Gulf Diaspora: Investment Remittances Surge

Mumbai, May 6 (PTI) Amid reports of a surge in remittances despite the West Asia conflict, the diaspora is moving beyond routine money transfers to sending funds for investments, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

This transition from obligation-led to strategy-driven remittances marks India's consolidation as the primary wealth creation geography for GCC NRIs, the survey based on 8,300 respondents across the Gulf region said.

Nearly half of the remittances by non-resident Indians (NRIs) based in the Gulf Cooperation Council are driven by investments and retirement planning, the April 2026 report by Equirus Wealth said.

The investment purpose dominated the remittance pool from the Gulf region at 27 per cent, followed by retirement planning (22 per cent) and family support (26 per cent), according to the survey.

The report noted that the shift in remittance behaviour is aligned with a broader change in investment stance, with a majority of investors remaining actively engaged with markets. About 75 per cent of respondents described themselves as either active long-term investors or balanced and selective, indicating a forward-looking approach despite global uncertainties.


Indian equities continue to dominate capital deployment, with 73 per cent of respondents increasing exposure, while fresh allocations are also expected to remain tilted towards domestic markets over other asset classes. At the same time, 40 per cent of respondents are reducing exposure to real estate in India, signalling a migration from physical assets to financial instruments, such as equities and mutual funds.

"A decisive shift is underway from physical to financial assets, with Indian equities seeing strong inflows and real estate witnessing broad-based exits. This is capital waiting to be organised, not just deployed," the report said.

The survey further highlighted that geopolitical developments remain a key concern, cited by a majority of respondents, but behavioural responses are largely measured, focused on higher savings and selective allocation rather than panic-driven exits.

Geopolitical risks remain the dominant concern, with 83 per cent of respondents acknowledging their impact on financial decisions, and the remaining see zero impact.

Risk perception is dominated by the macro and visible: regional geopolitical instability is cited by 41 per cent as their single biggest risk, followed by inflation at 23 per cent, and global market volatility at 13 per cent. Job and visa security, historically a top concern for GCC expatriates, ranks fourth at just 12 per cent, indicating structural confidence in individual income stability even as macro tensions run high, the report said.