Expats are sending record amounts of money out of Saudi. Personal expatriate remittances in Saudi Arabia rose 15% y-o-y in 2025, hitting SAR 165.5 bn, up from SAR 144.2 bn in 2024, according to the latest Saudi Central Bank data (pdf). Saudi nationals aren’t staying still either — their personal outward remittances ticked up 3% to reach SAR 70.4 bn for the year.

A year of sprints and peaks: February 2025 saw a massive 37% y-o-y spike, with outflows jumping to SAR 12.8 bn from SAR 9.3 bn. By March, remittances hit a peak of SAR 15.5 bn — the highest single-month level the Kingdom has seen since mid-2016.

The “leakage” problem

Why the surge? It comes down to the headcount. Since 2017, for every 10 jobs created for Saudis, 14 have gone to expats, according to Semafor. This hiring trend has caused remittances to nearly double since 2017, hitting SAR 156 bn (USD 41.6 bn) in 2Q 2025.

Cultural reforms have yet to curb outbound spending: This outflow of capital in remittances represents “leakage” — money earned in the Kingdom that vanishes from the local cycle instead of being reinvested. This is happening despite social reforms aimed at upgrading culture and entertainment to keep SAR circulating at home, the news outlet said.

How to keep the talent (and the money): Plugging the leak will depend in part on raising living standards and introducing long-term residency. However, the Kingdom currently “targets investors rather than specialized labor,” MENA economist Hamzeh Al Gaaod tells EnterpriseAM. Creating more prospects for Saudis should naturally help reduce the leakage, he said, with the next best step being to attract “expat workers willing and able to settle down in Saudi Arabia.”

The automation curveball

A new challenge is looming… the machines: A recent Pearson study revealed that 23% of jobs held by Saudi nationals are at high risk of automation. Technology is projected to be responsible for half of all local job losses for Saudi nationals, carrying a potential economic sting of SAR 31.64 bn.

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