India's Gulf Diaspora
Human Security and Economic Stakes
The Indian diaspora in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain — constitutes over 9-10 million people, the largest concentration of the Indian diaspora anywhere in the world. This community is economically vital to both India and the host countries: they contribute skilled and semi-skilled labour across construction, hospitality, healthcare, and services, while sending remittances that form a major share of India's total annual inward remittances of approximately $125 billion (India is the world's largest remittance recipient).
In crisis situations, India has successfully conducted large-scale evacuations of its nationals from Gulf conflict zones. Operation Raahat (2015, Yemen) evacuated nearly 5,000 Indians and 1,800 foreign nationals. Operation Kaveri (2023, Sudan) evacuated approximately 3,800 Indians. These operations demonstrate both the strategic importance of the diaspora and India's growing logistical capability to protect it.
- Indian diaspora in GCC: ~9-10 million people
- India's annual remittances: ~$125 billion (2023-24); GCC countries contribute the largest share
- UAE: ~3.5 million Indians (largest Indian diaspora in any single country)
- Operation Raahat (Yemen, 2015): ~5,000 Indians evacuated by Navy and Air Force
- 37 Indian-flagged ships with 1,109 seafarers stranded in Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman (March 2026)
● Tracked since March 02, 2026 · last seen April 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes