Indians in Gulf countries exceed 90 lakh mark; UAE hosts largest population

Abu Dhabi: The Indian expatriate population in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has surpassed 90 lakh, according to a statement made by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in Parliament. Indians are employed across a diverse range of sectors in the region, including IT, engineering, banking, fintech, healthcare, as well as cleaning and domestic work.

Among the GCC countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosts the largest number of Indian nationals, totalling 35.5 lakh. Saudi Arabia follows with 26 lakh Indians, while Kuwait ranks third with over 11 lakh. Other GCC nations include Oman with 7.79 lakh Indians, Qatar with 7.45 lakh, and Bahrain with 3.23 lakh. India also leads in terms of the number of ultra-wealthy individuals residing in the Gulf.

The minister further reported that, as of June 30 this year, 1.8 lakh Indians have been granted immigration clearance. In comparison, 3.98 lakh people received clearance during the previous year. Immigration clearance is mandatory for individuals with educational qualifications below the 10th standard and for those seeking employment in specific sectors, including nursing.