I am looking for a firm which can give me the best returns for currency exchange...
 

I am looking for a firm which can give me the best returns for currency exchange. Please suggest.

Al Rostamani in Mall of Emirates near Ski Dubai, consistently save myself nearly a thousand aed over ENBD and a 3-400 over GCEN on transfers of 150,000

I tried Al Rostimani in Dubai Mall recently and they pretty much screwed up everything they possibly could. They delayed the transfer (after claiming it hadn't been received), then transferred in USD instead of my home currency, at a much, MUCH worse rate than I had agreed with the manager himself (despite it being agreed in writing beforehand). After I complained they told me they would offer me a "staff rate" on the next exchange. That worked out to be almost exactly 3 dirhams different on a 20,000 dirhams transfer... so I cancelled the transaction and shredded my card.

Despite being a completely crappy bank staffed by morons Emirates NBD online transfers have actually worked quite well for me. As with all these transfers, larger amounts seem to get better rates and cost less on a percentage basis.

By all means give Al Rostimani a try, but I'd suggest a smallish transfer first just to test the waters.

It has been a while, but last time I did a transfer from ME, i went to one of the private companies and asked them what rate they could offer.
I took the numbers to my bank and they matched them.

According to SwissQuote, they offer EK pilots the best deal on currency exchanges in the Middle East.

Xe.com

Very efficient, good rates and zero fees. Transfer takes about 7 days though.

Used the exchange houses for years but after a disastrous experience much like Form 717, I called it quits. The best rate was about 3.675, but now I just pay a little extra with my bank and forget the hassle.

One of the other issues is money coming from the ME in the last few years. With an exchange house, there are more questions these days and bank statements required with some of the receiving banks. Delays etc. It turned out to be too much work.