Indian Expats in Gulf Face Wage Freezes and Visa Crisis
Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE report frozen wages, long shifts, and sudden visa cancellations, seeking urgent embassy assistance.
Indian expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are raising urgent alarms over deteriorating working conditions, citing frozen salaries, excessive working hours, and abrupt visa cancellations. Through social media platforms, many laborers and house drivers are calling for immediate intervention to address their precarious living and employment situations.
Stagnant Wages and Grueling Shifts
Between November 6 and 7, 2026, workers from Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, and Rajasthan utilized the platform X to voice their grievances. Many of these individuals have been tagging the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to highlight a pattern of financial and professional hardship.
Reports from the ground indicate that many workers are receiving monthly wages ranging from SAR 1,000 to SAR 2,500 (approximately Rs 22,000 to Rs 55,000). These relatively low earnings are being coupled with demanding work schedules, with many employees reporting shifts that last between 12 and 16 hours.
Legal Limbo Following Company Closures
A significant concern for the expatriate community is the sudden closure of companies, which has left many workers in a state of legal uncertainty. These abrupt closures often lead to immediate visa cancellations, stripping workers of their legal residency status. Consequently, many are forced to wait for weeks or even months to secure the necessary final exit permits to return home.
Official Guidance for Affected Workers
In response to the growing number of grievances, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has provided specific instructions for those facing contractual or residency issues. Affected individuals are encouraged to take the following steps:
- Consult the Saudi Musaned portal for the verification of employment contracts.
- Reach out directly to the embassy via email at [email protected].
Compounding Regional and Financial Pressures
The distress of the Indian diaspora is being exacerbated by broader regional tensions and rising costs. Since February 2026, at least 22 Indian lives have been lost due to the West Asia conflict, including 14 seafarers and three individuals in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, travel disruptions have been reported, with flight suspensions by carriers such as Air India and IndiGo extending into mid-November.
Financial burdens are also mounting for families back home. A November 7 order from the Kerala High Court directed NORKA to re-evaluate insurance premium increases, which had reportedly surged by 166% to 233% for the families of Gulf workers.
With over 2.7 million Indians in Saudi Arabia and 4.5 million in the UAE, the scale of these grievances presents a massive challenge to support mechanisms like the Indian Community Welfare Fund. While the Indian government continues to coordinate with Gulf missions and utilize portals like MADAD to facilitate relief, the volume of worker distress remains high.