The region, long seen as a hub of opportunity, is now grappling with uncertainty due to rising geopolitical tensions. Nearly 62 million people living in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are caught up in the broader impact of the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, with foreign workers making up a significant portion of this population.Indians are the largest expatriate group in the GCC, with approximately 9.1 million people living and working in the region, the highest among all nationalities.The GCC bloc, which includes the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, has built much of its economic strength on migrant labour. Of the total population of about 62 million, about 35 million are foreign workers, many of whom are from South Asia. In many countries, migrants outnumber citizens by a large margin.According to a report by Al Jazeera, the largest expatriate communities in the GCC are:
- India: 9.1 million
- Bangladesh: 5.04 million
- Pakistan: 4.9 million
- Egypt: 3.3 million
- Philippines: 2.2 million
- Yemen: 2.2 million
- Nepal: 1.2 million
- Sudan: 1.1 million
These workers are present at every level of the economy. Many people are employed in construction, domestic work, security and cleaning roles that support daily life. At the same time, a large number of skilled professionals work in sectors like banking, finance, technology, engineering, aviation, healthcare and media. For many expatriates, the Gulf country has become a long-term home despite holding foreign citizenship.Country-wise data shows how deeply migrant workers are embedded in the region.Saudi Arabia, the largest GCC country, has a population of approximately 37 million. There are approximately 20.5 million citizens, while 16.4 million are foreign residents. The largest migrant groups include:
- Bangladesh: 2,590,000
- India: 2,310,000
- Pakistan: 2,230,000
- Yemen: 2,210,000
- Egypt: 1,800,000
- Sudan: 1,000,000
The population of the United Arab Emirates is approximately 11.5 million, of which expatriates constitute about 88 percent and citizens about 12 percent. Its largest foreign communities are:
- India: 4,360,000
- Pakistan: 1,900,000
- Bangladesh: 840,000
- Philippines: 780,000
- Iran: 540,000
- Egypt: 480,000
Kuwait’s population is approximately 4.8 million. Of these, approximately 1.56 million are citizens and 3.3 million are expatriates. The main foreign groups include:
- India: 1,152,000
- Egypt: 666,000
- Bangladesh: 350,000
- Pakistan: 339,000
- Philippines: 241,000
- Nepal: 101,000
Oman has a population of approximately 4.7 million, of which approximately 2.5 million are citizens and 2.05 million are foreign workers. The largest expatriate communities are:
- India: 766,735
- Bangladesh: 718,856
- Pakistan: 268,868
- Egypt: 46,970
- Philippines: 45,213
About 3.2 million people live in Qatar, of which foreign workers account for about 2.87 million or 88 percent, while citizens number about 330,000. The major migrant groups are:
- India: 700,000
- Bangladesh: 400,000
- Nepal: 400,000
- Egypt: 300,000
- Philippines: 236,000
- Pakistan: 180,000
Bahrain, the smallest country in the GCC, has a population of about 1.58 million. The number of citizens is less than half, while migrants constitute a large number. The main foreign communities include:
- India: 350,000
- Bangladesh: 110,000
- Pakistan: 100,000
- Philippines: 60,000
- Egypt: 22,000
- Nepal: 20,000
The dependence on migrant workers in the Gulf is rooted in structural factors. The region’s rapid economic growth, largely driven by oil revenues, created an immediate and sustained demand for labor in sectors such as construction, transportation, and services. Additionally, the local population in these countries remained relatively small, making it difficult to meet this demand domestically.Over the years, this gap was filled by foreign workers, who now constitute a significant part of the workforce. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), migrant workers constitute between 76 percent and 95 percent of the labor force in GCC countries, especially in sectors such as construction and domestic work, where their presence is almost universal.The private sector, in particular, depends heavily on migrants. Employers often prefer foreign workers due to lower salary expectations and greater flexibility in hiring. Meanwhile, many citizens opt for government jobs, which are seen as more stable and better paying. This dynamism has given rise to a system where migrant labor is not temporary but deeply embedded in the functioning of Gulf economies.In the GCC, migrant workers remain at the center of economic activity. From building infrastructure to running key services and contributing to particular industries, their role is deeply embedded in the growth story of the region. As tensions continue to escalate, the impact on this large and diverse population remains significant.