He works in a foreign country and sends his zakaah to his homeland
Question

                Some people working abroad live in a country where there are poor and needy people, but despite that they send their zakaah to their homeland. Is this acceptable?.
Praise be to Allah.
    The basic principle concerning zakaah is that it should be 
    given to the poor of the country where the wealth on which it is paid is, 
    and it should not be transferred elsewhere unless there is a need or an 
    interest to be served. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him) said to Mu‘aadh when he sent him to Yemen: “…teach them that Allaah has 
    enjoined on them charity (zakaah) to be taken from their rich and given to 
    their poor …” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1395; Muslim, 19. 

    If he transfers it when there is no need or interest to be 
    served, then he has done wrong, but it is still acceptable and he is not to 
    be instructed to pay it again. 

    It says in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘ (2/263): It is not 
    permissible to transfer it from the place where it is as far as the distance 
    at which it becomes permissible to shorten prayers, even if it is being 
    transferred to a relative or because of severe need or to be given to other 
    categories of people who are entitled to zakaah. However, if he goes against 
    that ruling and does that, it is acceptable because of the general meaning 
    of the texts and because he has given it to one who is entitled to it, so it 
    is paid off, like a debt. End quote. 

    It says in al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah (23/332): 
    Moreover, if you transfer zakaah without a good reason for doing so, as 
    mentioned above, the Hanafis and Shaafa‘is, and the Hanbalis, are of the 
    view that it is acceptable, because it was not given to anyone other than 
    the eight categories (of those who are entitled to zakaah). The Maalikis say 
    that if he transfers it to a place where there are poor people whose need is 
    equal to that of those who are in the place where he is living, it is 
    acceptable even though it is haraam, and if he transfers it to people who 
    are in less need than them, it is not acceptable, according to what was 
    stated by Khaleel and al-Dardeer. ad-Dasooqi said: The correct view is that 
    it is valid in any case. End quote. 

    Note: 

    The authors of al-Mawsoo‘ah quote the Shafaa‘is as 
    saying that if zakaah is transferred to another land, it is acceptable. 
    There are two opinions concerning this matter that have been narrated from 
    Imam al-Shaafa‘i (may Allah have mercy on him; the more correct view 
    according to his companions is that it is not acceptable. See: al-Majmoo‘, 
    6/212; Asna al-Mataalib, 1/403; Futoohaat al-Wahhaab, 4/109. 

    Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (may Allah have mercy on him) 
    was asked about the ruling on transferring zakaah to another land that is as 
    far away as the distance at which shortening prayers becomes permissible or 
    further. 

    He replied: There are two scholarly opinions concerning this 
    matter. The well-known view according to later scholars is that it is not 
    allowed, unless there are no poor people in the land where the wealth is. 
    The other opinion is that it is permissible if there is an interest to be 
    served by transferring it. This view was favoured by Shaykh Taqiy ad-Deen. 
    Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab said, and this is the view 
    we adopt, that it is acceptable. And it is valid according to both views

    End quote from Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, 
    4/98 

    He also said: Those who are of this opinion differed as to 
    whether zakaah is acceptable in this case or not. The well-known opinion is 
    that it is acceptable even though it is haraam or makrooh to transfer it.

    End quote from Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, 
    4/99 

    To sum up: Zakaah should be given in the land where the 
    wealth is, unless there is a legitimate purpose to be served by transferring 
    it elsewhere, in which case there is nothing wrong with doing that. 
    Legitimate interests in this regard include transferring it to one’s 
    relatives, because that will bring a greater reward, or transferring it to 
    people who are in greater need. This has been discussed in the answer to 
    question no. 43146. 

    And Allah knows best.