UAE tops Jordan’s $1bn expat remittance inflows

• UAE remittances are $276m
• US, Saudi, Qatar and Kuwait follow
• Outward remittances up 14%

The UAE has emerged as the largest source of expat remittances to Jordan in the first quarter of 2026.

Total remittances from the Emirates were $276 million, or 23 percent of the $1.2 billion received during the quarter up to the end of March, up 12 percent year on year, the state-run Jordan News Agency Petra reported, citing Central Bank of Jordan data.

The US followed with a 19 percent share, then Saudi Arabia (18 percent), Qatar (10 percent) and Kuwait (5 percent).

Total remittances from the the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait came to $673 million in the first quarter. No details were given on Bahrain and Oman.

Outward remittances from Jordan rose by 14 percent year on year to $477 million, the report said.

Egypt was the primary destination, accounting for 41 percent, followed by Bangladesh (12 percent) and the Philippines (5 percent).

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In April Jordan secured about $200 million from the International Monetary Fund to support planned reforms as the country navigates the economic impact of the Iran war.

The IMF estimates economic growth will slow to 2.7 percent in 2026, down from the 3 percent expected before the war. Inflation is forecast to rise modestly to 2.3 percent, driven by higher food and fuel prices.

Jordan launched a stimulus package worth JD760 million ($1 billion) earlier this month to inject fresh liquidity into banks and support tourism. The package follows an emergency plan to manage gas shortages, including rationalising supplies to the industrial sector.