- More than 21,000 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf countries between March and July 2026, Parliament heard
- The deportations covered offences ranging from overstaying and begging to forged documents and visa violations
- Saudi Arabia and the UAE recorded the highest number of deportations, with hundreds jailed and blacklisted
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 4 years of experience covering migration and global affairs.
Abu Dhabi, UAE – More than 21,000 Pakistani citizens were deported from Gulf countries in less than five months, according to figures presented to Pakistan’s National Assembly during a Question Hour session on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
Legit.ng reports that the UAE is a top destination for global relocation. It ranks fourth worldwide in the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, scoring exceptionally high for safety, career prospects, modern infrastructure, and smooth administrative processes.
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Breakdown of deportation reasons
Pakistani workers flock to the UAE for jobs in 2026, as Gulf employment stays resilient and remittances reached a record $4.2 billion in May.
As reported on Saturday, August 221, by Khaleej Times, a written response tabled before the assembly showed that 21,951 Pakistani nationals were sent back from Gulf states between March 1 and July 13, 2026. The response was prepared following a query raised by Member of the National Assembly Hameed Hussain.
The figures revealed that absconders made up a significant portion of the total, with 4,628 deported, 1,294 jailed, and 968 blacklisted. Beyond absconders, 1,155 deportations were linked to lost passports, 689 to visa violations, and 342 were cases of refused entry into Gulf countries. Overstaying, begging, and forged documentation were also cited among the reasons for removal.
Nine Pakistani nationals were deported from the United Arab Emirates specifically through an Interpol process.
UAE and Saudi lead deportations
Saudi Arabia recorded the highest number of deportations among the Gulf states. The kingdom sent back 3,921 absconders and deported a further 1,924 Pakistanis for visa-related offences. The UAE deported 636 absconders and 347 individuals for visa violations, while Oman deported 295 people for similar reasons.
The figures, now part of the official parliamentary record, reflect the scale of Pakistani emigration to the Gulf and the range of legal issues that can arise when workers or residents fall foul of host country regulations.
Source: Getty Images
Read more on visa applications
UAE sets minimum salary for workers
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classified workers into nine professional levels based on international occupational standards.
The ministry published the recognised job categories, ranging from legislators and executives to workers in simple professions.
A minimum monthly salary figure applies to all workers covered under the nine professional classification levels in the UAE.
Source: Legit.ng