
Countries in Middle East with most outgoing remittances, by receiving region 2021
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounted for more than six out of 10 remittances sent from the Middle East and Central Asia to other countries in 2021. Remittances from these four countries ranged from 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to 3.6 billion U.S. dollars. Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back home to friends or relatives back in their communities of origin. It is estimated that about one in seven people worldwide are involved with remittances - substantially impacting payment behavior in, especially, Asia and Latin America. The outflow from the Middle East especially goes towards South Asia - India and Bangladesh - and Southeast Asia.