Money transfer companies
Somali money transfer companies: directory
This directory lists 30 Somali money transfer companies (hawala firms), with the year founded, head office and a source for each. Rows come from the Central Bank of Somalia's register, the Central Bank of Kenya's register of remittance providers, and a 2013 study of the UK–Somalia corridor that counted about 17 firms serving it.
About this list
Somali money transfer companies, built on the older hawala system of trusted agents, carry most of the money that Somalis abroad send home. The Central Bank of Somalia licenses money transfer businesses and publishes their names (Central Bank of Somalia, licensed money transfer). It counted 14 at the end of 2025 (Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025). Several of the same firms are licensed in Kenya (Central Bank of Kenya, 30 September 2026). A 2013 study for the UK government counted about 17 companies serving the UK–Somalia corridor (Beechwood International, 2013, p. 35). The same firm may appear under slightly different names on different registers.
The list
| Company | Type | Founded | Head office | Owner or head, and status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Barakat (Barakaat Group) | Money transfer and telecoms | 1987 | Dubai | Ahmed Nur Ali Jim'ale; Shut 2001; delisted 2012 to 2020; relaunched | Wikipedia |
| Amaana Express | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Amal Express | Money transfer | Garowe; group in Dubai | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | |
| Amana Express | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Amoud Express | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Asal Express | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Bakaal Express | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Bakaal Worldwide Limited | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Dahabshiil | Money transfer | 1970s | Dubai; founded Burao | Mohamed Said Duale (founder); Abdirashid Duale (CEO); Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register |
| Fundaza | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Hibo | Money transfer | Bosaso | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | |
| Hodan | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Hodan Global Limited | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Horn Express Ltd (formerly Qaran Express) | Money transfer | United Kingdom | Censured by the UK FCA in April 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Iftin Express | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Juba Express | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Kaah Express | Money transfer | Eastleigh, Nairobi (Kenya licence 2014) | Licensed by Central Bank of Kenya | Central Bank of Kenya | |
| Ladan Express | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Medina Money Transfer | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Naafic | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Oloompic Money Transfer | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| Quick | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Rcash | Money transfer | Garowe | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | |
| Sahan | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Taaj Money Transfer | Money transfer | Eastleigh, Nairobi (Kenya licence 2 October 2015) | Licensed by Central Bank of Kenya in 2016 and 2020 registers; not on the September 2026 register | Central Bank of Kenya, 2016; September 2026 | |
| Tawakal Express | Money transfer | Garowe | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | |
| TAYO | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register | ||
| Towfiiq Express | Money transfer | United Kingdom | UK small payment institution in 2013 | Beechwood 2013 | |
| WorldRemit / Zepz | Money transfer (online) | 2010 | London | Ismail Ahmed (founder); Active | Wikipedia |
| Yiksi | Money transfer | Licensed by Central Bank of Somalia, Nov 2026 | Central Bank of Somalia register |
For how hawala works, see Hawala and money transfer companies. For the size of the flows, see Remittances in numbers. For firms based in the UK, see Somali businesses in the UK.
Sources
- Central Bank of Somalia, licensed money transfer · centralbank.gov.so
- Central Bank of Somalia, Annual Report 2025 · centralbank.gov.so
- Central Bank of Kenya, 30 September 2026 · centralbank.go.ke
- Beechwood International, 2013, p. 35 · assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
- Central Bank of Kenya, 2016 · centralbank.go.ke
- Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Somali money transfer companies: directory? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
- Burco (Burao) and TogdheerTogdheer is the northern region around Burco (Burao), with about 894,874 people including Buuhoodle.
- Boosaaso (Bosaso) and BariBari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Dahabshiil: the largest Somali money transfer companyDahabshiil in facts: how it began, its size, its bank and telecom interests, its regulators, and the 2013 Barclays case.
- Al-Barakat (Al-Barakaat): the Somali money and phone company shut in 2001Al-Barakat in facts: its founding in 1987, size by 2001, the US and UN listing after 9/11, what the 9/11 Commission found, the delistings and the relaunch.
- WorldRemit and Zepz: the money app founded by Ismail AhmedWorldRemit in facts: its Somali founder Ismail Ahmed, founding in 2010, the link to ZAAD, funding rounds, Sendwave and Zepz, and regulators' findings.
- Amal group: Amal Express, Amal Bank and the 2020 to 2021 auditThe Amal group in facts: Amal Express and Amal Bank, licences, leadership, the GI-TOC report on arms payments and the Central Bank audit, and where sources differ.
- Kaah Express and KIMS: the money transfer firm and its microfinance armKaah Express and Kaah International Microfinance Services in facts: licences, the 2014 launch, branches, clients, awards, goals, and the separate Kaah Electric company.
- Tawakal Express: money transfer company based in GaroweTawakal Express in facts: head office, reach, its TPLUS app and SomBank, its US partner Banana Pay, and how studies of the remittance trade describe it.