Begging, drugs, overstaying: 6 reasons why 22,000 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi, UAE and other GCC nations in less than 5 months
More than 70 per cent of the deported Pakistani nationals were from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom sent back 15,500 Pakistanis between March 1 and July 13, according to figures made public in Pakistan's National Assembly
A significant wave of Pakistani deportations has occurred from Gulf nations, with nearly 22,000 citizens expelled in under five months, primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Violations cited include begging, drug offences, illegal entry, and overstaying visas, reflecting broader concerns about the conduct of some Pakistani expatriates in the region.
A significant wave of Pakistani deportations has occurred from Gulf nations, with nearly 22,000 citizens expelled in under five months, primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Violations cited include begging, drug offences, illegal entry, and overstaying visas, reflecting broader concerns about the conduct of some Pakistani expatriates in the region.
A significant wave of Pakistani deportations has occurred from Gulf nations, with nearly 22,000 citizens expelled in under five months, primarily from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Violations cited include begging, drug offences, illegal entry, and overstaying visas, reflecting broader concerns about the conduct of some Pakistani expatriates in the region.
Nearly 22,000 Pakistani citizens were deported from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations in less than five months since March.
More than 70 per cent of the deported Pakistani nationals were from Saudi Arabia. The kingdom sent back 15,500 Pakistanis between March 1 and July 13, according to figures made public in Pakistan's National Assembly.
The UAE reported 3,803 cases, followed by Oman with 1,606 deportations, Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429 and Kuwait with 97. In total, 21,956 people were deported from the Gulf nations. These figures does not count Pakistanis who left voluntarily or went back to the GCC nation with valid documents.
Pakistan's Narcotics Control Ministry acknowledged that its nationals were deported due to a wide range of violations. These include begging, drug abuse and peddling, illegal entry, overstaying, security threats and improper documents.
Among the deportees, 4,628 were absconders while 1,294 were those who spent time in jail in various cases and 1,155 deportees reportedly lost their passport.
The Gulf nations also blacklisted 968 Pakistanis. At least 689 were returned home for violating visa norms and 342 were deported after they were barred from entering.
The Pakistani government put the remaining 6,000-plus cases under 'Others' category. Some of these reportedly include those who captured or posted videos of Iranian attacks during the war that started on February 28.
This comes two days after Pakistani MP Asad Qaiser alleged that he and other Pakistani fliers were denied accommodation at a UAE hotel after their flights were cancelled.
A 2024 report claimed that Pakistani beggars remit $42 billion, which is more than 12 per cent of the country's GDP. Within Pakistan, there was an estimated 38 million beggars, as per figures from 2024.
In November 2025, the Pakistani interior ministry revealed that the UAE and Saudi Arabia temporarily stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens as many of them were begging or "getting involved in criminal activities." Around 1.9 million Pakistani expatriates are reportedly living and working in the UAE.