Tiger44444f4 at 18:01, 29 January 2026

2026-01-29T18:01:24Z

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{{Related|[[Indian Diaspora]]}}{{Ethnic group
| group = Indian Diaspora in the Middle East
| native_name = {{collapsible list
|titlestyle = text-align:center; font-size:85%;
|title = {{nobold|Other official languages:}}
|{{Infobox|subbox=yes|bodystyle= font-size:80%;
| rowclass1 = mergedrow| label1 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]: | data1 = {{lang|as|মধ্য প্ৰাচ্যত ভাৰতীয় প্ৰবাসী}}

| rowclass2 = mergedrow| label2 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: | data2 = {{lang|bn|মধ্যপ্রাচ্যে ভারতীয় প্রবাসী}}

| rowclass3 = mergedrow| label3 = [[Boro language (India)|Bodo]]: | data3 = {{lang|brx|गेजेर सानजायाव भारतारि थागिबिफोर}}

| rowclass4 = mergedrow| label4 = [[Dogri language|Dogri]]: | data4 = {{lang|doi|मध्य पूर्व च भारती प्रवासी}}

| rowclass5 = mergedrow| label5 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]: | data5 = {{lang|gu|મધ્ય પૂર્વમાં વસતાં ભારતીય સમુદાય}}

| rowclass6 = mergedrow| label6 = [[Hindi]]: | data6 = {{lang|hi|मध्य पूर्व में भारतीय प्रवासी}}

| rowclass7 = mergedrow| label7 = [[Kannada]]: | data7 = {{lang|kn|ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರಾಚ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರತೀಯ ವಲಸಿಗರು}}

| rowclass8 = mergedrow| label8 = [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]: | data8 = {{lang|ks|مشرق وسطیٰ منٛز ہندوستٲنۍ تارکین وطن}}

| rowclass9 = mergedrow| label9 = [[Konkani language|Konkani]]: | data9 = {{lang|kok|मध्य पूर्वेंतलो भारतीय प्रवासी लोक}}

| rowclass10 = mergedrow| label10 = [[Maithili language|Maithili]]: | data10 = {{lang|mai|मध्य पूर्व मे भारतीय प्रवासी}}

| rowclass11 = mergedrow| label11 = [[Malayalam]]: | data11 = {{lang|ml|മിഡിൽ ഈസ്റ്റിലെ ഇന്ത്യൻ പ്രവാസികൾ}}

| rowclass12 = mergedrow| label12 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]: | data12 = {{lang|mr|मध्य पूर्वेतील भारतीय डायस्पोरा}}

| rowclass13 = mergedrow| label13 = [[Meitei language|Meitei]]: | data13 = {{lang|mni|মিধৰাঞ্চলত ভাৰতীয় প্রবাসী}}

| rowclass14 = mergedrow| label14 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]: | data14 = {{lang|ne|मध्यपूर्वमा भारतीय प्रवासी}}

| rowclass15 = mergedrow| label15 = [[Odia language|Odia]]: | data15 = {{lang|or|ମଧ୍ୟପ୍ରାଚ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରବାସୀ ଭାରତୀୟ}}

| rowclass16 = mergedrow| label16 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: | data16 = {{lang|pa|ਮੱਧ ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ}}

| rowclass17 = mergedrow| label17 = [[Sanskrit]]: | data17 = {{lang|sa|मध्यम् पूर्वे भारतीयाः प्रवासिनः}}

| rowclass18 = mergedrow| label18 = [[Santali language|Santali]]: | data18 = {{lang|sat|ᱢᱤᱰᱤᱞ ᱤᱥᱴ ᱨᱮ ᱵᱷᱟᱨᱚᱛᱤᱭᱟᱹ ᱰᱟᱭᱥᱯᱳᱨᱟ}}

| rowclass19 = mergedrow| label19 = [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]: | data19 = {{lang|sd|وچ اوڀر ۾ هندستاني ڊاسپورا}}

| rowclass20 = mergedrow| label20 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: | data20 = {{lang|ta|மத்திய கிழக்கில் இந்திய புலம்பெயர்ந்தோர்}}

| rowclass21 = mergedrow| label21 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]: | data21 = {{lang|te|మధ్యప్రాచ్యంలోని భారతీయ డయాస్పోరా}}

| rowclass22 = mergedrow| label22 = [[Urdu]]: | data22 = {{lang|ur|مشرق وسطیٰ میں مقیم ہندوستانی تارکین وطن}}

}}
}}
| flag = [[File:Flag of India.svg|border|250px]]
| flag_caption = [[Flag of India]]
| population = 7,828,771
| total_ref =
| region1 = {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| pop1 = 3,425,144<ref name="POI"/><ref name="Pew research">{{Cite news |date=3 March 2017 |title=India is a top source and destination for world's migrants |work=Pew Research Center |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/03/india-is-a-top-source-and-destination-for-worlds-migrants/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225053252/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/03/india-is-a-top-source-and-destination-for-worlds-migrants/ |archive-date=25 December 2018}}</ref>
| region2 = {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| pop2 = 1,884,476-2,594,947<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia 2023 Census |work=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008153753/https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |archive-date=8 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Indians Overseas Census |work=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008153753/https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |archive-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>
| region3 = {{flag|Oman}}
| pop3 = 680,000-1,375,667<ref name="Intl Migrant Stock">{{cite web| title =International Migrant Stock 2020| url =https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/international-migrant-stock| date =2020| website =un.org| publisher =United Nations, Population Division| access-date =7 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =International Migrant Stock 2020| url =https://www.indemb-oman.gov.in/eoi.php?id=omanfs}}</ref>
| region4 = {{flag|Kuwait}}
| pop4 = 1,152,175<ref name="External Affairs Report">{{cite web |url=https://www.indembkwt.gov.in/Indian-community.php |title=Brief on Indian Community in Kuwait |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref>
| region5 = {{flag|Bahrain}}
| pop5 = 326,658<ref name="POI">{{cite web |title=Population of Overseas Indians |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |date=15 February 2023 |website=mea.gov.in |publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008153753/https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |archive-date=8 October 2023 |access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref>
| languages = [[Languages of India]]
| religions = [[Hinduism in India|Hinduism]], [[Islam in India|Islam]], [[Sikhism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism in India|Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Christianity in India|Christianity]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], [[Indian Jews|Judaism]]
}}
The Indian diaspora in the [[Middle East]] represents one of the largest and most significant [[expatriate]] communities globally. With historical ties dating back centuries, the contemporary presence of Indians in this region has profound economic, cultural, and social implications. Today, millions of Indians reside across the [[Middle East]], particularly in the [[Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)]] countries, contributing to various sectors, including construction, healthcare, finance, and information technology. Their influence is also evident in local culture, cuisine, and bilateral relations between India and Middle Eastern nations.

== Background ==
India's connections with the Middle East trace back to ancient times, facilitated by trade routes over land and sea.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=Relation Between India and Middle East |url=https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/relation-between-india-and-middle-east/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=GeeksforGeeks |language=en-US}}</ref> Merchants from the Indian subcontinent engaged in commerce with Arab traders, exchanging goods such as [[Indian spices|spices]], [[Textile|textiles]], and [[precious stones]]. The historical maritime routes of the [[Indian Ocean]] fostered deep economic and cultural exchanges between Indian kingdoms and Middle Eastern kingdoms.<ref>{{Cite news |title=How trade brought India and Arabia closer culturally |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-trade-blossomed-an-exchange-of-ideas-between-india-and-arabia/articleshow/89844093.cms |access-date=2025-03-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Ancient records suggest that Indian traders had settlements in ports such as [[Muscat]], [[Basra]], and [[Aden]] as early as the 1st century CE. The influence of Indian goods, including [[indigo]], [[Piperaceae|pepper]], and [[cotton]], played a crucial role in shaping Middle Eastern economies.

During the medieval period, the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empires]] maintained ties, facilitating the movement of scholars, traders, and craftsmen between India and the Middle East. [[Arabic]] and [[Persian language|Persian]] languages had a strong impact on Indian linguistic and literary traditions, while [[Indian mathematics|Indian mathematicians]] and astronomers contributed to Middle Eastern scientific advancements. The cultural fusion extended to architecture, with Indian artisans playing a role in constructing [[Islamic architecture|Islamic structures]] across the region.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hameed |first=Umer |last2=Hameed |first2=Usman |last3=Umer |first3=Saima |date=2020-12-31 |title=A Study of Relations between Mughal India and the Ottoman Empire 1556-1748 |url=https://jhss-uok.com/index.php/JHSS/article/view/107 |journal=Journal of History and Social Sciences |volume=11 |issue=2 |doi=10.46422/jhss.v11i2.107|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Indian Administrative Service - IAS Exam |url=https://prepp.in/news/e-492-foreign-trade-and-european-traders-under-mughals-medieval-india-history-notes |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Prepp |language=en}}</ref>

The 20th century witnessed a significant shift with the discovery of oil in the [[Persian Gulf|Gulf]] region. The ensuing economic boom created a massive demand for labor, attracting a substantial number of Indian workers. This migration intensified in the 1970s and 1980s, marking the beginning of large-scale labor migration from India to the GCC countries. This influx was fueled by India's economic policies, which encouraged overseas employment as a means to bolster foreign exchange reserves through remittances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Educare |first=Scientia |date=2025-01-19 |title=Oil in History: How Oil Shaped Politics and Global Power |url=https://scientiaeducare.com/study-notes-on-oil-in-history-a-century-of-power-and-politics/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Knowledge and Educational Portal |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
As of recent estimates, the Indian population in various Middle Eastern countries is as follows:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!World region / Country
!Articles
! data-sort-type="number" |Overseas Indian population
! data-sort-type="number" |Percentage
!Ref
|-
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|[[Indians in the United Arab Emirates]]
|3,425,144
|36.04%
|<ref name="POI23">{{cite web |date=15 February 2023 |title=Population of Overseas Indians |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008153753/https://www.mea.gov.in/population-of-overseas-indians.htm |archive-date=8 October 2023 |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=[[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] |publisher=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|[[Non-Resident Indians in Saudi Arabia]]
|2,594,947
|7.58%
|<ref name="POI23" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2017 |title=How Saudi Arabia's 'Family Tax' Is Forcing Indians To Return Home |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/21/how-saudi-arabias-family-tax-is-forcing-indians-to-return-hom_a_22494498/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225053253/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/21/how-saudi-arabias-family-tax-is-forcing-indians-to-return-hom_a_22494498/?ec_carp=2819915949931742186 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2017 |title=Indians brace for Saudi 'family tax' |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/middle-east-news/indians-brace-for-saudi-family-tax/articleshow/59243550.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225053328/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/middle-east-news/indians-brace-for-saudi-family-tax/articleshow/59243550.cms |archive-date=25 December 2018 |access-date=21 June 2017 |newspaper=Times of India}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Oman}}
|[[Indians in Oman]]
|1,375,667
|30.77%
|
|-
|{{flag|Kuwait}}
|[[Indians in Kuwait]]
|1,152,175
|25.81%
|<ref name="gulfnews23">{{Cite news |date=30 January 2014 |title=Kuwait MP seeks five-year cap on expat workers' stay |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-mp-seeks-five-year-cap-on-expat-workers-stay-1.1284513 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203246/https://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/kuwait-mp-seeks-five-year-cap-on-expat-workers-stay-1.1284513 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |access-date=21 August 2017 |work=Gulf News}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Qatar}}
|[[Indians in Qatar]]
|702,013
|24.67%
|
|-
|{{flag|Bahrain}}
|[[Indians in Bahrain]]
|326,658
|22.19%
|
|-
|{{flag|Israel}}
|[[Indians in Israel]]
[[Indian Jews in Israel]]
|97,467
|0.7%
|<ref>{{cite web |date=2021 |title=JEWS, BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN(1) AND AGE |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2021/2.shnatonpopulation/st02_08.pdf |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=[[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]] |publisher= |quote=הודו ופקיסטן [India and Pakistan]}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Jordan}}
|
|20,760
|0.19%
|
|-
|{{flag|Yemen}}
|[[Indians in Yemen]]
|10,500
|0.04%
|
|-
|{{flag|Cyprus}}
|[[Indians in Cyprus]]
|7,499
|0.84%
|
|-
|{{flag|Iran}}
|[[Indians in Iran]]
|4,337
|0.01%
|
|-
|{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey]]
|[[Indians in Turkey]]
[[Turkic peoples in India]]
|3,092
|0.004%
|<ref>{{cite web |date=2022 |title=Vatandaşlık ülkesine göre yabancı nüfus |trans-title=Foreign population by country of citizenship |url=https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=The-Results-of-Address-Based-Population-Registration-System-2021-45500 |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=tuik.gov.tr |publisher=Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (Turkish Statistical Institute) |language=tr}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Lebanon}}
|[[Indians in Lebanon]]
|1,311
|0.02%
|
|-
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|[[Indians in Egypt]]
|1,249
|0.001%
|
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}}
|
|234
|0.001%
|
|-
|{{flag|Syria}}
|
|94
|0.0004%
|
|}
Indians form the largest expatriate community in the [[UAE]], comprising over a third of the total population. In [[Saudi Arabia]], Indian workers dominate industries such as construction, retail, and healthcare. [[Oman]] and [[Kuwait]] have long-standing Indian communities, with many families having lived there for multiple generations. In [[Qatar]] and [[Bahrain]], Indian professionals hold key positions in engineering, banking, and academia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anjana |date=2019-11-25 |title=How Indians living in the UAE worked closely with leaders to shape the country |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/how-indians-living-in-the-uae-worked-closely-with-leaders-to-shape-the-country-1.1574662760750 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema |language=en}}</ref>

== Economic contributions ==
Indian expatriates have been instrumental in the development of Middle Eastern economies. They are predominantly employed in sectors such as [[Construction]], [[Health care|Healthcare]], [[Education]], [[Finance]], and [[Information technology]]. Their contributions have been pivotal in transforming the infrastructural and service landscapes of these nations.

* Construction and Infrastructure: Indian laborers form the backbone of the construction industry in the Gulf. Mega projects like Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Qatar’s FIFA World Cup stadiums have been built with significant contributions from Indian workers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constructing Power: The Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the UAE |url=https://the-argonaut.com/comment-4/2023/1/2/constructing-power-the-exploitation-of-migrant-construction-workers-in-the-uae |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=The Argonaut |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last1=Abdul-Aziz |first1=Abdul-Rashid |title=South Asian Migrants and the Construction Sector of the Gulf |date=2018 |work=South Asian Migration in the Gulf: Causes and Consequences |pages=165–189 |editor-last=Chowdhury |editor-first=Mehdi |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-71821-7_9 |access-date=2025-03-15 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-71821-7_9 |isbn=978-3-319-71821-7 |last2=Olanrewaju |first2=Abdul Lateef |last3=Ahmed |first3=Abdullahi Umar |editor2-last=Irudaya Rajan |editor2-first=S.|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* Finance and Business: Many Indian entrepreneurs have established successful businesses in retail, hospitality, and information technology in the Middle East. Indian-owned companies like the [[LuLu Group International]] and the [[Aster DM Healthcare]] network have become household names in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rise of Indian Entrepreneurs in the UAE |url=https://www.indiaspora.org/feature_story/the-rise-of-indian-entrepreneurs-in-the-uae/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Indiaspora |language=en}}</ref>
* Healthcare: Indian doctors, nurses, and medical professionals play a crucial role in the healthcare systems of Middle Eastern countries. Many hospitals and clinics employ Indian medical staff due to their expertise and training.
* Remittances: According to the Reserve Bank of India, Indian workers in the Middle East sent over $50 billion in remittances in 2022 alone, making the region a vital source of foreign exchange for India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-11 |title=Remittances to India: Where does the money come from and What does it mean? |url=https://factly.in/remittances-to-india-where-does-the-money-come-from-and-what-does-it-mean/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=FACTLY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tarun Manjhi |date= |title=TRENDS AND PATTERN OF REMITTANCES FROM ABROAD TO INDIA |url=https://www.srcc.edu/system/files/TRENDS-PATTERN.pdf |journal=Business Analyst |volume=38 |pages=45–57}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Remittance and its impact – Sociology of the Indian Diaspora |url=https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/socp11/chapter/remittance-and-its-impact/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in}}</ref>

== Cultural influence ==
The Indian diaspora has enriched the cultural fabric of the Middle East. [[Indian cuisine]], [[Indian festivals|festivals]], [[Indian music|music]], and [[Cinema of India|cinema]] have found resonance among local populations. [[Bollywood]] movies enjoy immense popularity, and festivals like [[Diwali]] and [[Holi]] are celebrated with enthusiasm across the region.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anshu |first=Aditya |url=https://ujonlinepress.uj.ac.za/index.php/ujp/catalog/book/188 |title=Diaspora in MENA Region and Beyond |date=2024-07-15 |publisher=UJ Press |isbn=978-1-7764893-1-2 |edition=1 |doi=10.36615/9781776489312}}</ref>

== Labor rights and working conditions ==
The treatment of Indian migrant workers in the Middle East has been a subject of international concern. Many Indian workers, particularly in the construction and domestic labor sectors, face harsh working conditions, long hours, and limited legal protections. Many Middle Eastern countries operate under the [[Kafala system|kafala sponsorship system]], which ties workers to their employers and restricts their ability to change jobs or leave the country without permission. This has led to cases of forced labor and human rights abuses.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-01 |title=Understanding the Kafala Migrant Labor System in Qatar and the Middle East at Large, with ILO Senior Migration Specialist Ryszard Cholewinski |url=https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2023/02/01/the-kafala-system-a-conversation-with-ryszard-cholewinski/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Georgetown Journal of International Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Indian diaspora|Middle East]]
[[Category:Indian diaspora in Asia| ]]

Indian diaspora in the Middle East - Revision history

Tiger44444f4 at 18:01, 29 January 2026