Abu Dhabi:Gulf Cooperation Council countries achieved the highest global value of outward workers' remittances in 2025, totaling around $161 billion. This represents a 13.6% increase compared to 2024 and an approximate rise of $19 billion.
According to Emirates News Agency, the report titled 'Outward Workers' Remittances from the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, 2025' was released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf. It highlighted that this marks the second consecutive year of rising remittances following a decline in 2023, reaching their peak in 2025. The increase is attributed to the sustained attraction of expatriate workers, along with economic expansion in infrastructure, services, industry, and non-oil sectors.
Workers' remittances constituted approximately 6.6% of the GDP of GCC countries in 2025, up from 6.0% in 2024, 5.7% in 2023, and 5.6% in 2022. The report emphasizes that this percentage reflects the relative significance of remittances within the GCC economies but does not necessarily indicate changes in economic performance.
When compared to major global economies, the GCC's remittance figures stand out. The United States recorded remittances of about $107 billion, Switzerland $43 billion, Germany $27 billion, and France $21 billion, according to the report's data.
The impact of these remittances extends beyond their monetary value, as they bolster household incomes, consumption, and economic and social stability in recipient nations. They also underscore the GCC's economic influence, its role in global financial movements, and its interconnectedness with the global economy.