More than half of the 62 million people in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are foreign workers.
Nearly 62 million people living in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been caught in the crossfire of the latest US-Israel war on Iran.
Known for their economic opportunities, these countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), collectively host nearly 35 million foreign workers from around the world, predominantly from South Asia.
With the exception of Saudi Arabia and Oman, foreign workers make up the bulk of the populations of people living in the remaining four GCC countries.
The map below illustrates the national and non-national populations in each of the GCC countries.
Generations of foreign workers in the GCC countries have significantly contributed to the workforce, including labourers, construction workers, household staff, security personnel, and cleaners, all vital to building the modern infrastructures that Gulf nations are known for.
Millions consider the Gulf their home, despite holding nationalities from other countries.
Additionally, highly skilled foreign workers have a long history in industries such as banking, finance, technology, engineering, aviation, medicine and the media.
According to Global Media Insight, a digital marketing agency based out of the UAE, the 10 largest groups of non-nationals living across the six GCC countries are from:
Saudi Arabia is the largest of the six GCC countries, with a population of nearly 37 million.
The six largest groups of non-nationals living in Saudi Arabia are people from:
The United Arab Emirates has the second-largest population in the GCC, totaling some 11.5 million people.
Emiratis make up nearly 12 percent of the population, with foreigners at almost 88 percent.
The six largest groups of non-nationals living in the UAE are from:
With a population of 4.8 million, Kuwait has the third-largest population in the GCC.
The six largest groups of non-nationals living in Kuwait are from:
Oman’s population stands at approximately 4.7 million people. Oman’s 2.5 million citizens account for nearly 59 percent of the population, while the remaining 2.05 million (or 41 percent) are foreign workers.
The six largest groups of non-nationals living in Qatar are from:
With a total population of 1.58 million, Bahrain has the smallest population in the GCC. Bahraini citizens make up just under half of the population.
