Title: OTC Desk Dubai: USDT and USDC to AED | Sentvia Source: https://www.sentvia.com/fx/otc-desk-dubai Description: An OTC desk for Dubai: convert large USDT or USDC amounts to AED by UAE local transfer, into an account in your own name, at a rate locked for each trade. --- 1. [Home](https://www.sentvia.com/) 2. [FX Services](https://www.sentvia.com/fx) 3. OTC desk Dubai OTC desk Dubai # An OTC desk for Dubai: large USDT and USDC conversions to AED Sentvia's OTC desk for Dubai turns large USDT and USDC amounts into dirhams in one quoted trade, paid by UAE local transfer into an account in your own name. It serves UAE companies and high-net-worth individuals, and settles in USD, EUR or GBP when dirhams are not what you need. Last reviewed 20 October 2026 [Begin onboarding](https://onboarding.sentvia.com/) [Talk to our team](https://www.sentvia.com/help) At a glance_Sentvia_ For UAE businesses and high-net-worth individuals Converts USDT and USDC to AED, USD, EUR or GBP AED payout UAE local transfer, into an account in your own name Rate Quoted per trade, locked when you approve Registered In Canada, with FINTRAC and the Bank of Canada ## What does an OTC desk in Dubai do? An OTC desk in Dubai converts a large USDT or USDC amount into dirhams privately, at one quoted rate for the whole sum, instead of selling it in pieces on an exchange. You lock the rate before sending, and the AED arrives by UAE local transfer in an account in your own name. The general mechanics are on our Prime OTC page, under [what is an OTC desk](https://www.sentvia.com/fx/prime-otc). This page covers what changes when the money needs to end up in dirhams. ## How a Dubai OTC trade works 1. **Request a quote.** Tell us the amount, the stablecoin (USDT or USDC), the currency you want to receive and the account it should land in. 2. **Lock the rate.** The quote shows the AED amount you will receive. Approve it and the rate is fixed for that trade. 3. **Send the stablecoins** to the address we give you for that trade, and only the amount quoted. 4. **Screening.** We screen the incoming stablecoins on the blockchain before converting them. For larger trades we may ask how the sender came to hold them. 5. **AED settlement.** We execute through regulated banking partners and pay the dirhams by UAE local transfer into your [named IBAN account](https://www.sentvia.com/platform/named-iban-accounts). The stablecoin leg is near-instant. The dirham leg follows UAE banking days and the receiving bank's cut-offs, so a trade instructed at the weekend or on a UAE public holiday settles on the next banking day. Processing times depend on currency, jurisdiction and bank rails used. ### Settling in other currencies Not every Dubai business keeps its money in dirhams. A trading company may invoice in dollars, and a family may need euros or pounds for a purchase abroad. The same desk settles each currency over its own rail. Settle in Rail From AED UAE local transfer USDT, USDC USD SWIFT wire USDT, USDC EUR SEPA, with SEPA Instant where both banks support it USDT, USDC, EURC GBP Faster Payments USDT, USDC For smaller, everyday amounts the route is the same without the desk: see [converting USDT to AED](https://www.sentvia.com/currencies/usdt-to-aed), or our [stablecoin to fiat conversion](https://www.sentvia.com/fx) services for every currency. ### What the cost is made of We don't publish OTC rates, because each trade is quoted on its own. The cost sits in three places: the rate itself, including the provider's spread; the blockchain network fee, which the sender pays; and any bank charges on the fiat leg. A local AED transfer usually avoids the intermediary banks an international wire can pass through. Our page on [how a conversion is priced](https://www.sentvia.com/fx/pricing-and-fees) explains each part. ## Who uses a crypto OTC desk in Dubai ### Property developers and brokerages Some buyers want to pay deposits and off-plan instalments from USDT. Dubai property transactions are registered in dirhams, so the developer needs AED in its own account, not stablecoins in a wallet. Each payment is quoted and settled as its own trade, with a record of the amount, rate and date that the developer's bank and auditors can follow. See how we handle [stablecoin payments for real estate](https://www.sentvia.com/industries/real-estate-and-escrow). ### Luxury dealers A car or watch dealer selling a single high-value item can lock the rate before the buyer sends USDT, so the dirham amount on the invoice is the amount that arrives. The dealer never holds the stablecoins. Read more about [payments for luxury and high-value goods](https://www.sentvia.com/industries/luxury-and-high-value-goods). ### Trading companies UAE trading companies often sit between buyers who pay in stablecoins and suppliers who want dollars or euros. They convert the receipts in one trade, hold AED alongside USD, EUR and GBP, and pay suppliers who have been approved as beneficiaries. ### Family offices and individuals Families and high-net-worth individuals in the UAE who hold part of their funds in USDT or USDC use the desk when they need fiat for something specific, such as a property purchase or a large payment abroad. The account is in the individual's or the family entity's own name. We don't hold positions or give advice on digital assets. ## Compliance and regulation Sentvia Services Ltd is registered with FINTRAC as a money services business (MSB No. C100000474) and with the Bank of Canada as a payment service provider under the Retail Payment Activities Act. Those registrations are Canadian. Sentvia is not regulated in the UAE. Dirham accounts are provided through regulated banking partners, and our [compliance and regulation](https://www.sentvia.com/compliance) page explains both registrations and how to check them. What that means on every trade: - **Screening before conversion.** Incoming stablecoins are screened on the blockchain, including where they came from before they reached us, and monitoring runs on every transaction. - **Source of funds.** For larger trades we may ask how the sender came to hold the stablecoins. Our guide to [source of funds for stablecoin payments](https://www.sentvia.com/guides/source-of-funds-stablecoin-payments) lists the evidence that answers it. - **Approved beneficiaries.** Onward payments to developers, suppliers or anyone else go only to beneficiaries our compliance team has reviewed once, with supporting documents. If your own business has anti-money laundering or reporting duties in the UAE, those stay with you. Our checks sit alongside them. ## What you need ### For a company - Certificate of incorporation or UAE commercial registration - Who owns and controls the company - What the business does and why it receives stablecoins - Who sends the funds and how they came to hold them ### For an individual - Proof of identity and address - How you came to hold the stablecoins, with wallet history and supporting documents ### For each trade - A wallet the sender can show they control - The document behind the payment, such as a sale agreement or invoice - A check that the quote shows the dirham amount you expect, not just the rate A dedicated onboarding officer guides you through set-up before your first trade. This page explains how Sentvia processes payments. It is not investment, legal or tax advice. FAQ ## Common questions Is Sentvia an OTC desk for Dubai clients? Yes. Sentvia's Prime OTC desk converts large USDT and USDC amounts for businesses and individuals in Dubai and the wider UAE, and pays the dirhams by UAE local transfer into an account in the client's own name. Sentvia itself is registered in Canada, not in the UAE. Can I convert USDT to AED over the counter? Yes. You request a quote for the full amount, approve it to lock the rate, send the USDT to the address we give you for that trade, and receive AED in your named account. USDC converts on the same terms. Is there a minimum or maximum trade size? We do not publish one. Every trade is quoted individually, so ask for a quote for the amount you have in mind. How long does AED settlement take? The stablecoin transfer is near-instant. The AED leg follows UAE banking days and the receiving bank's cut-offs, so weekends and UAE public holidays move it to the next banking day. Processing times depend on currency, jurisdiction and bank rails used. Is Sentvia regulated in the UAE? No. Sentvia Services Ltd is registered with FINTRAC as a money services business and with the Bank of Canada as a payment service provider under the RPAA. AED accounts are provided through regulated banking partners. Our compliance page sets out both registrations. Can the AED be paid straight to a developer or supplier? The AED is paid into your own named account. From there, payments to third parties go to approved beneficiaries, each reviewed once by our compliance team with supporting documents. Can individuals use the desk? Yes. High-net-worth individuals use it too, with the account in their own name and the same onboarding principles, adapted to a person rather than a company. Can we convert AED into USDT or USDC? Yes. The desk converts in both directions. For a fiat-to-stablecoin trade you send the dirhams from your named account and receive the stablecoins at the rate you locked. ## Further reading - [What does an OTC desk actually do, from quote to settlement?](https://www.sentvia.com/blog/what-does-an-otc-desk-do) - [How do I convert USDT to AED for my UAE company?](https://www.sentvia.com/blog/convert-usdt-to-aed-uae-business) - [How crypto-funded Dubai property payments reach the developer in AED](https://www.sentvia.com/blog/crypto-funded-dubai-property-aed-settlement) - [Source of funds for stablecoin payments](https://www.sentvia.com/guides/source-of-funds-stablecoin-payments) Get started ## Large conversions, settled in dirhams Tell us about the payments you expect and a dedicated onboarding officer will guide you through set-up. [Begin onboarding](https://onboarding.sentvia.com/)[Talk to our team](https://www.sentvia.com/help)