Saudi Arabia and UAE lead as over 38,600 Pakistanis deported from Gulf in 2025
Begging, visa violations and crime behind mass expulsions
DUBAI/ISLAMABAD – More than 38,600 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in 2025, according to official figures presented in the National Assembly.
The data was shared by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development during a session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Authorities cited illegal stay, visa violations, begging and criminal involvement among the main reasons behind the removals.
Official documents placed before lawmakers show that Gulf states remain the primary source of deportations involving Pakistani citizens. Saudi Arabia accounted for the overwhelming majority of cases, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Officials said the trend has raised concern at both diplomatic and enforcement levels.
Country breakdown
According to the ministry’s report, a total of 38,616 Pakistanis were deported from GCC states in 2025. The country-wise figures show 27,692 deportations from Saudi Arabia, the highest among all Gulf states. The United Arab Emirates deported 6,794, while Oman recorded 2,537 removals.
Other GCC figures include 786 deportations from Bahrain, 644 from Qatar, and 163 from Kuwait. The ministry said those deported were found to be living illegally, breaching visa conditions or involved in unlawful activities.
Separate details submitted to parliament also highlighted offence-based categories. A total of 780 Pakistanis were deported on charges of begging, including 767 from Saudi Arabia, 10 from the UAE, two from Qatar, and one from Oman. In addition, 1,025 individuals linked to drug offences and 109 involved in theft-related crimes were also deported during the year.
Begging cases
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was also informed that begging networks remain a major factor behind deportations. In a briefing to the committee chaired by MNA Rafiullah, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency said thousands of citizens had been removed by host countries over begging and immigration violations.
According to the FIA briefing, around 24,000 Pakistanis were deported by Saudi Arabia specifically on begging charges, while Dubai deported about 6,000 Pakistani nationals on similar grounds. Azerbaijan also sent back roughly 2,000 Pakistani beggars, according to figures shared in the meeting.
Officials told the committee that host countries regularly deport individuals found begging, and that repeated incidents contribute to reputational risks and tighter scrutiny of Pakistani travellers.
Airport checks
Enforcement data presented to lawmakers shows a sharp rise in airport offloading as well. The FIA DG said 51,000 Pakistanis were offloaded at airports in 2025 while attempting to travel abroad due to questionable or inconsistent documents covering work, tourist and Umrah visas. In a separate update, authorities reported that 66,154 passengers were offloaded last year as part of a crackdown on organised begging and illegal migration networks.
Investigators told the committee that some travellers attempt to reach Europe by posing as Umrah pilgrims, and are stopped at Pakistani airports when document discrepancies are detected despite holding travel paperwork.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also addressed the issue, stating that organised begging groups are contributing to visa restrictions by Gulf countries.
In a public statement, he alleged that contractor-led networks recruit children, women and individuals posing as disabled persons and send them abroad for begging, while facilitators at airports assist their movement.