A significant wave of Pakistani migration to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been observed, with over 230,000 individuals seeking greener pastures in 2023. This makes the UAE the second most popular destination for Pakistani migrants, accounting for 26.77% of the total South Asian migration to the country.

The UAE already boasts a substantial Pakistani expat community, with 1.7 million residents, making it the second largest in the country.

This influx is driven by a lack of job opportunities in Pakistan, particularly for skilled professionals like doctors, engineers, and IT specialists, raising concerns about a brain drain.

Overall, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region remains the top destination for Pakistani migrants, with 862,625 individuals seeking employment abroad. Saudi Arabia tops the list, welcoming 426,951 Pakistani workers, followed by the UAE.

Other GCC countries attracting Pakistani workers include Oman (60,046), Qatar (55,112), Bahrain (13,345), and Malaysia (20,905).

Pakistani security guard injured in Sydney attack passes away

UK job market on its way back after downturn

UK migrant policy posing risk of ‘failure’ to many universities, report says

Till April 2024, over 13.53 million Pakistanis have officially migrated to over 50 countries for work. The GCC region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, accounts for a significant 96% of these overseas employment registrations.

These Pakistani migrants play a crucial role in the country’s economy, contributing substantial remittances, which are the second largest source of foreign exchange after exports.