GCC tops global remittance outflows at $161bn in 2025, GCC-Stat data show
GCC-Stat data show workers in the six Gulf states sent about $161 billion abroad in 2025, 13.6% more than in 2024 and the highest of any country or bloc. Outlets report the same figures with different emphasis.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded the highest value of outward workers' remittances globally in 2025, at about $161 billion, according to official data. Arab NewsRC “Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded the highest value of outward workers’ remittances globally in 2025, with transfers reaching about $161 billion” Read at Arab News ↗ Gulf NewsN “Workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries sent a record $161 billion in remittances abroad in 2025” Read at Gulf News ↗ Mixed · 2The figure was 13.6 per cent higher than in 2024, the second consecutive year of growth after a decline in 2023. The data come from GCC-Stat, the bloc's statistical centre, and were cited by the UAE state news agency WAM. Arab NewsRC “The figure rose 13.6 percent from 2024, marking a second consecutive year of growth after remittance outflows declined in 2023, according to GCC-Stat data cited by the UAE’s state news agency, WAM.” Read at Arab News ↗ Gulf NewsN “The new data comes from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf, or GCC-Stat.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1Gulf News calculated that the 2024 total was roughly $142 billion, an increase of about $19 billion in a year, and described the 2025 total as the highest recorded level. Gulf NewsN “Based on GCC-Stat's figures, the GCC sent roughly $142 billion abroad in 2024, meaning remittance outflows increased by about $19 billion in a single year.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Mixed · 2The report compared the GCC total with individual economies: the United States at about $107 billion, Switzerland about $43 billion, Germany about $27 billion and France about $21 billion. Arab NewsRC “They clearly outperformed the United States of America, whose remittances amounted to about $107 billion, Switzerland with about $43 billion, Germany with about $27 billion, and France with about $21 billion.” Read at Arab News ↗ Gulf NewsN “Switzerland recorded about $43 billion, Germany $27 billion and France $21 billion, according to the report.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Mixed · 2Worker remittances were about 6.6 per cent of the GCC's combined GDP in 2025, up from 6 per cent in 2024, 5.7 per cent in 2023 and 5.6 per cent in 2022. The report cautioned that this ratio measures the relative scale of flows and is not a direct measure of economic performance. Arab NewsRC “Worker remittances accounted for about 6.6 percent of the GCC countries’ combined GDP in 2025, up from 6 percent in 2024, 5.7 percent in 2023 and 5.6 percent in 2022.” Read at Arab News ↗ Gulf NewsN “GCC-Stat cautioned, however, that the ratio should be viewed as a measure of the relative weight of remittance flows compared with the size of the region's economies.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets link the rise to demand for expatriate workers as Gulf economies expand in infrastructure, services, industry and other non-oil sectors. Arab NewsRC “The increase comes as Gulf economies continue to attract expatriate labor to support infrastructure, services, industry and other non-oil sectors.” Read at Arab News ↗ Gulf NewsN “demand for expatriate workers remained strong across the Gulf and economic activity expanded in infrastructure, services, industry and other non-oil sectors” Read at Gulf News ↗
Right · 1Arab News added that the bloc's population reached 63.3 million in 2025 and non-oil activity made up 70.6 per cent of combined GDP, growing 5.1 per cent. It also cited the IMF saying economies with larger non-hydrocarbon sectors, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, were better placed to cushion recent disruptions, though weaker trade and business confidence have constrained activity. Arab NewsRC “The bloc’s population reached 63.3 million in 2025, while non-oil activities accounted for 70.6 percent of combined gross domestic product and grew 5.1 percent during the year.”“The International Monetary Fund said economies with larger non-hydrocarbon sectors, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, were better positioned to cushion the impact of recent disruptions” Read at Arab News ↗ Centre · 1Gulf News stressed what the flows mean for recipient countries, as a source of household income, consumption and relatively stable foreign currency, and noted diversification has broadened labour demand into logistics, tourism, healthcare and technology. Gulf NewsN “For countries receiving the money, remittances are an important source of household income and help finance consumption and other household needs.”“into areas including logistics, tourism, healthcare, technology, manufacturing and professional services” Read at Gulf News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Gulf News leads with the record and explains why the number matters, including for recipient countries and the Gulf as a migrant-labour hub.
- Emphasis
- The $19bn year-on-year rise, the 2024 baseline it derived, recipient-country benefits and labour-market diversification.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the IMF comment, population or non-oil GDP share.
- Charged language
- “record $161 billion”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Arab News presents the figure as evidence of the GCC's growing global financial role and expanding non-oil economy, relaying the WAM report.
- Emphasis
- Economic expansion, non-oil share of GDP, population, the IMF remark and WAM's comparison with major economies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the 2024 dollar figure or the $19bn increase, nor detail on how recipient countries use the money.
- Charged language
- “exceptional global standing”“clearly outperformed”
- For example
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““The data highlighted the exceptional global standing of the GCC countries when comparing their total outgoing remittances with the remittance values recorded in a number of major economies individually,” the WAM report stated.” — Arab News
“The continued rise in remittances underscores the GCC’s growing role in global financial flows, while also reflecting the region’s expanding non-oil economy and demand for expatriate workers.” — Arab News
What every side reports
- The GCC recorded about $161 billion in outward worker remittances in 2025, the highest globally.
- The figure was 13.6% above 2024, the second straight annual rise after a 2023 decline.
- The US ($107bn), Switzerland ($43bn), Germany ($27bn) and France ($21bn) were far lower.
- Remittances were about 6.6% of GCC combined GDP in 2025, up from 6% in 2024.
Gulf Cooperation Council organisation
Through GCC-Stat and WAM, the bloc presents the figure as showing its exceptional global standing, while cautioning that the remittance-to-GDP ratio is not a measure of economic performance.
“The report said the ratio measures the relative scale of remittance flows against the size of GCC economies and should not be viewed as a direct measure of economic performance.” — Arab News
“GCC-Stat attributed the increase partly to the continued attraction of expatriate workers as Gulf economies expand beyond hydrocarbons.” — Gulf News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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GCC remittances hit record $161 billion in 2025, highest globally
Neutral Explanatory report on the record figure, adding year-on-year context and the effect on recipient countries.
Right1 article
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GCC tops global remittance outflows at $161bn
Celebratory Relays WAM's upbeat reading of the data as proof of the GCC's global standing and diversifying economy.
- 4 Oct 13:59 First Arab NewsRC GCC tops global remittance outflows at $161bn
- 5 Oct 10:59 +21h Gulf NewsN GCC remittances hit record $161 billion in 2025, highest globally
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.