Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf

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Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States are reshaping labour markets to become global talent hubs. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s strongest economy and home to nearly half of the GCC’s foreign workforce, is spearheading reforms to attract highly skilled migrants. Vision 2030 aims to diversify and decarbonise the economy, promote technical innovation (e.g., “green” economy, AI research), develop new sectors (tourism, health, sport), and boost employment, particularly for women.

Key policies include the Nitaqat policy for “Saudisation,” investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and aligning education with market needs. Recent measures, such as the Labour Market Initiative to reform the sponsorship system and the Premium Residency Card (PRC) scheme, aim to attract and retain skilled foreign workers.

The UAE has emerged as a competitor, introducing Golden Visas in 2019, followed by Green Visas and other permits, revolutionising its immigration landscape.

The webinar will reflect on Saudi Arabia’s labour and migration reforms over the last decade and their outcomes, with a comparative insight into the UAE.

Questions tackled in the webinar include:

- Economic and labor reforms, technological change: what are the new skills on demand?

- Expected impacts of the reforms on Saudi and foreign workers’ profiles.

- Education and training programs for young Saudi professionals: a success?

- Recent migration policy changes: are they enhancing the attractiveness of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to foreign talents?

To register for the webinar, click here.