Expatriate remittances from Kuwait witnessed a remarkable surge in the first half of 2025, reflecting both strong economic activity and the resilience of the country’s expatriate community. According to the latest data, total remittances jumped by 23.7% compared to the same period last year, totaling 2.54 billion Kuwaiti dinars from January to June 2025. This growth highlights Kuwait’s key role as a remittance hub in the region and underscores the significance of foreign workers in its economy.
The surge became evident in the first quarter of 2025, when remittances reached 1.21 billion dinars, up from 924.2 million dinars in the same quarter of 2024. Notably, the quarterly average of remittance outflows in Kuwait typically fluctuated around 1.16 billion dinars over the previous decade, showing that this year’s figures represent a substantial increase over historical norms. This places 2025 among the strongest years for outward remittances on record, barring brief spikes during special occasions or exceptional global events.
Several factors contributed to the jump in remittance transfers. Improved economic stability in Kuwait and global economic recovery following pandemic disruptions boosted employment prospects for expatriate workers. The construction, service, and retail sectors saw renewed activity, allowing more foreign workers to secure jobs and send higher portions of their income to their families abroad. At the same time, currency stabilization in key recipient countries, such as India, Egypt, and the Philippines, provided increased incentives for workers to remit funds, maximizing the value received by their families back home.
Additionally, inflationary pressures within Kuwait and a slight increase in the cost of living may have motivated expatriates to accelerate transfers before further local price hikes. This is evident in the higher quarterly remittance volumes aligning with periods of rising consumer prices.
Kuwait remains one of the top contributors to global remittance flows, ranking third in the Arab world and tenth globally for remittance outflows as of 2024. In 2023, workers in Kuwait sent an estimated $12.7 billion abroad, and 2025’s trend suggests the country is on track to exceed or match these high figures.
The Gulf region as a whole is a major source of migrant remittances, and Kuwait’s consistent growth in this area signals confidence in both the local economy and expatriate workforce demand.
