GCash Drops All Fees for Filipino Transfers to the Middle East — Philippine Congress Pushes for Sector-Wide Waiver
Quick summary: GCash is running two offers. GCash Overseas users in the Gulf pay no fees on bank transfers home, mobile load and bills, refunded as cashback. And from March 12–31, 2026, transfers sent from the Philippines to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman are free, with no minimum amount. Separately, the Philippine House of Representatives adopted Resolution 905 urging all banks and remittance providers to waive or reduce OFW fees amid the Middle East crisis.
Two developments in the Philippines this week could change how the country's roughly 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) send money home:
GCash: two fee waivers for the Middle East
GCash, the Philippines' largest mobile wallet, is running two separate offers. For Filipinos in the Gulf, GCash Overseas users pay no fees on bank transfers to the Philippines, mobile load and bill payments, refunded as cashback. For senders in the Philippines, GCash International Transfer to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman is free from March 12–31, 2026, with no minimum amount.
The timing is significant — rising oil prices driven by Middle East supply disruptions are increasing the cost of living for Filipino workers in the Gulf. GCash is positioning the fee waiver as relief for OFWs who need every dirham and riyal to stretch further.
GCash Fee Waivers: What's Covered
| Offer | Who it's for | What's free | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCash Overseas fee waiver | GCash Overseas users in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman (later also Israel, Lebanon and Jordan) | Bank transfers to the Philippines, mobile load and bill payments, refunded as cashback | From March 4; cashback for March 4–10 credited March 20, for March 11–14 on March 27; later extended to April 30 |
| GCash International Transfer | Senders in the Philippines | Transfers to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman, no minimum amount | March 12–31, 2026 |
Philippine Congress: Waive ALL OFW remittance fees
On March 18, the Philippine House of Representatives passed House Resolution 905, authored by Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, urging banks, remittance centres, and money transfer providers to temporarily waive or reduce fees for all OFW remittances — not just through GCash.
The resolution is non-binding (it cannot force providers to comply), but it sends a strong signal. If major players like Western Union, Remitly, and WorldRemit follow GCash's lead, Filipino workers could save billions of pesos collectively.
Our prediction: GCash's zero-fee promotion is a land-grab for OFW market share, not charity. Expect Remitly and WorldRemit to respond within weeks with competing offers. The congressional resolution gives them political cover to do so. Watch our promo codes page — we'll track every new offer as it launches.
The numbers: why this matters
Philippines Remittance Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Overseas Filipino workers | About 2.2 million (PSA, 2024) |
| Annual remittances | About $40 billion (4th largest globally) |
| From Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar | 6.6%, 4.6% and 2.9% of 2025 cash remittances (BSP) |
What OFWs should do right now
- If you use GCash Overseas in the Gulf, use the waiver while it runs — bank transfers home are refunded as cashback.
- Compare the total PHP received, not just fees — a waived fee does not mean a better exchange rate. Our UAE to Philippines comparison shows what the providers we track deliver on the route.
- Check Saudi Arabia to Philippines rates too — different providers win on different Gulf corridors.
- Watch for competing offers — The congressional resolution may pressure other providers to match. We'll update our promo codes page as new offers appear.
- For USA-based Filipinos — This promo doesn't apply to you, but our USA to Philippines comparison and Philippines transfer guide show the cheapest options from the US.
Every percentage point in fee reduction translates to hundreds of millions of pesos back in Filipino families' pockets. For the cheapest ways to send money to the Philippines from any country, see our complete Philippines guide, best transfer apps, and cheapest international transfers guide.