Fresh statistics tabled in the Rajya Sabha on 6 February reveal that 168,000 Indians were deported worldwide between 2021 and 2025 and that 72 % of those removals originated in just two Gulf states—Saudi Arabia (120,314) and the United Arab Emirates (21,310). The United States deported 3,801 Indians in 2025, a sharp increase from 2,137 in 2024 but still far below Gulf figures.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the majority of Gulf returns involved low-skilled workers whose residence permits lapsed after pandemic-era amnesties ended. He also confirmed that New Delhi has lodged complaints with Washington over the use of restraints on women and children aboard ICE charter flights.
![Parliament data show UAE and Saudi deportations dominate 2025 returns of Indian nationals]()
For companies and individuals trying to avoid such pitfalls, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides an end-to-end solution to track visa expiry dates, file Gulf work-permit renewals and secure necessary documentation well before travel. The service’s digital dashboard and concierge support help pre-screen applications, flag omissions and coordinate submissions, reducing the likelihood of costly deportations and assignment disruptions.
Why it matters: large-scale removals disrupt corporate mobility programmes that rely on contract labour in construction, oil & gas and hospitality across the GCC. Employers must now factor in tighter Saudi and UAE immigration enforcement, higher documentary scrutiny and potential early-termination costs when drafting assignment letters. The data also underscore the importance of vetting third-party recruiters: 3,505 unregistered travel agents are now black-listed on the government’s e-Migrate portal, and enforcement agencies have opened investigations into human-trafficking rings in Punjab and Haryana.
Mobility compliance teams should conduct audits of Gulf-stationed staff to ensure iqama renewals are filed on time and that workers avoid unauthorised secondary employment, which authorities cited as a key trigger for deportation.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the majority of Gulf returns involved low-skilled workers whose residence permits lapsed after pandemic-era amnesties ended. He also confirmed that New Delhi has lodged complaints with Washington over the use of restraints on women and children aboard ICE charter flights.
For companies and individuals trying to avoid such pitfalls, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides an end-to-end solution to track visa expiry dates, file Gulf work-permit renewals and secure necessary documentation well before travel. The service’s digital dashboard and concierge support help pre-screen applications, flag omissions and coordinate submissions, reducing the likelihood of costly deportations and assignment disruptions.
Why it matters: large-scale removals disrupt corporate mobility programmes that rely on contract labour in construction, oil & gas and hospitality across the GCC. Employers must now factor in tighter Saudi and UAE immigration enforcement, higher documentary scrutiny and potential early-termination costs when drafting assignment letters. The data also underscore the importance of vetting third-party recruiters: 3,505 unregistered travel agents are now black-listed on the government’s e-Migrate portal, and enforcement agencies have opened investigations into human-trafficking rings in Punjab and Haryana.
Mobility compliance teams should conduct audits of Gulf-stationed staff to ensure iqama renewals are filed on time and that workers avoid unauthorised secondary employment, which authorities cited as a key trigger for deportation.
