In recent years, the feminisation of migration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has become more prominent, marking a significant shift from earlier periods. Historically, women have been viewed as secondary or associational actors, from accompanying male counterparts to moving more independently. The movement of women in and out of MENA has evolved into a primary driver of regional labour markets and social restructuring. Additionally, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) observed in its 2025 report that women constitute a substantial and growing share of the region's international migrant stock. Moreover, what are the structural drivers behind the growing numbers, the unique hazards faced by female migrants, and the resulting impacts?
According to IOM (2025), as of mid-2024, among the 14.6 crore global female migrants, the shares in the Middle Eastern region and North African region were 34.8 per cent and 45.2 per cent, respectively, including both legal (labour migrants) and illegal migrants. Compared with 2020, the total percentage in the Middle East has declined by 0.4 per cent, while in North Africa it has increased by 1.6 per cent. Among women migrants across the MENA region, Israel has the highest share at 54.4 per cent, whereas Oman has the lowest at 19.8 per cent. In the GCC, Kuwait has the largest share at 34 per cent, followed by the UAE (32.7%), Bahrain (26.6%), Qatar (22.7%), Saudi Arabia (22.3%), and Oman (19.8%). Moreover, in North Africa, Morocco (48.5%) records the highest share, followed by Tunisia (47.7%), Algeria (47.2%), Egypt (47.1%), and Libya (28.2%).
Meanwhile, the high number of female migrants in MENA is not due to a single factor but to a convergence of economic necessity, environmental concerns, and regional tensions. First, economic stagnation in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Lebanon has pushed highly educated women to seek opportunities abroad, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors of the GCC countries. Additionally, the demand for domestic and day-care work in wealthier Gulf Monarchies serves as a powerful pull factor for women migrants.
Secondly, environmental changes are among the important factors driving migration. Rising global temperatures have affected around 90 million people in the region. Agriculture, a primary source of income for many countries, has been significantly affected by declining rainfall and severe water scarcity. In Yemen, drought has disproportionately devastated women, forcing them to walk for hours to get water while facing increased risks of violence, malnutrition, and displacement.
Thirdly, protracted conflict in the region (Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria) has altered the conditions for migrants. Conflict-induced displacement has often resulted in female-headed households, with women navigating international borders to ensure their children's safety. However, this forced autonomy has significantly contributed to the high number of women recorded in migrant stocks, who have transitioned from traditional roles to become the primary breadwinners of the family.
Although migration offers a path to empowerment and change, the reality is perilous because of systemic exploitation and physical danger. The IOM emphasises that the risks of migration are not gender-neutral, particularly along the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes, where sexual and gender-based violence is endemic. Reports also highlight that women lacking the financial means to pay smugglers are frequently subjected to transactional abuse.
Similarly, women labour migrants’ conditions are dire, and in some countries, the Kafala system has led to greater exploitation, including lower wages, confiscation of passports, and physical or psychological abuse. According to the Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) (2002-23), 99.7 per cent were exploited in Kuwait, followed by 96.3 per cent in Jordan.
Ultimately, the data shows that female migrants are no longer passive actors in the migration narrative; instead, they are strategic navigators of a complex regional landscape marked by challenges. The large number of women migrating into and through MENA requires immediate action by regional governments to provide the legal and social protections needed to turn these challenges into true empowerment.
The author is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.