Over half a million Pakistanis moved to Saudi Arabia in 2025

KARACHI: Over half a million Pakistani workers and professionals migrated to Saudi Arabia in 2025 in search of better employment and living opportunities, according to official data released by the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BEOE).

According to the data, as many as 530,256 Pakistani workers settled in various cities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2025, compared to 452,562 in the previous year, reflecting a 17% year-on-year increase, which translates into 77,694 additional workers.

Since 1972, some 7.69 million Pakistani workers have moved to KSA, BEOE data showed.

“Saudi Arabia is not only a favoured destination for Pakistanis performing religious obligations such as Hajj and Umrah, but it also remains a preferred choice for workers and professionals seeking overseas employment,” Saad Shah, an IT exporter with clients across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, told Business Recorder.

First half of 2025: 336,999 Pakistanis went abroad for employment: ministry

Foreign workers, especially high-tech professionals, remain in high demand in various Saudi cities as the Kingdom is investing heavily in mega projects, including artificial intelligence, he said.

Shah noted that several Pakistani business groups, especially IT firms and fintech operators, have expanded their operations in the Kingdom via subsidiaries. Additionally, many Pakistani companies have relocated professionals to their offshore Saudi offices, contributing to the overall rise in emigration.

He urged the government and private sector to strengthen collaboration to export high-skilled human resources through training and capacity-building initiatives, while also balancing the domestic workforce requirements in the domestic workforce market.

As per official data, Pakistan’s total manpower exports to various countries stood at 762,499 in 2025, with the KSA absorbing 69.5% of the total, surging from 62% recorded in the previous year.

“Several factors have contributed to the growth, including improving bilateral relations, Saudi Vision 2030, and the shift of Pakistani workers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to stricter regulations,” Ibrahim Amin, a banking and financial expert and Chairman of TriStar International Consultants, told Business Recorder.

He added that the defence cooperation agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in 2024 further strengthened ties between the two brotherly nations, enhancing cooperation in diplomatic, trade, and labour sectors, with a growing preference for Pakistani workers.

Amin suggested that Pakistani authorities should collaborate with Saudi banking regulators to facilitate easier and more efficient remittance transfers for Pakistani workers and their families through formal banking channels. This would boost remittance inflows and support Pakistan’s economic stability on a sustainable basis.

According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), overseas Pakistani remitted $9.64 billion from Saudi Arabia in 2025, compared to $8.34 billion in 2024, reflecting a notable 15% year-on-year growth.