GCC Remittances Reach $161 Billion in 2025, Highest Outflow Globally

Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded the highest value of outward workers’ remittances in the world in 2025, with transfers reaching about $161 billion, according to official data.

The figure increased 13.6% from 2024, marking the second consecutive year of growth after remittance outflows declined in 2023, data from the GCC Statistical Centre showed.

The rise reflects the Gulf’s continued dependence on expatriate workers as its economies expand beyond oil and gas. The GCC population reached 63.3 million in 2025, while non-oil activities accounted for 70.6% of combined gross domestic product and grew 5.1% during the year.

Gulf countries have continued to attract foreign workers to support infrastructure projects, services, manufacturing, construction and other sectors. The expansion of non-oil industries has also increased demand for workers across a wider range of economic activities.

The scale of the GCC’s remittance outflows was significantly higher than those recorded by several major economies individually. According to data cited by the UAE state news agency WAM, the United States recorded outward remittances of about $107 billion in 2025, while Switzerland registered around $43 billion.

Germany’s outward remittances stood at about $27 billion and France recorded approximately $21 billion.

The GCC’s combined remittance outflows represented about 6.6% of the bloc’s total GDP in 2025, up from 6% in 2024. The ratio stood at 5.7% in 2023 and 5.6% in 2022, showing the growing scale of transfers relative to the region’s economies.

The GCC Statistical Centre said the ratio is intended to show the size of remittance flows compared with the economies of the six member states and should not be treated as a direct indicator of economic performance.

The increase in transfers comes as Gulf economies pursue diversification strategies aimed at reducing their dependence on hydrocarbons. Countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have expanded non-oil activities, creating additional employment opportunities for foreign workers.

The International Monetary Fund has said economies with larger non-hydrocarbon sectors, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are better positioned to withstand some of the effects of recent economic disruptions. However, weaker trade and business confidence have continued to weigh on activity.

Remittances sent by workers in the Gulf provide an important source of income for millions of families in recipient countries. The funds support household spending and can contribute to financial stability in countries where workers’ earnings from abroad form a significant part of household income.

The latest figures underline the GCC’s importance in global remittance flows and reflect the continuing role of expatriate labour in the region’s expanding economies.