Muscat: The latest report titled "Workers' Remittances from the GCC to the Outside 2025," released by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat), reveals that the GCC countries collectively recorded the highest global value in workers' remittances sent abroad. The total remittances amounted to approximately USD 161 billion, marking a 13.6 percent increase compared to 2024, which translates to an additional USD 19 billion.

According to Oman News Agency, this increase is attributed to the ongoing attraction of an expatriate workforce and the expansion of economic activities in infrastructure projects, services, industry, and non-oil sectors. The report notes that the total workers' remittances from the GCC countries have risen for the second consecutive year, following a decline in 2023, reaching their peak in 2025.

The ratio of workers' remittances to the GDP of the GCC countries was approximately 6.6 percent in 2025, compared to 6 percent in 2024, 5.7 percent in 2023, and 5.6 percent in 2022. This figure indicates the relative significance of workers' remittances in relation to the size of the GCC economies, without necessarily reflecting an improvement or decline in economic performance.

Globally, the GCC countries' status is underscored by comparing their total outward remittances with those from major economies. For instance, workers' remittances from the United States reached around USD 107 billion, Switzerland USD 43 billion, Germany USD 27 billion, and France USD 21 billion.

These remittances hold importance beyond their financial value, as they contribute to household incomes, consumption, and economic and social stability in the recipient countries. They also highlight the regional economic influence of the GCC, its role in global financial flows, and its integration into the global economy.