Immigration — Saudi Arabia · Synthesis
One of the countries in the world with the highest share of foreign population — a workforce that is a majority in the private sector, mainly South Asian and Arab — governed by the kafala system currently under reform.
Citoyen synthesis for the Immigration category in Saudi Arabia. Grounded in available data (GASTAT, IOM, ILO). Specificity: very high share of foreign population (workforce) and the kafala system under reform. All values are the latest available realised observation — never a forecast. Data last updated: June 2026.
1. Current situation — where immigration stands in Saudi Arabia
A very high share of foreign population. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest shares of foreign population in the world (around 38%, GASTAT) — a foreign workforce essential to the economy, particularly in the private sector (see Labour category).
A workforce that is mainly Asian and Arab. Workers come primarily from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines) and Arab countries — often in construction, services, and domestic work.
The kafala system. The employment of foreigners is governed by the kafala system (sponsorship tying the worker to their employer), criticised for the abuses it enables; recent reforms have eased mobility — a documented development whose scope is debated.
Temporary labour immigration. Immigration is essentially labour-based and temporary: access to nationality is very restricted, and foreigners are not on a path towards civic settlement.
A rights issue. The working and living conditions (see Housing category) of foreign workers, particularly domestic workers, are a concern documented by NGOs.
“Saudi Arabia has one of the highest shares of foreign population in the world.”
2. Outlook — where immigration is heading
Balance between Saudisation and foreign workforce. Reconciling the "Saudisation" of employment (see Labour category) with dependence on foreign labour is the central challenge.
Workers' rights. The effective implementation of kafala reforms and improvement of conditions are rights issues.
Mega-project needs. Mega-projects (NEOM) generate significant demand for foreign labour.
Open questions. Three issues will shape the period ahead: (1) the balance between Saudisation and foreign workers; (2) workers' rights; (3) the needs of mega-projects.
“This workforce, governed by the kafala, is essential to the economy and central to rights issues.”
3. International comparison — Saudi Arabia among its peers
Placed in its context, Saudi Arabia is an extreme case of foreign population share — temporary labour immigration.
Three findings. (1) Share of foreigners: very high. At ≈ 38%, well above Germany (≈ 18%) or the United States (≈ 15%).
(2) Temporary immigration. Unlike settlement countries (United States, Germany), immigration is labour-based, with no access to citizenship.
(3) A rights issue. The kafala and working conditions set the Gulf model apart.
International comparison — immigration
| Country | Share of foreigners | Nature | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | ≈ 18% | settlement | integration |
| United States | ≈ 15% | settlement | melting pot |
| European Union | ≈ 12% | settlement / asylum | Schengen |
| Türkiye | refugees (1st) | temporary protection | Syrians |
| Saudi Arabia | ≈ 38% | labour, temporary | kafala |
Sources: IOM, ILO, GASTAT — latest available realised values. "≈" indicates rounding.
Data used (data journalism base)
| Data | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign population | ≈ 38% | GASTAT (Citoyen chart) |
| Main origins | South Asia, Arab countries | GASTAT |
| Governance framework | kafala (under reform) | ILO / analyses |
| Nature | labour, temporary (little naturalisation) | analyses |
| Rights | ⚠️ concerns (conditions) | NGOs |
Sources (national analyses and references)
GASTAT (population, foreign workforce) · IOM · ILO · World Bank · human rights NGOs.
Methodological note — the synthesis distinguishes sourced facts from assessments, remains neutral, dates each piece of data, and does not extrapolate beyond the sources. The nature of immigration (temporary labour, kafala) limits direct comparability. Latest available realised observation (no forecast). Note generated by AI, human review required.