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A View from South Asia Countries of Origin: Changing Contexts, Perceptions, and Policies Towards Migrating to Saudi Arabia

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

With 75 percent of its workforce comprising foreign labour, Saudi Arabia faces increasing competition for its essential migrant workforce as other countries offer better conditions. Saudi Arabia must reform restrictive policies including the kafala system, improve recruitment practices, and lower remittance costs to maintain its labour advantage. This policy report examines how current migration systems impact South Asian workers and offers practical solutions to balance national economic interests with worker protections in an increasingly competitive global labour market.

Bilesha Weeraratne
March 23, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/vdvornyk

International Science Faculty in Saudi Arabia: Research Experiences and Challenges

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

One of Saudi Arabia's aims in Vision 2030, is to transform the Kingdom into a global research powerhouse however, is the current ecosystem equipped to deliever? This policy report analyses Saudi scientific publications and interviews with international researchers which reveal a divide between elite academic institutions and the broader university landscape in Saudi. While visibility is growing, challenges in funding, infrastrucutre and career pathways persist. This report details the critical reforms needed to bridge the gap between Saudi Arabia's scientific ambitions and its current research reality.

Anju Mary Paul, Kurt W. Kuehne, Kareem El-Rafei, Bedoor AlShebli
March 23, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/HansMusa

The Global Competition for Talent: How does Saudi Arabia Compare with Gulf and Global Peers?

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

Can Saudi Arabia outpace its neighbors in the race for global talent? Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides in attracting skilled migrants while maintaining record employment for nationals—but significant hurdles remain. This policy report examines Saudi Arabia's position in the competitive talent marketplace and offers actionable recommendations to overcome persistent challenges in residency policies, urban liveability, and family support services that currently limit its appeal compared to regional rivals.

Justin Alexander
March 23, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/Parradee Kietsirikul

Adapting to Change: The Potential Impact of Technology and Demography on the Saudi Labour Market

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

Will tomorrow's technological revolution leave parts of Saudi Arabia's workforce behind? This policy report reveals a complex picture of automation vulnerability across the Saudi Arabian labour market, highlighting significant differences between Saudi and non-Saudi workers, as well as between men and women. While government policies have successfully boosted citizen employment, the focus on labour-intensive sectors may have come at the cost of technological productivity. As the demand for specialised skills in IT, engineering, and advanced manufacturing grows, how can Saudi Arabia protect its most vulnerable workers while preparing its workforce for a tech-driven future? This report explores the challenges and opportunities ahead and examines potential solutions from global success stories.

Sylvain Cote
March 10, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/ Kkolosov

High-Skilled Employment and Vision 2030: How Education and Training for Saudi Youth Align with Saudi Labour Market Demands

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy beyond oil by creating a knowledge-based economy with a highly skilled workforce. Key challenges include aligning STEM education with private sector needs and bridging theoretical-practical gaps through targeted training programmes. With Saudi demographics shifting, the kingdom needs to create approximately 920,000 additional jobs by 2030. SMEs, which currently provide 60 per cent of jobs, and women's entrepreneurship programmes will play crucial roles in achieving inclusive economic growth. As workforce development progresses, Saudi Arabia faces a strategic balancing act: attracting skilled migrants in emerging fields like AI and green technologies while developing domestic expertise to gradually reduce dependency on foreign workers in construction, healthcare, and education sectors.

Moneerah AlMahmoud
March 10, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/m.elyoussoufi

Future Skills Needed and Profiles of Workers: Ways to Maximise Productivity of Labour

Special Issue on Vision 2030 and the Socio-Economic Reform Process: The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's transformative labour market journey under Vision 2030 shows promising progress, with female workforce participation nearly doubling and a significant shift toward high-skilled sectors. Yet, as the kingdom races to build a knowledge economy, the gap between available skills and market demands in crucial areas like AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity presents both a challenge and an opportunity. How is Saudi Arabia balancing international talent attraction with local workforce development to fuel its ambitious economic diversification? This policy report explores the strategies shaping this dynamic transition and the critical steps needed to ensure sustainable growth.

Mehmet A. Soytas
March 9, 2025
Policy Reports
Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

Assets on the Move: Highly Skilled Migration from the Philippines to the Gulf

Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf States: How Do GCC Countries Fare in the Global Competition for Talent?

The GCC hosts approximately half of all highly skilled Filipino workers worldwide, despite offering salaries roughly half those available in North America. Many skilled Filipinos view the Gulf as a temporary destination in a "stepwise migration" strategy, gaining experience before moving to Western countries with better economic prospects and residency pathways. While bilateral labour agreements exist between the Philippines and GCC states, these primarily target specific sectors like healthcare, and recent Gulf initiatives like Golden and Freelance visas attract temporary workers but struggle to retain those seeking permanent relocation. For the GCC to improve retention of skilled Filipino professionals, policies must address competitive compensation, career advancement opportunities, and stable residency options with family reunification, though these changes present integration challenges for receiving societies, while the Philippines continues to face "brain drain" issues affecting its domestic development.

Jorge Tigno, Geoffrey M. Ducanes
March 6, 2025
Policy Reports
iStock.com/Dimple Bhati

India as A Prime Country of Origin for Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf: Perspectives of A Paradigm Shift in Indian Immigration of Talent to UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf States: How Do GCC Countries Fare in the Global Competition for Talent?

This policy report examines India's position as the leading source of migrant workers to UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, focusing on the shift toward high-skilled migration. It recommends India adopt a laissez-faire approach while Gulf states implement targeted demand-driven policies across short, medium, and long-term horizons.

Binod Khadria
March 6, 2025
Policy Reports
orientalizing| Flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Highly Skilled Migration from Egypt to the Gulf States

Special Issue on Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf States: How Do GCC Countries Fare in the Global Competition for Talent?

This policy report examines Egypt's role as a key source of skilled labour for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, highlighting the "triple win" benefits for all parties: Egypt gains reduced unemployment and remittance income; GCC countries acquire essential talent for economic diversification; and migrants secure better career opportunities and living standards. Key recommendations include strengthening bilateral agreements and reintegration programmes for Egypt, while GCC countries should reform restrictive labour practices, improve benefit portability, and address gender barriers in employment—all aimed at maximising the positive outcomes of this mutually beneficial migration pattern.

Dina Abdel Fattah
March 4, 2025
Policy Reports
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

Highly Skilled Migration from Tunisia to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar: Trends, Drivers and Policies

Special Issue on Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf States: How Do GCC Countries Fare in the Global Competition for Talent?

The migration of highly skilled Tunisians to the GCC countries has transformed since the 1970s, with expanding sectors and increased female participation. Initially concentrated in education and health primarily in Saudi Arabia, the demand now extends to tertiary sectors like information technology and business management, especially in the United Arab Emirates. While employment remains the primary driver, the migration landscape is complex. Remittances provide economic support, but concerns about brain drain persist. The region faces competition from Western Europe and North America, and Tunisian policymakers struggle to develop coherent responses to these challenges. This policy report argues for a strategic approach focusing on strengthening international cooperation, protecting worker rights, promoting migrant contributions, and fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Ali Belhaj
March 4, 2025
Policy Reports
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The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

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The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.

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Analyses of current topics in the Gulf region

The Policy Reports of the Regional Programme Gulf States offer insights and analyses on current developments in the Gulf States and the Gulf region at large. They contribute to a better understanding of the region and serve as a platform for German, European and the Gulf scholars to exchange and disseminate ideas and knowledge about the region for the broader policy community.

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