If you send money home to India from the UAE, here is the short answer: transfers through exchange houses and apps should still arrive during the Indian bank strike on Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September 2026. What will stop is anything that needs a person at a branch in India — cheque clearing, cash at the counter and paper KYC updates. If your family in Kerala, Tamil Nadu or anywhere else needs money this week, send it electronically and ask them to use UPI or an ATM rather than the branch.
What is happening
Employees of India’s public-sector banks plan a nationwide strike from 28 to 30 September 2026. Their main demand is that banks implement the five-day working week agreed in 2024. Public-sector banks include State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank and Union Bank — the banks many UAE-based NRI families use for NRE and NRO accounts.
What will work and what will not
| Service | During the strike |
|---|---|
| Transfers from UAE exchange houses and apps | Expected to work normally |
| UPI, IMPS and online banking in India | Expected to work — automated systems |
| ATM withdrawals | Should work, but machines may run low on cash |
| Cheque deposits and clearing | Likely delayed |
| Cash at the branch counter | Likely unavailable at striking banks |
| Paper KYC, account opening, loan paperwork | Likely delayed |
According to The National, digital channels already carry about 76% of remittances from the UAE to India. A chief investment officer at Century Financial told the paper that UAE-to-India transfers are “unlikely to be affected” because they run on automated systems. Al Ansari Exchange’s CEO said the strike “is not expected to affect our remittance services or cause delays.”
What to do before 28 September
- Send school fees, EMI and rent money today (Sunday) through an app or exchange house so it is credited electronically.
- Tell family to use UPI, ATMs or online banking from Monday to Wednesday instead of visiting a public-sector bank branch.
- Do not rely on cheques deposited in India this week if the money is urgent.
- Move KYC updates and NRE/NRO paperwork to 1 October or later.
- Choose bank-account credit rather than cash pickup at a public-sector bank branch.
Comparing rates and fees before you send? See sending money home from the UAE: your real options.
Why this matters so much in the UAE
About 4.3 million Indians live in the UAE, and the UAE accounts for about 19% of all remittances India receives. For many families in Kerala, the monthly transfer from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah is the household’s main income — which is why even a three-day disruption to branch services is worth planning around.
Common questions
Will my money transfer from Dubai to India be delayed by the bank strike?
Transfers sent through exchange houses or apps are expected to arrive normally because they run on automated systems. Delays are more likely for cheque clearing and anything that needs branch staff.
Which banks are on strike?
The strike involves employees of India’s public-sector banks. Private banks are not part of this strike, though shared systems such as cheque clearing can still slow down.
Will UPI work during the strike?
UPI, IMPS and online banking run automatically and are expected to keep working.
Published 27 September 2026, based on reporting by The National (25 September 2026). Strike plans can be called off or changed at short notice — check your bank’s own notices before relying on branch services.
Leave a Reply