Cited by 2Diaspora, migration, transnational identityMigration and Labor DynamicsMigration, Ethnicity, and Economy

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 10 of the 10 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 14 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Navigating Indian Diaspora Dynamics in Gulf Countries: Challenges and Opportunities

Open access
Dar, Zahoor, Janbaz, Shanaza·2024·Journal of Political Science and International Relations

Abstract

India has had a longstanding relationship with the Gulf region that is variously understood as part and parcel of 'neighbourhood policy', 'civilisational affinities in the peninsular regions', and historically as exorable from the colonial space. India also made several bilateral agreements with Gulf countries after bifurcation; thus, it has minimal exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The intricate tapestry of Indian expatriate communities in Gulf nations epitomises a confluence of demographic shifts and socio-economic transformations. This discourse endeavours to elucidate the multifaceted challenges and latent opportunities arising from the evolving population dynamics of Indian nationals in these territories. Against the backdrop of labour migration, cultural integration, and geopolitical factors, this analysis seeks to illuminate the social and cultural implications as well as the entrepreneurial opportunities inherent within this diaspora. By delving into the intersections of identity, economic contribution, and transnational affiliations, this examination posits that a nuanced understanding of these dynamics is imperative for harnessing the benefits while mitigating the adversities encountered by Indian populations in the Gulf region. This paper focuses on Indians working in the GCC countries. It covers the historical backdrop of Indian settlement in the Gulf, the contemporary demographic profile, and the economic and social contribution to their host countries, the challenges they face in the Gulf countries, and the emerging opportunities as India continues to grow and the Gulf countries seek to diversify their economies.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review article surveys the historical, demographic, economic, legal, and cultural dimensions of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf Cooperation Council states, arguing that the community is both indispensable to Gulf economies and structurally vulnerable under host-country labour regimes. It concludes that a collaborative approach among governments, community organisations, and the diaspora is needed to reduce exploitation while expanding skilled-sector opportunities.

Key findings

  • Indian emigrants number around 9 million, and remittances from the Gulf are estimated at approximately $48 billion annually — about half of India's total remittance inflows — while one-third of all global remittances are directed toward the Gulf States.
  • Indians are the largest immigrant group in the Gulf (2010 data); roughly 40% are aged 25–34, and over 50% of the Indian community in Oman and the UAE fall into the "Not Classifiable Occupation" category. Semi-skilled and unskilled workers are concentrated in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while skilled occupational classes are most significant in Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait.
  • Economic contribution is substantial: over three million Indians work in Gulf healthcare alone; migrant workers reportedly save 55%–75% of wages; and from 1990 to 2010 Indians generated over $100 billion in business and remitted more than $220 billion collectively from the Gulf.
  • Challenges centre on the iqama/work-permit system, job insecurity, exploitation of stranded workers, inadequate host-country legal protection, and unsupportive public sentiment toward long-term expatriate integration; opportunities lie in skilled sectors (healthcare, engineering, IT), tax-free salaries, training, and entrepreneurship.

Methods

  • Design: a descriptive, non-empirical review/commentary organised into eight thematic sections (historical context, demographic profile, economic contributions, challenges, opportunities, government support, future trends, conclusion).
  • Data: secondary sources only — cited literature (16 references) plus figures attributed to 2010 data, UNCTAD 2020, the Economic Survey 2016-17, and reports of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs workshops across six states.
  • Analysis: narrative synthesis and interpretation; no stated quantitative modelling, sampling, or statistical procedure.

Limitations

  • The paper states no limitations section; it does declare no conflicts of interest and asserts that informed consent was obtained from all participants, which is inconsistent with a text that reports no primary data collection (evident from the text).
  • Reliance on dated and secondary figures — notably 2010 demographic data and a 2015 layoff forecast presented as future-looking — limits the currency of the demographic and labour-market claims (evident from the text).
  • Several claims are asserted without sourcing or are internally inconsistent (e.g., the conclusion cites a diaspora "exceeding ten million" against the earlier estimate of around 9 million emigrants), and the discussion of Singapore-based Indian firms sits outside the stated Gulf focus (evident from the text).

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.11648/j.jpsir.20240704.16

Cites

10 of 10 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

6 Sources not found · 5 No full text of the sources · 3 Not checked yet · 3 Own interpretation

Verify all 3 references — free account
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 10
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 5
13 of 13
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Indian remittances from the Gulf region are approximately $48 billion annually, constituting about half of India's total remittance inflows.

    “Currently, Indian remittances from the Gulf region are estimated to reach approximately $48 billion annually, constituting about half of India's total remittance inflows.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    One-third of all global remittances are directed toward the Gulf States.

    “Furthermore, it is noteworthy that one-third of all global remittances are directed toward the Gulf States, underlining the critical need for India to cultivate robust relations with the GCC States.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Indians constitute the largest expatriate community globally, with 85% residing in countries near the Gulf region, particularly within the GCC nations.

    “Indians constitute the largest expatriate community globally, with an impressive 85% residing in countries near the Gulf region, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council nations.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The contributions of Indians are vital to the Gulf's development, with over three million employed in the healthcare sector alone.

    “The contributions of Indians are vital to the Gulf's development, with over three million employed in the healthcare sector alone.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Migrant workers often manage to save 55%-75% of their wages.

    “Moreover, migrant workers often manage to save an impressive 55%-75% of their wages, reinforcing the economic benefits they bring back to India.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Expatriates in the Gulf face systemic challenges regarding their job permanency, impacting their legal and labour rights.

    “Expatriates in the Gulf face systemic challenges regarding their job permanency, impacting their legal and labour rights.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Public sentiment in numerous Gulf states remains unsupportive of greater integration of long-term expatriates.

    “Despite calls for greater integration of long-term expatriates into society, public sentiment in numerous Gulf states remains unsupportive, suggesting a pressing need for policies that encourage a more inclusive approach to cultural coexistence.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Gulf region offers numerous opportunities for Indian groups and the private sector, characterised by competitive salaries, appealing lifestyle, robust service industry, well-established legal frameworks, and favourable sovereign risk profile.

    “The Gulf region offers numerous opportunities for Indian groups and the private sector, characterised by competitive salaries.It boasts an appealing lifestyle and a robust service industry, supported by well-established legal frameworks and a favourable sovereign risk profile.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The demand for skilled workers has decreased, leading to more limited opportunities for less educated and less skilled migrants.

    “The demand for skilled workers has decreased, leading to a situation where opportunities for less educated and less skilled migrants are becoming more limited.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The demand for highly skilled professionals is expected to grow significantly, while opportunities for supervisory roles, skilled workers, and unskilled labour will be quite limited.

    “The demand for highly skilled professionals is expected to grow significantly, while opportunities for supervisory roles, skilled workers, and unskilled labour will be quite limited.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Indian diaspora in the Gulf represents a diverse demographic exceeding ten million individuals.

    “Despite a shared linguistic bond through Hindi, this diaspora represents a remarkably diverse demographic exceeding ten million individuals.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Kafala system creates an environment that can lead to exploitation and marginalisation of workers.

    “The Kafala system, for instance, has long been criticised for creating an environment that can lead to exploitation and marginalisation of workers.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The region's rapid economic development and diversification efforts have led to a growing demand for skilled labour in healthcare, engineering, and information technology.

    “The region's rapid economic development and diversification efforts have led to a growing demand for skilled labour-especially in sectors like healthcare, engineering, and information technology.”
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Citations

Cites

Show all 9 references

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Anshu, A. Diaspora in the MENA Region and Beyond. UJ Press.
  2. Biswas, A. (2021). Changing dynamics of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf Region. In New Perspectives on the Indian Diaspora (pp. 125-140). Routledge India.
  3. Khanday, A. H. (2019). Indian Diaspora in GCC countries: Challenges and Prospects. Think India Journal, 22(14), 15263-15280.
  4. Nayudu, T. (2022). The Indian Diaspora in the Gulf States (Doctoral dissertation, Masarykova univerzita, Fakulta sociálních studií).

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Metadata

Authors
Dar, Z., & Janbaz, S.
Affiliations
University of Kashmir (IN)
Corresponding author
Dar, Zahoor
Venue
Journal of Political Science and International Relations
Published
2024-12-23
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
135-141
ISSN
  • 2640-2769 (ISSN-L)
  • 2640-2785
OpenAlex
W4406117637
Cited by
2
References
9
Citations by year
2025: 2
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
Journal of Political Science and International Relations (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Diaspora, migration, transnational identity
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration and Labor Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy
Keywords
Indian diaspora, Gulf states, Indian expatriates, labor migration, cultural integration, transnational identity, diaspora entrepreneurship, India–Gulf relations, Gulf Cooperation Council, economic diversification, demographic change

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