Remittances sent by workers in Kuwait to overseas destinations jumped 18.2 percent in 2025 to $16.7 billion, giving Kuwait the second-highest growth rate in the Gulf and highlighting the continued economic contribution of the expatriate workforce.
According to a report by the GCC Statistical Center, remittances from Kuwait represented 10.6 percent of the country’s GDP, the highest ratio among the six GCC states. The increase came amid continued growth in Kuwait’s expatriate workforce and the expansion of economic and service activities that attract foreign workers.
Across the GCC, workers’ remittances rose 13.6 percent in 2025, increasing by $19 billion to reach $161 billion. This marked the second consecutive year of growth and was attributed to the continued influx of expatriate workers and the expansion of activities linked to infrastructure projects, services, industry and non-oil sectors.
The GCC remained the world’s largest source of worker remittances in 2025, ahead of the United States at $107 billion, Switzerland at $43 billion, Germany at $27 billion and France at $21 billion. Within the GCC, Saudi Arabia recorded the highest growth in remittances at 26.9 percent, reaching $58 billion, followed by Kuwait at 18.2 percent and $16.7 billion.
The UAE recorded growth of 6.3 percent to $62.1 billion, while Qatar’s remittances increased 4.7 percent to $11.9 billion and Oman’s rose 2.7 percent to $9.5 billion. Bahrain was the only GCC country to record a decline, with remittances falling 4.3 percent to $2.5 billion.
The UAE accounted for the largest share of total GCC remittances at 38.7 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia at 36.1 percent, while the remaining four GCC countries collectively accounted for about 25.1 percent. Remittances represented 6.6 percent of combined GCC GDP in 2025, broadly maintaining levels seen in recent years as transfers continued to grow alongside the region’s expanding economies.
Kuwait recorded the highest remittances-to-GDP ratio in the GCC at 10.6 percent, followed by the UAE at 10.1 percent, Oman at 8.7 percent, Qatar at 5.5 percent, Bahrain at 5.2 percent and Saudi Arabia at 4.6 percent.
The GCC Statistical Center said the scale of remittances reflects the region’s pivotal role in global labour markets. Beyond their significance for Gulf economies, the transfers support household incomes, consumption and economic and social stability in recipient countries, reinforcing the GCC’s economic links with the wider global economy.
