Migration of Indians to Gulf countries including Saudi, UAE drops 62% over 5 years

coastaldigest.com web desk
January 12, 2019

Newsroom, Jan 12: The number of Indian workers emigrating to Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf countries has declined sharply in last few years thanks to the economic slowdown in the Middle East triggered by weak oil prices.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs of Indian government, emigration clearances granted to Indians headed to the Gulf for employment have dropped by 21%, standing at 2.95 lakh during the 11-month period ended November 30, 2018, as compared to 2017.

The five-year outflow of Indian workers to Gulf peaked in 2014 at 7.76 lakh. Compared to that figure, the decline in 2018 is as high as 62%. These statistics are drawn from the e-Migrate emigration clearance data, which captures emigration clearances issued to workers holding ECR (emigration check required) passports.

As of the middle of 2015, Indians made up one-third of the migrants to the six oil-rich Arab countries – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar – and accounted for 15% of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries' entire population, according to data from the United Nations Population Division's 'International Migrant Stock 2015'.

During 2018, the largest outflow was to UAE, comprising 1.03 lakh (or 35%) of the total workers granted emigration clearances. This was followed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait with 65,000 and 52,000 workers headed to these countries.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia had relinquished its position as the most attractive destination among Gulf countries for Indian workers. In 2014, nearly 3.30 lakh workers had migrated to Saudi Arabia-over a five-year period the decline has been a sharp 80%.

According to a reply given by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Lok Sabha, last December, there are several reasons for the decrease in numbers. "Prominent among them is that the Gulf countries are passing through a period of economic slowdown primarily because of the slump in oil prices. Coupled with this, the Gulf countries are aiming at filling up maximum posts both in public and private sector with their own nationals."

Comments

AU, Mangalore
 - 
Sunday, 13 Jan 2019

T

he world is suffering economically due to bad leaders and their phylosophy about other religion. Due to unwanted wars and its expenses, Today entire world and people sufeering due to their failue in handling countries. Population increasing and the requirements also should increase but why economy is going down? We cannot find leaders like Mr. Manmohan singh in entire life. No politicians bothered about others personal problems. All are selfish people and using vote bank to lure the citizen. No smile on anyones face now due to bad economy and price hike. Peace in life went away.

Joseph Stalin
 - 
Saturday, 12 Jan 2019

There are many jobs in India. We are hesitate to do jobs in India. We think about status, position. But if he/she goes to arab countries, will do all kind of job

Unknown
 - 
Saturday, 12 Jan 2019

Feku doesnt bothered about Indians job. He's promoting pakoda and tea selling. If Arab countries also ignoring Indians means there is something to worry

Suresh
 - 
Saturday, 12 Jan 2019

They given salary but still people from India made Arab countries bigger. Thier efforts made them developed

Mohan
 - 
Saturday, 12 Jan 2019

Arab countries started ignoring Indian workers. 

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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