The Gulf Cooperation Council states collectively recorded the world's highest total for outward worker remittances, at about $161 billion in 2025, according to data cited in a report issued by the GCC-Stat.
Increase for the second consecutive year
Worker remittances from the Gulf grew 13.6% in 2025 compared with 2024, an annual increase of about $19 billion. Remittances rose for the second consecutive year, reaching their highest level after a decline in 2023.
The increase coincided with the continued attraction of expatriate workers, alongside the expansion of economic activity linked to infrastructure, services, industry and non-oil projects.
Higher share of GDP
Worker remittances accounted for about 6.6% of the GCC states' gross domestic product in 2025, compared with about 6% in 2024, 5.7% in 2023 and 5.6% in 2022.
Compared with major economies
The total remittances sent from the GCC states exceeded the figures recorded individually by several major economies. Worker remittances sent from the United States amounted to about $107 billion, followed by about $43 billion from Switzerland, $27 billion from Germany and $21 billion from France.
Worker remittances help support household income, consumption and economic and social stability in recipient countries. They also reflect the GCC economies' integration with global financial flows.
