UAE residents save on loan EMIs in India, Pakistan as currencies plunge to new lows

Indian and Pakistani expats are making a windfall following the recent decline in their respective currencies against the UAE dirham — with many paying off their debts earlier than scheduled.

South Asian expats in the UAE told Khaleej Times that they have benefitted massively in the form of reduced EMIs (equated monthly instalments) for investments made in their home countries. The decline in both countries’ currencies against the UAE dirham has helped them pay off their debts more quickly.

On Wednesday, the Pakistani rupee’s free-fall continued, plunging below an all-time low of 61 against the UAE dirham due to political turmoil in the South Asian country.

The rupee has been consistently sliding since the ouster of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government on April 10 this year, falling nearly 20 per cent. The rupee has lost 40.2 per cent against the UAE dirham in the past year, according to xe.com.

Nighat Sher, a Pakistani national residing for nearly two decades, said the rupee’s decline has helped her a lot to save on her EMI.

“I’m able to save nearly 30 per cent on my EMI now as compared to a year ago. I’m paying nearly Dh1,550 now as against over Dh2,150 in 2021,” said Sher.

Similarly, the Indian rupee also hit a record low of 80 against the US dollar (21.8 versus the UAE dirham) this week amid demand for the dollar from oil importers and firm crude oil prices. The Indian rupee has lost nearly nine per cent since January 2022 against the Emirati dirham.

Indian expats in the UAE said they also managed to save funds on their EMIs for their investments in their home country.

"The recent fall in the Indian rupee has come as a boon for those paying EMIs back home. Until a few months ago, we used to remit Dh15,000 to pay our property EMI of Rs300,000. It has now come down to less than Dh13,900," said Dubai resident Prayaga Suresh.

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-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com