Carrying cash from Thailand 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?

Part of this route is a hard limit, not paperwork. Leaving Thailand, Bank of Thailand (exchange control) caps what you may carry at THB 50,000, a prohibition, not a form. 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 Thailand	max THB 50,000	no form	Bank of Thailand (exchange control)
Entering United Arab Emirates	AED 60,000	Customs declaration of currency	Central Bank of the UAE

Thai baht banknotes may be taken out up to THB 50,000 per person, rising to THB 2,000,000 for travel to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Yunnan province of China. Foreign currency banknotes may be taken out only up to the amount bought from an authorised bank or money changer. A customs declaration is required above THB 450,000 or USD 15,000 equivalent.

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

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

Thailand uses THB; 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.