.
Every US$100 (AED 367) of qualifying transfers earns one digital entry, so larger and more regular transfers earn more. Each quarter there is one first prize of about AED 1.32m, 20 second prizes of about AED 329,000, 100 third prizes of about AED 132,000 and 2,400 fourth prizes of about AED 13,200. Across a year, the pool comes to about AED 211m and more than 10,000 winners.
Half the prize money is reserved for transfers from the Gulf
Pasban remittance scheme, regional share of the annual prize pool (AED million)
Why it matters
Transfers to Pakistan are one of the busiest corridors for the UAE’s remittance industry. Pakistan received a record US$41.6bn (about AED 152.8bn) in workers’ remittances in its 2026 fiscal year, Khaleej Times reported, and the UAE is among the largest sending countries. A scheme that rewards regular transfers through formal channels can shift volume towards licensed exchange houses and banks, and give them a fresh marketing hook. Rashid ul Islam, business lead at National Bank of Pakistan UAE, welcomed the scheme and stressed that senders in the UAE should follow local regulations, Gulf News reported.
The knock-on effects
First order: more regular transfers through licensed providers
Entries depend on at least AED 367 arriving every month for three months running. That encourages senders to use banks and licensed exchange houses, and to split larger amounts into steady monthly transfers rather than occasional lump sums.
Second order: sharper competition among UAE remittance firms
Exchange houses, banks and money-transfer apps that serve this corridor may see more predictable monthly volume. Expect providers to promote the scheme and compete harder on fees, exchange rates and app features. Explore more in our UAE business analysis.
Third order: less room for informal channels
Prizes add another reason to avoid informal money transfer, which supports the UAE’s efforts to keep cross-border payments within the regulated system. For compliant providers, that is more business; for informal operators, less.
Who could benefit
- UAE exchange houses and banks: steadier monthly volume on a major corridor.
- Money-transfer apps: recurring monthly transfers suit scheduled, low-fee digital payments.
- Senders in the UAE: regular transfers through formal channels now carry a free prize entry for the recipient.
Who may face pressure
- Informal money-transfer operators: the scheme rewards only transfers through banks.
- Smaller remittance providers: larger rivals can spend more on promoting the scheme.
- Senders with irregular income: missing one month in a quarter means no entries for that quarter.
What to watch
- 31 December 2026: the end of the first qualifying quarter.
- 15 January 2027: the first prize draw.
- Provider campaigns: whether UAE exchange houses and banks launch fee or rate offers tied to the scheme.
Sources
- Gulf News, Explained: How Pakistan expats can win Dh1.32m on remittances, 27 September 2026
- Khaleej Times, Pakistanis in UAE, other countries can win up to Dh212 million for sending remittances, 26 September 2026
This is analysis, not investment advice. Figures are as of 2 November 2026. AED amounts follow Gulf News’s conversions; the US$ figure is converted at the dirham’s fixed rate of AED 3.6725 per US$ (Knock-On calculation).
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