Pakistanis are increasingly migrating to the UAE in search of better job opportunities, with more than 230,000 individuals making the move last year alone. The UAE is the second top destination for Pakistanis, who accounted for 26.77% of the total number of people migrating from South Asian countries in 2023. The Emirates is already home to 1.7 million Pakistani expats, the second largest community in the country. The migration trend is primarily driven by professionals such as doctors, engineers, and IT workers who are seeking better job prospects abroad due to the lack of opportunities in Pakistan.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have emerged as the top destinations for Pakistani migrants, with Saudi Arabia being the No. 1 choice. In 2023, 426,951 Pakistanis moved to Saudi Arabia for employment, while 60,046 found jobs in Oman, 55,112 in Qatar, 13,345 in Bahrain, and 20,905 in Malaysia. Overall, more than 13.53 million Pakistanis have gone abroad for work in over 50 countries, contributing significantly to the country’s economy through remittances, which are the primary source of foreign exchange after exports.
Remittances play a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, with the UAE being the second-largest source of remittances after Saudi Arabia. Pakistani expats in the UAE remitted $3.7 billion during the July-March 2024 fiscal year. Remittances from other countries included $5.1 billion from Saudi Arabia, $3.2 billion from the UK, $2.5 billion from the US, $2.3 billion from other GCC countries, $2.6 billion from the EU, $0.5 billion from Australia, and $1.3 billion from other nations. The exchange rate between the Pakistani rupee and the Emirati dirham has been fluctuating over the years, affecting the remittance amounts.
The close relationship between the UAE and Pakistan is further reinforced through various agreements and collaborations. In 2023, the UAE made a $1-billion deposit for balance of payment support to Pakistan. Trade relations between the two countries have also seen significant growth, with Pakistan’s exports to the UAE reaching Rs328.6 billion in the July-March 2023-24 financial year, higher than the previous year. Imports from the UAE have also increased, accounting for 26% of Pakistan’s total imports during the same period. The strong trade ties between the two nations continue to benefit both economies.
Overall, the increasing migration of Pakistanis to the UAE reflects the growing trend of seeking better employment opportunities abroad. The UAE’s thriving economy and job market attract skilled professionals from Pakistan and other countries in the region. As Pakistani expats contribute to the development of the UAE and send remittances back home, the bilateral relations between the two countries continue to deepen. With a large Pakistani community in the UAE, the ties between the two nations are expected to strengthen further in the coming years.
