GCC outward worker remittances hit record $161 billion in 2025, GCC-Stat says
Version 3: More outlets have now reported the same GCC-Stat data, adding a country-by-country breakdown, the UAE and Saudi Arabian shares of the regional total and the ratio of remittances to GCC GDP.
In short
GCC countries recorded the world's highest outward workers' remittances in 2025 at about $161 billion, up 13.6 per cent from 2024, according to the GCC Statistical Centre. The UAE was the largest source at $62.1 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at $58 billion, which together accounted for about 74.8 per cent of the bloc's total. The GCC total compared with $107 billion from the United States, $43 billion from Switzerland, $27 billion from Germany and $21 billion from France.
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Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded the world's highest value of outward workers' remittances in 2025, at approximately $161 billion, according to the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat). The figure was 13.6 per cent higher than in 2024, an increase of about $19 billion, and marked the second consecutive year of growth after a decline in 2023. GCC-Stat said the 2025 level was the highest recorded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The United Arab Emirates remained the largest single source of remittances in the bloc at $62.1 billion, up 6.3 per cent year-on-year, Economy Middle East and Forbes Middle East reported, citing GCC-Stat. Saudi Arabia followed at $58 billion while posting the fastest growth in the GCC at 26.9 per cent, and contributed about $12.3 billion of the $19 billion regional increase. Together the two countries accounted for about 74.8 per cent of the bloc's outward remittances. [ 3 , 6 ]
Kuwait ranked third with $16.7 billion, an increase of 18.2 per cent, followed by Qatar at $11.9 billion, up 4.7 per cent, Oman at $9.5 billion, up 2.7 per cent, and Bahrain at $2.5 billion. Forbes Middle East said Bahrain was the only GCC country to record…, without completing the statement in the text available. [ 3 , 6 ]
GCC-Stat said the increase reflected the continued attraction of expatriate workers alongside expanding economic activity linked to infrastructure projects, services, industry and non-oil sectors. According to the report, outward remittances equalled about 6.6 per cent of the GCC's combined gross domestic product in 2025, compared with 6.0 per cent in 2024, 5.7 per cent in 2023 and 5.6 per cent in 2022. GCC-Stat said the ratio reflects the relative weight of remittances against the size of GCC economies and does not in itself indicate an improvement or deterioration in economic performance. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Compared with individual major economies, the GCC's combined outflow was far above the approximately $107 billion recorded by the United States. Switzerland recorded about $43 billion, Germany about $27 billion and France about $21 billion, according to the data presented in the report. Economy Middle East said the report is based on worker-remittance data reported in balance of payments by GCC central banks alongside the International Monetary Fund's database. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The figures underline the GCC's position as the world's largest source of workers' remittances, money that GCC-Stat says helps support household incomes and consumption in recipient countries. The agency attributed the increase to continued demand for expatriate workers and expanding activity in infrastructure, services, industry and other non-oil sectors, which the reporting outlets present as a measure of the bloc's economic expansion beyond hydrocarbons.
Key facts
- GCC countries recorded the world's highest outward workers' remittances in 2025, totalling about $161 billion, according to the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Remittances rose 13.6 per cent year-on-year, an increase of about $19 billion, marking a second consecutive annual rise after a decline in 2023. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The UAE was the largest source at $62.1 billion, up 6.3 per cent and 38.7 per cent of the GCC total; Saudi Arabia followed at $58 billion, up 26.9 per cent and 36.1 per cent of the total. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Saudi Arabia contributed about $12.3 billion of the $19 billion annual increase, according to the GCC-Stat data. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Kuwait recorded $16.7 billion in outward remittances, Qatar $11.9 billion, Oman $9.5 billion and Bahrain $2.5 billion. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Outward remittances equalled about 6.6 per cent of GCC gross domestic product in 2025, up from 6.0 per cent in 2024, 5.7 per cent in 2023 and 5.6 per cent in 2022. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Comparable outflows were about $107 billion from the United States, $43 billion from Switzerland, $27 billion from Germany and $21 billion from France, the report said. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- GCC-Stat attributed the increase to the continued attraction of expatriate workers and expanding economic activity in infrastructure, services, industry and non-oil sectors. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- GCC countries recorded the world's highest outward workers' remittances in 2025, at about $161 billion, up 13.6 per cent on 2024, according to GCC-Stat. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The annual increase was about $19 billion and followed a decline in 2023, making 2025 the second consecutive year of growth and the highest level recorded. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- GCC-Stat attributed the rise to continued demand for expatriate workers and expanding economic activity in infrastructure, services, industry and other non-oil sectors. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The UAE was the largest GCC source of outward remittances at $62.1 billion and Saudi Arabia the second at $58 billion. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain recorded outflows of $16.7 billion, $11.9 billion, $9.5 billion and $2.5 billion respectively. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Outward worker remittances from the United States totalled about $107 billion, Switzerland about $43 billion, Germany about $27 billion and France about $21 billion, according to the report. [ 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- What Bahrain recorded in 2025 beyond its $2.5 billion in outward remittances. The Forbes Middle East summary is truncated at the phrase that Bahrain was the only GCC country to record… and does not complete the statement.
- The 2024 GCC remittance total of roughly $142 billion. Only Gulf News states this figure, deriving it from the 2025 total and the reported increase; the other documents do not give a 2024 base.
- The exact scope of GCC-Stat's remittance data and how flows are counted. Economy Middle East says the report is based on worker-remittance data reported in balance of payments by GCC central banks alongside the International Monetary Fund database, but no document sets out the full methodology.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- WAM publishes a headline stating that GCC countries recorded the world's highest outward workers' remittances at $161 billion. [ 1 ]
- Aletihad publishes the GCC-Stat figures, including the 13.6 per cent rise, the ratio to GDP and the comparison with the United States, Switzerland, Germany and France. [ 2 ]
- Forbes Middle East publishes the country-by-country breakdown, led by the UAE at $62.1 billion and Saudi Arabia at $58 billion. [ 3 ]
- Arabian Business reports the record $161 billion total and the comparison with the United States total. [ 4 ]
- Gulf News reports the record figure, saying the GCC sent roughly $142 billion abroad in 2024 based on GCC-Stat's figures. [ 5 ]
- Economy Middle East publishes the regional split, including the UAE's 38.7 per cent share and Saudi Arabia's 36.1 per cent share. [ 6 ]