In the picture
Pakistani construction workers carrying out construction work in the Saudi city of Medina [khadim-un-nabi Rao].
The Persian Gulf is today one of the most attractive destinations for foreign workers, especially those in nearby countries, due to economic opportunities in the construction, agriculture, oil, trade and other services sectors. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two of the region's leading economies, have become magnets for millions of migrants in search of better job opportunities than those in their home countries.
Through the 'kafala' system, a sponsorship system for migrant workers, the immigration status of workers is regulated in order to enter the legal system of the destination country and avoid undeclared work . However, this system has been highly criticized for allowing situations of abuse by employers, as workers find themselves in a vulnerable status where they cannot demand a better attention if they want to keep their legal status and their work.
This social isolation can lead to a radicalization of individuals, more specifically in those who profess Islam, which would also be indirectly supported by these states. Radicalized individuals would return to their countries of origin with this mentality, which is why there has even been talk of how states that practice Wahhabism (especially Saudi Arabia) "export" radicalized individuals (in this case former migrant workers), who will be in charge of spreading their ideas in their countries of origin.
The 'kafala' system
The 'kafala'sponsorship) system, existing in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, is a labor sponsorship model where migrant workers are completely dependent on their employer (the 'kafil') for their visa, employment and legal status. This system gives the employer legal power over their employee, including restrictions on changing work or leaving the country. This system has been criticized for allowing abusive working conditions, even being considered a form of labor exploitation and modern slavery.
New reforms to the 'kafala' system have addressed elements such as the possibility of leaving the country or changing work without the sponsor's permission, as well as the possibility of remaining in the country after the end of the contract. However, core topic such as access to grievance mechanisms, the establishment of a fixed minimum wage and social protection, and effective access to justice have not been reformed. Although recent reforms have eased some restrictions, it is true that many cases of employee abuse still occur.
The case of Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, about 33% of the country's total population (approximately 11 million people) are workers of foreign origin. These migrants come mostly from South and Southeast Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Many migrants from Arab countries such as Egypt and Sudan also arrive in search of better opportunities. Individuals who come to work in Saudi Arabia are mostly employed in agriculture, cleaning services, construction and domestic services.
In 2021 Saudi Arabia implemented the Labor Reform Initiative(LRI), with the purpose of making the 'kafala' system more flexible and giving more freedom to migrant workers. One of the most important reforms that have been implemented with this initiative is the possibility for workers to change employment, and to be able to leave the country without the need for employer approval. However, there are issues that remain to be resolved, such as the lack of a strong mechanism within the government to ensure that these reforms are implemented correctly. Despite progress, more comprehensive measures are needed to address abuses and protect labor rights.
The case of UAE
The United Arab Emirates has a major foreign presence: approximately 80% of the country's population is made up of migrant workers (approximately 8.7 million workers). Dubai and Abu Dhabi are centers that attract millions of workers from various regions such as India (3.5 million), Pakistan (950,000), Philippines (470,000), Bangladesh (1 million). There are also large numbers of migrants from Nepal, Sri Lanka and several African countries such as Nigeria and Kenya.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, there is a large presence of highly skilled Europeans and Americans currently working in the UAE, especially in sectors such as technology, finance and Education. The UAE has implemented free zones and long-term residency program policies to attract such highly skilled talent. However, for unskilled workers, the challenges are similar to those of workers in Saudi Arabia, with working conditions that are often criticized by human rights organizations.
Social exclusion and radicalization
Beyond labor conditions, migrants in Saudi Arabia and UAE face systematic social exclusion that deepens their vulnerability. Strict naturalization policies turn these migrants into 'permanent outsiders', as not only is their access to citizenship limited, but also to permanent residential rights, perpetuating their unstable legal status and hindering their integration.
Social segregation is reinforced by cultural and linguistic barriers, as well as legal restrictions that make it difficult for migrants to access public services and opportunities for social participation. As a result, many workers end up isolated in closed communities, limiting their interactions with the local population and reinforcing a sense of alienation. This isolation, combined with abusive working conditions and, in most cases, economic precariousness, increases migrants' stress and their search for support in religious networks, where extremist ideologies can more easily infiltrate.
Religious radicalization can also be a consequence of social and labor exclusion. When migrants find it very difficult to integrate into local communities, religious communities become the most important emotional and social support space they need. While these communities may not be extremist per se, isolation can facilitate the infiltration of radical groups that exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of migrants to their advantage. Moreover, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where a strict interpretation of Islam (Wahhabism) is predominant, migrants who do not identify with this current may feel discriminated against, which increases their sense of exclusion and increases their vulnerability to polarizing ideologies.
Another worrying aspect of radicalization is the transnational impact it can have. Some radicalized migrants return to their home countries with polarized ideas that can influence their local communities. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has been singled out for its role in promoting Wahhabism, raising concerns about the 'export' of extremist ideologies through migrant workers, who will carry these ideologies back to their home countries. For example, in the case of Saudi Arabia, the Saudis seek to influence especially Pakistanis through religion with political motives (driving Iranian influence away from Pakistan).
Task ahead
In order to address the problems of social exclusion and radicalization of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it is important to implement policies that not only improve the working conditions of workers but also implement social integration policies. Recent reforms to the 'kafala' system have undoubtedly been a step towards the latter, but more reforms are still needed to ensure that basic labor rights are enforced to avoid cases of abuse by employers.
Thus, it is essential to foster spaces for integration where language and cultural barriers can be overcome. Additionally, residency program and naturalization policies could become more inclusive, allowing workers who have resided several years in the destination country to access permanent residency program rights, which would help their legal and psychological status .
Finally, to avoid religious radicalization, greater supervision of religious networks could be implemented to prevent them from becoming a space where extremist ideologies are cultivated. However, the latter may be a bit complicated in countries such as Saudi Arabia because of the way religious policies are handled at the national level.
These measures will not only help migrants, but will also strengthen social relations, economic stability and politics in the Gulf countries, creating a model of integration that could be applied in other regions of the world as well. In the long term, encouraging these practices will help build more inclusive and resilient societies, capable of handling the new challenges posed by globalization and migratory flows.