Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

Expat remittances from the UAE exceed $21bn in first half of 2020

India retains position as top receiving country from expats in the UAE, ahead of the Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh

Expat remittances from the UAE amounted to AED79.6 billion ($21.6 billion) in the first half of 2020 with India the top receiving country, according to new figures.

Data from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates showed that H1 remittances accounted for 48.2 percent of the total money transferred by foreign residents in the country during 2019, which totalled AED165 billion.

The central bank said it saw the transfer of AED41.4 billion during the first quarter of this year while AED38.2 billion was remitted between April and June, with 76 percent of the total transferred via money exchange companies operating in the country and the rest through banks.

The figures also showed that India was the top receiving country for earnings made by expats, followed by the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and the US.

Earlier this month, we reported how remittances to India from the Gulf region were booming despite the economic turmoil imposed by the coronavirus, with many Indian banks reporting growth of up to 20 percent.


The rise in NRI (non-resident Indian) remittances during April-July from the Gulf region, were said to be propelled by the twin factors of a plunge in rupee value and expat Indians rushing to move part of their savings home in the wake of uncertainty related to the global pandemic.

And bankers in India said they expect a further jump in NRI remittances on account of annual bonuses and leave encashment payments made to expat employees by companies and establishments in several GCC countries during the August-September period.

The rising trend has debunked widespread fears among economists and policy makers about a drastic fall in the inflow of remittances in the wake of widespread salary cuts and job losses of expat Indians working in Middle East countries.

A World Bank report in April also projected a 23 percent fall in remittances to India this year to $64 billion from the $83 billion in 2019.

Remittances in India decreased to $14.89 billion in the first quarter of 2020 from $15.18 billion in Q4 2019, according to data put out by Trading Economics, an international agency that tracks major economic indicators of 196 countries.

The UAE topped the list of NRI remittances to India last year, followed by the US, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×