GCash Drops All Fees for Filipino Transfers to the Middle East — Philippine Congress Pushes for Sector-Wide Waiver
GCash is offering zero-fee transfers to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman through March 31. Meanwhile, the Philippine House passed a resolution urging all providers to waive OFW remittance fees.
Quick summary: GCash is offering zero-fee international transfers to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman through March 31, 2026 — no minimum amount. Separately, the Philippine House of Representatives passed Resolution 905 urging all banks and remittance providers to waive OFW fees amid the Middle East crisis. If you're an OFW in the Gulf, act before March 31.
Two developments in the Philippines this week could reshape how over 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) send money home:
GCash: Zero fees to the Middle East through March 31
GCash, the Philippines' largest mobile wallet with over 90 million users, launched a zero-fee international transfer promotion covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman from March 12–31, 2026. No minimum amount. Most transfers credited same-day.
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 Waiver: What's Covered
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Promo period | March 12–31, 2026 |
| Countries covered | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman |
| GCash Overseas accounts | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman |
| Minimum amount | None |
| Fees waived | Bank transfers, mobile load, bill payments |
| Delivery speed | Same-day (most transfers) |
| Retroactive cashback | Transactions from March 4–10 credited on March 20 |
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 |
|---|---|
| OFWs worldwide | 10+ million |
| Annual remittances | $40+ billion (4th largest globally) |
| From Gulf states | ~30% of total ($12B+) |
| Average remittance cost to PH | 4.9% (World Bank) |
| Potential annual savings at 0% fees | $600M+ back to Filipino families |
What OFWs should do right now
- Use GCash for zero-fee transfers through March 31 — this is the cheapest it will get. No minimum amount, covers the key Gulf countries.
- Compare the total PHP received, not just fees — GCash waives fees but still applies an exchange rate markup. Our UAE to Philippines comparison shows whether GCash's zero-fee offer beats Remitly and Wise on total value received.
- 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.
