- Dirham bank transfer: what Patreon lists for the UAE
- Choosing your bank country on purpose
- PayPal as the second option
- Why dirhams aren't a billing choice
- What a dirham payout costs and when it arrives
- Tax: the W-8BEN and the missing UAE row
- Setting up the account details
- Other routes and what Patreon keeps
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, the UAE is on Patreon's list for a bank transfer that turns US dollars into dirhams, and on its PayPal country list too. Dirhams can't be used as a billing currency, so a conversion happens when you withdraw. You'll also need a W-8BEN, and Patreon's tax table has no UAE row, so ask a local accountant.
If you're a creator in the UAE, you're in a good position compared with a lot of countries I cover, because Patreon lists you for both its bank route and its PayPal route. There are still a few choices that change what lands in your account, so I've gone through Patreon's help pages and kept only what they say that applies to you.
Dirham bank transfer: what Patreon lists for the UAE
Patreon's payout guide for creators outside the US includes the United Arab Emirates, with the currency AED, in its table for the US dollar to local currency bank transfer. Your balance builds up in US dollars, and when you withdraw Patreon converts it to dirhams and sends it to your bank.
Wikipedia says the dirham has been fixed to the US dollar at 3.6725 since 1997, issued by the Central Bank of the UAE and divided into one hundred fils. That peg is why some UAE creators are comfortable keeping their page in dollars. Patreon still adds its own conversion fee, which I'll come to.
Choosing your bank country on purpose
This is a detail that matters in the UAE, where many creators already have a dollar account somewhere. Patreon says your bank country is separate from the country you live in. You can pick the United States as your bank country and use a US dollar to US dollar transfer, which costs 0.50 US dollars per payout and involves no conversion at payout time.
Patreon's own example is a creator who opens a US dollar account through a company like Wise and pays out to it. Patreon also says that if you don't live in your bank's country, you can still register the account as long as you live in a country Payoneer supports. I've written about Wise for the UAE if that route interests you.
PayPal as the second option
The United Arab Emirates also appears on Patreon's PayPal supported countries list. For creators outside the US paid in US dollars, Patreon says PayPal costs 1% of the amount, with a minimum of 0.25 US dollars, capped at 20 US dollars, and you need 10 US dollars to pay out. PayPal may add fees when you move the money to your bank, so check PayPal's side too, which I cover in PayPal in the UAE.
Why dirhams aren't a billing choice
Patreon's supported currencies page lets you price and be paid in US dollars, euros, pounds, Canadian and Australian dollars, Hong Kong and Singapore dollars, New Zealand dollars and several European currencies. The dirham isn't listed for pay-in or payout.
If a fan pays in a currency different from your payout currency, Patreon applies a 2.5% conversion fee to that payment. You can change your creator currency once every 31 days, and your available balance has to be zero before you do. Look at what your members really pay in before you choose.
What a dirham payout costs and when it arrives
Patreon says the US dollar to local currency transfer costs 0.25 US dollars plus 1.55% for the conversion on each payout, with a 10 US dollar minimum. That fee doesn't show up in the earnings dashboard breakdown, so it's one to work out yourself. Funds in your balance already have the platform fee, processing and conversion fees taken off.
When you add or edit a payout method, Patreon places a five-day hold on your balance. A payout you start typically takes one to five days to appear, and you can start one every 24 hours. Automatic payouts, if you switch them on, run on the fifth of each month for the full balance.
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Tax: the W-8BEN and the missing UAE row
Patreon says all creators who aren't US citizens must submit a W-8BEN, or a W-8BEN-E for a company, to pay out. You fill it in online under Settings, Payouts and Taxes, in the Tax settings section. Patreon says it tells the IRS your earnings aren't subject to US income tax.
Patreon's sales tax table lists the countries where it collects tax on fan payments. The UAE isn't a row in it. Patreon adds that in some places creators have their own tax duties and should talk to a local accountant, and with nothing on the page about the UAE, that's my advice too.
| What I checked | What Patreon says for the UAE |
|---|---|
| Bank transfer to local currency | The UAE is listed, currency AED |
| Dirham as a billing currency | Not on the supported currencies list |
| PayPal country list | The UAE is listed |
| Sales tax table | No row for the UAE |
| Dollar to dollar option | Pick the United States as bank country, 0.50 US dollars per payout |
| Form to file | W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E |
Setting up the account details
For a bank transfer Patreon says you only need your account number and the name on the account, and no extra paperwork is usually required. Type the name using letters and numbers only, because special characters aren't supported. If a payout doesn't go through, the funds are typically returned to your Patreon balance.
Other routes and what Patreon keeps
Patreon's third option is Payoneer Wallet at 1.00 US dollars per payout, with a 25 US dollar minimum, which it describes as typically more expensive than a bank transfer. See Payoneer in the UAE if you already use it. For the platform side, this explanation of what Patreon takes from creators covers the fee plans. This isn't financial advice, so check the details with your bank.
Frequently asked questions
Does Patreon work in the UAE?
Yes for payouts. Patreon's payout guide lists the United Arab Emirates, with the currency AED, for a US dollar to local currency bank transfer, and its PayPal article lists the UAE too.
Can I set my Patreon tiers in dirhams?
No. The dirham isn't on Patreon's list of supported billing currencies, so you'll price in a supported currency and be paid out in dirhams.
What does a Patreon bank payout cost in the UAE?
Patreon says the US dollar to local currency transfer costs 0.25 US dollars plus 1.55% per payout, with a 10 US dollar minimum.
Can I get paid to a US dollar account instead?
Patreon says you can pick the United States as your bank country to use a US dollar to US dollar transfer, which costs 0.50 US dollars per payout.
Do I need a W-8BEN in the UAE?
Patreon says all creators who aren't US citizens must submit a W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E in order to pay out.
