More than 21,900 Pakistani nationals were deported from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries between March 1 and July 13, 2026, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases. The figures, presented in Pakistan’s National Assembly, highlight the scale of deportations involving Pakistani nationals over a period of just four months.
The authorities of the Gulf nations flag reasons for deportation as illegal entry, visa/immigration violations, criminal offences, begging, indulging in drug trafficking and other dreadful activities etc. thus, causing a national security threat.
According to data provided by Pakistan’s Narcotics Control Ministry, a total of 21,951 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia recorded by far the highest number, deporting 15,500 Pakistani nationals, followed by the UAE with 3,803. Oman reported 1,606 deportations, while Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait accounted for 521, 429 and 97 cases respectively.
Deported Pakistanis classified as absconders; Many were blacklisted on security grounds
The data showed that 4,628 Pakistanis classified as absconders were deported during the period. Another 1,294 people who had been jailed were sent back, while 968 Pakistanis were blacklisted. The ministry also recorded 472 deportations linked specifically to begging, while nine Pakistani nationals were deported from the UAE through Interpol.
A further 1,155 deportation cases involved individuals whose passports had been lost. Meanwhile, 689 Pakistanis were deported over visa-related violations and 342 cases involved people who were refused entry into the Gulf states.
The figures also revealed significant differences between individual Gulf states in specific categories. Saudi Arabia, for instance, deported 3,921 absconders, compared with 636 in the UAE. Saudi Arabia also recorded 1,924 deportations related to visa offences, while the UAE reported 347 such cases and Oman 295.
However, the largest individual category in the ministry’s data remained “Others”, under which 6,662 deportations were recorded. The ministry did not provide a detailed breakdown of the offences committed, leaving a significant portion of the overall figures unexplained.
Pakistanis deported for filming & circulating US-Iran war; GCC cites security breach
Beyond conventional immigration and criminal violations, Pakistani nationals who were detained and deported also included individuals who indulged in activities connected to the ongoing Iran-US conflict.
Some Pakistanis in Gulf countries faced action after filming, uploading, publishing or sharing videos and other material relating to Iranian attacks in their cities. Gulf authorities have increased scrutiny of such activities amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over the dissemination of sensitive material.
In March, Bahrain announced the arrest of six people, including five Pakistani nationals, for filming, publishing and reposting videos showing the impact of Iranian strikes in the kingdom. The arrests underscored the growing sensitivity surrounding online content related to the conflict.
