Carrying cash from Malaysia to United Arab Emirates

Two separate rules apply to any cash journey: one where you leave, one where you arrive.

Do you need to declare?

Yes: and on both legs of the journey. Leaving Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Customs Department requires a declaration above USD 10,000. Entering United Arab Emirates, Central Bank of the UAE requires a declaration above AED 60,000. The two rules are independent: satisfying one does not satisfy the other.

Travelling as a family or group?

The threshold applies to your combined total, not per person. A family of four each carrying a little under the limit is still over it, and splitting cash between travellers to stay under does not make it legal.

The two legs

Leg	Limit	Form	Authority
Leaving Malaysia	USD 10,000	Customs Form No. 7 (K7), Declaration of Cash and Bearer Negotiable Instrument	Royal Malaysian Customs Department
Entering United Arab Emirates	AED 60,000	Customs declaration of currency	Central Bank of the UAE

The same threshold applies on departure. The declaration is required under section 23 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, not under customs duty rules, so it applies whatever the money is for.

Declare currency, bearer negotiable instruments, precious metals or precious stones above AED 60,000 or the equivalent. Moving cash in or out is not itself illegal, failing to declare it is.

If you do not declare

Malaysia: A fine of up to RM1 million and/or imprisonment of up to one year for failing to declare or making a false declaration.

United Arab Emirates: Declaration duty under Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering.

There is no limit on how much you may legally carry in either direction, the duty is to report it, not to keep under it. Failing to report is the offence.

Currencies

Malaysia uses MYR; United Arab Emirates uses AED.

Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.