Gulf Statistical Center: $161 billion in remittances by GCC workers in 2025

Data from the 2025 “Remittances of Workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Abroad” report, issued by the Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), showed that the GCC countries collectively recorded the highest global value of worker remittances sent abroad, totaling approximately $161 billion, representing a 13.6% increase compared to 2024, and an increase of about $19 billion.

This rise comes amid the continued attraction of foreign labor, alongside the expansion of economic activities linked to infrastructure projects, services, industry, and non-oil sectors.

The report clarified that total worker remittances from the GCC countries rose for the second consecutive year, following a decline recorded in 2023, reaching their highest level in 2025.

Worker remittances accounted for approximately 6.6% of the GCC’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, compared to about 6.0% in 2024, 5.7% in 2023, and 5.6% in 2022.

This percentage reflects the relative weight of worker remittances compared to the size of the GCC economies, and does not, by itself, indicate an improvement or deterioration in economic performance.

The global standing of the GCC countries is highlighted when comparing their total outbound remittances with the remittance values recorded in several major economies individually. According to the report’s data, worker remittances sent from the United States amounted to approximately $107 billion, Switzerland to about $43 billion, Germany to around $27 billion, and France to roughly $21 billion.

These remittances hold significance beyond their direct financial value, as they contribute to supporting household incomes, consumption, and economic and social stability in receiving countries. They also reflect the GCC’s regional economic weight and its role in global financial flows and its connection to the global economy.