Arabian Business published some figures comparing the percentage of expats to locals across the Gulf. I’ve taken the liberty to list them below with the country with the highest percentage of locals on top and the lowest on the bottom. No surprises really except for Bahrain which I assumed had a larger expat population.
KSA: Total population 29,595,084. 68 percent locals and 32 percent expatriates.
Oman: Total population 3,770,473. 56 percent locals and 44 percent expatriates.
Bahrain: Total population 1,217,701. 49 percent locals and 51 percent expatriates.
Kuwait: Total population 3,823,728. 30 percent locals and 70 percent expatriates.
Qatar: Total population 1,836,676. 14 percent locals and 86 percent expatriates.
UAE: Total population 9,036,488. 13 percent locals and 87 percent expatriates.
55 replies on “Expats vs Locals Across the Gulf”
Bahrian has no oil and struggling economy, hence not much expats
Kuwaitis are actually 31% of the population, not 30%
Doesnt sound right. Kuwait is no more than 50%.
very interesting figures
The figure I’ve heard from the actual Kuwait govt is closer to 45% locals.
Kuwaiti government says Kuwaitis are 32% of the population
In 2012, CIA Factbook said Kuwaitis were 45% of the population. The percentage ratio changes every few months
When I go to Kuwait’s malls and restaurants, most of the people are Kuwaitis. Expats at malls are like 20%
In most places in Kuwait, I see Kuwaitis more than I see expats. It’s strange, I never feel like Kuwaitis are a minority
Maybe it’s because Kuwaitis outnumber all other nationalities. There is no expat nationality that outnumbers Kuwaitis. Kuwaitis are the largest nationality (1.26 million) in Kuwait. Indians are 700,000, Egyptians 500,000
60% of Kuwait’s population is Arab (including Arab expatriates)
Or maybe you don’t realize that everyone working in all of the shops are expats, not counting many of the people behind the scene’s of the malls everyday operations.
Are American/Foreign military figured into the population? The US gov’t and military take up a said 25% of Kuwaiti land, so these figures don’t surprise me at all… It’s funny how Kuwaiti’s only see Kuwaiti’s. lol.
60% of Kuwait’s population is Arab (Kuwaitis and Arab expatriates) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2075.html#ku
Egyptians are 2nd biggest expat community (500,000) and biggest Arab expat community
Indians are the biggest expat community (700,000). But South Asians are only 37% of Kuwait’s population
Exactly. The consumers in the malls are mainly kuwaiti. They shop served by expat staff then have their coffee or a meal cooked by expat chefs and served by expat waiters and waitresses. Meanwhile their expat maids are with the children In the play area being run by the expat staff. Their cars are in large car parks with expat security staff and perhaps they were even driven there by an expat driver. And at the end of the day wheb those Kuwaitis leave the expat cleaning staff will be up tidying up for another day. This sums up Kuwait for me. So many expats go unnoticed and invisible.
Only 10-20% of expatriates in Kuwait are maids/drivers
90% of Kuwaiti families don’t have maids
You mean 90% HAVE them. I don’t know of a single Kuwaiti household without a house keeper.
Yes, I meant 90% of Kuwaiti households employ a house keeper
Source https://www.migrant-rights.org/research/90-of-all-kuwaiti-households-employ-a-foreign-domestic-worker/
But most Kuwaiti households haven’t hired a driver and cook. Probably only 30% of Kuwaiti households employ a driver and 1% employ a cook
hahahahahahahahhahaha
I mean, 10% of Kuwaiti households haven’t employed a maid
Do not forget the maids, cooks, drivers, in each kuwaiti house working for the kuwaiti families. You won’t see them in malls.
Most Kuwaiti families haven’t hired drivers and cooks
Most expatriates in Kuwait are blue-collar South Asian migrant workers (construction workers, electricians, plumbers, etc.)
Only 10-20% of expats in Kuwait are maids
Sorry, but I have to disagree. More than 90% of kuwaiti families have at least 1 maid and 1 driver. Also, I know many expats (Europeans, Americans, Lebanese) that have full-time maids too!
Most Kuwaiti families don’t have a driver.
Yes, more than 90% of Kuwaiti families have at least 1 maid
But drivers aren’t as common as you make it sound.
I would be more interested as to the Mall ratio per capita.
Also the ratio of restaurants to per capita.
remember the the great line “if you pay them they will come”!
“if you pay them they will come”!
Never a true word spoken – the only reason I am here until the economy and lifestyle index improves elsewhere then I am offski
Are the bedoons included in this specific statistics considered as a local or an expatriate?
Bedoon only exist by choice – if not their choice, it was their parent’s choice. In the 1965 census there were 4000 bedoons. There is no way that over 40-50 years they would reach 100,000- given that normal increase is 3%. Most bedoons are people of other nationalities who came to kuwait, gave up their citizenship and claim to be bedoon anticipating to get the citizenship and benefit from what the Kuwaiti government offers its citizens. Saying this, they should not be treated inhumanely, but should rectify their status and declare their original citizenship.
Agree 200%
Apparently we get to punish people for their parents’ actions now, and without proof!
There is plenty of evidence that most Bedoon are refugees from Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Egypt
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants confirmed that most Bedoon are refugees https://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2009-wrs-country-updates/kuwait.html
The Western media is a joke. Human Rights Watch is a joke, the head of Human Rights Watch recently praised ISIS in Mosul
I love how you immediately assume I support or care about these organizations. Believe it or not, people are capable of forming their own opinions, although the implication is hilarious from someone parroting the line of “they’re all liars and doing this to themselves!”
Also – a survey is not “proof”, especially when it’s likely not done on the bedoons themselves but is based on the opinions of Kuwaitis.
I think it’s best that Kuwaitis, and only Kuwaitis, decide who is Kuwaiti.
The U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants didn’t do a ‘survey’
The ‘U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ confirmed most Bedoon are refugees
https://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2009-wrs-country-updates/kuwait.html
Good question. I’d like to know the answer to this also..
Bedoon are refugees from other countries (Expatriates)
Most Bedoon are Iraqi refugees, a minority of Bedoon are refugees from Yemen and Syria
Lets kick the expats out – Just kidding, we love you guys.
I think Kuwait should seriously and systematically start a fair and efficient immigration system. This should be in the interest of Kuwait not other countries or for political reasons. I would start with Medical, Academic and business oriented people and people in jobs that kuwaitis aren’t interested in.
Nothing to do this weekend, Mark?
Not that I know of. It’s dead quiet.
Does Kuwait really need this many expats ? Seeing that Kuwait is not growing at the rate at which countries like Qatar and UAE are growing, Expat population reduction measures needs to be implemented soon.
At the least you save up on your resources. From the 70% expat population at least 30% is dead weight who don’t add any value to this country whatsoever.
Time to send the expats packing.
Yes, Kuwait does not need this many expats. There aren’t many projects under construction in Kuwait. UAE and Qatar have a construction boom, hence they need as many expats as possible. Kuwait’s construction boom ended 30 years ago, when Kuwaitis were 45% of the population
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kuwait was the Middle East’s most developed country (highest standard of living, best education, top-notch infrastructure). Kuwaitis were 42% of the population in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, Kuwaitis are only 31% of the population yet Kuwait is very under-developed in comparison to UAE/Qatar
The increase in expat population correlates with under-development
Correlation is not causation. Blaming expats for the underdevelopment of a country they have no say in is ridiculous.
No one is blaming expats. We are just questioning the need for them in a country that is not developing as much.
@ Lol….As Usual What a Dumb statement, Grow up beyond the Kuwaiti narrow mindedness….IF those many expats are not needed than who will run the country my dear? This is a standard Kuwaiti trend, remove expats and all problems will be solved. Have you ever thought the Problem lies first in your own mindset. Who will do all range of jobs from Skilled to the Hard labour jobs ? Your country will collapse. These are not just my words. In Arab times an article came after some MPs were demanding to reduce 1 million expats(because making such statements makes them popular amongst kuwaitis loll) . The Article stated a response by panel of Experts in Economy “that the impact of removing 1 million expats in 10 years will have severe consequences on the Economy. First hit badly will be real Estate when thousands of buildings will become empty and thus deprive many Kuwaitis of their luxurious Income. Second hit will be Business sector because Kuwaiti companies will not find Kuwaitis to work in Field jobs,and other jobs the kuwaitis will have a inferiority complex to work in. The committee told MPs to refrain from making such statements without any insight and proper analyis.
@ Lol …just reduce a million expats in the 10 years and see what will happen. Its a challenge that you wont be able to reduce even 2,00,000…infact you will be needing more expats because for new projects where all field works and hard jobs are done by Expats. Not even that some of the High Tech Skilled jobs are done by Consultants and Expertise which most Kuwaitis lack.
Haha Actually every single expat I have ever known here is working. Meanwhile try going to get some paperwork done at a Kuwaiti run ministry or the EPA. Most of them are only open 3 hours a day. There is so much waste and red tape it is ridiculous. Maybe if more of the natives worked or put in the effort or hours they should their wouldn’t be this many Expats. I took a trip to Bahrain to film the Gulfrun and almost shat myself when the cab driver said he was Bahraini. You mean someone from their own country doing a non ministry job and not thinking anything of it? Never happen here.
That’s because the average Bahraini is not well off at all and will do any job they can get their hands on. The government of Bahrain also gives out the citizenship pretty easily because it’s a Sunni ruler but a Shia majority and they’re trying to change the demographics.
So you mean to say Kuwaiti’s don’t do non-government jobs because they are well off.
Then why complain in the first place that you guy’s don’t have job’s ???
Many Bahrainis are very poor and would do ANYTHING for a job, because they really need the money
Kuwaitis don’t take any job available. Most unemployed Kuwaitis have university degrees. Most taxi drivers don’t have a university education
In Bahrain, they naturalized lots of Indians, Pakistanis, Jordanians, Egyptians and Yemenis. Many of those naturalized foreigners work as taxi drivers
Most Kuwaitis work. The ministry is only open 3 hours a day because it’s Ramathan. Ramathan working hours differ from everyday working hours.
Many expats in Kuwait are undocumented. They obtained their visa using illegal methods, hence they’re unemployed.
Btw, there are 10,000 Kuwaitis working as cab drivers. Visit the airport, use a taxi from the airport. Maybe you’ll find some Kuwaiti cab drivers
These hours were before Ramadan. Please don’t do the defend no matter what crap. Everyone who has dealt with the government agencies and employees here knows how it is. Also why would the Egyptians and others be coming in if they weren’t being offered the jobs. And I know that there are plenty of expats doing regular jobs. I’m a marketing manager and I have friends who are designers and teachers.
Kuwait was very developed when Kuwaitis were 40-43% of the population, therefore you can’t claim that Kuwaitis aren’t working now so more expats are needed. More Kuwaitis are working today than in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
For the past 40 years, Kuwaitis usually averaged 42% of Kuwait’s population. Between September 2012 and December 2012, Kuwaitis went from numbering 42% of population to 30%. The biggest demographic increase has been the Egyptians. They keep pouring in because of the ‘Arab Spring’. Syrians have also increased by alot since the ‘Arab Spring’.
The ‘Arab Spring’ is responsible for the massive rise in the expat population’s size
Thats Nonsense…where is your source? As usual just saying whatever crap comes to your mind . The Arab spring has nothing to do with it, Kuwait doesnt just allow people to come in unless there are new projects etc.
The Drop in Kuwaiti population percentage was not so fast as you claim within 6 months(sep-2012 to dec-2012) . It was from 2005 to 2011(6 years) from 39.3% to 36 % ( just 3 % ) ….This is from Wikipedia as source.
Even the 3% increase in expat population is because Kuwaitis dont want to work in many job sectors, but they still want to reduce expats…Now thats like a Mystery puzzle you Kuwaitis have been solving for last 10 years with no success.
Interesting figures, hope Kuwait doesn’t follow suit like KSA.
what do you mean?
can you elaborate
Yeah screw the Expats! Kick them all out! Put all the poor jobless Kuwaiti’s to work at the 100 malls and 1000 starbucks and driving the taxi and managing the retail places. Have all the contractors leave and let the Kuwaitis handle all the Military matters with everyone crapping themselves because Isis is just over the border. After all the Kuwaiti’s on their own worked out so well in 91 right?!
Don’t forget cleaning the streets
I hear this argument a lot but you realize it’s devaluing expats right? Like saying the most valuable thing they do is cleaning streets?
What’s devalued in doing a street cleaning job ? This is the problem with you people , you can’t do your own jobs and that’s the reason we are here.
Your argument is null. Most expats in Kuwait aren’t cleaning streets or selling Starbucks. In Israel, they hire foreign workers to clean their streets. There are hardly any Israelis cleaning Israel’s streets. The expats who are cleaning Kuwait’s streets are a minority within the expat population
During the Iraqi occupation, Kuwaitis cleaned the streets, picked up garbage, cleaned their houses – with NO problem. You need go learn history before talking
There are many expats who are taking jobs from qualified Kuwaitis with PhDs.
There are many jobless Kuwaitis with university degrees from top Western universities, at the same time we have many expats working as teachers in public schools
Contractors are a tiny minority in the population, most expats in Kuwait aren’t contractors.
Kuwaitis couldn’t defend themselves in 1990 because Kuwaitis were outnumbered by Iraqis
That’s not what the history of books I’ve seen said. Also since when does being outnumbered mean you stop fighting. Look at all the places in history that were invaded yet a smaller number still fought back be it outright combat or underground gorilla tactics or through sabotage and intelectual me ans. Guy in Afghanistan just took on an entire Talib am fighting force for hours on end by himself so his fellow soldiers could get reinforcements and ammo. He is getting the Medal of honor. Numbers are not am excuse. Don’t get me wrong I know there were a lot of Kuwaitis who fought tooth and mail. Too bad not all did or else it might have turned out different.
In all the history books, it is mentioned that Kuwaitis cleaned the streets, picked up garbage and took over the jobs from expats during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait
Kuwaitis did not give up when they were outnumbered by the Iraqis. There was a successful resistance movement by Kuwaitis, the resistance movement’s casualty rate exceeded the Western coalition’s casualty rate. The resistance movement used underground guerrilla tactics and sabotage. You need to go learn history before talking
The Iraqi occupation began during the summer, when most people were summering abroad for the summer holiday. Kuwaitis were caught off-guard, most Kuwaitis were vacationing abroad. 50% of Kuwaitis stayed inside Kuwait throughout the Iraqi occupation, most of which joined the resistance movement.
I dont agree with your statements, its not a correct analysis.
As per the historical sources of West and others, the battle during invasion was over within 24 hours of combat. Most of the Top military leadership ran away to Saudi Arabia leaving the Army leaderless so the fighting collapsed and due to other reasons.
Regarding the resistance movement very few Kuwaitis joined it, the estimates are around 300- 500 active fighters,(2000 sympathisers).
Compared to the Kuwaiti population that time inside Kuwait of 3,50,000 that size of resistance is too less.
The Syrians who are fighting Assad have thousands of Members in Just Aleppo(20,000). Aleppo is a City of the size of Urban Kuwait.