In 2025, Pakistan’s overseas manpower trends reflected a growing divide among Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar increasing intake of Pakistani workers, while UAE and Oman recorded a significant fall.
Fresh data from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) shows a strong start to the year for Saudi Arabia, with 242,337 workers hired from Pakistan between January and July, reflecting a solid monthly average of 40,389. In 2024, the kingdom had taken 452,562 workers over the year.
Qatar also upped its intake to 26,448 workers in the first six months of 2025, a notable rise from the previous year’s trend. The monthly average this year stands at 4,408, compared to 3,401 in 2023.
The increase is tied to mega projects and workforce demand tied to Gulf nations’ strategic development plans. Analysts believe the GCC labor market will continue to offer strong opportunities for Pakistan, provided the country aligns its skills training and migration policies with host nation requirements.
On the downside, the UAE and Oman witnessed a sharp decline. Only 13,865 Pakistanis went to the UAE in H1 2025, a drop from 64,130 in 2024. Oman saw 8,467 workers, a steep fall from 81,587 last year. Officials cite restrictive visa changes and job market saturation as key reasons.
The UK also reduced intake, with 2,595 Pakistani emigrants in the first half of 2025, compared to 13,695 in 2024. However, the USA saw a marginal increase, reaching 584 emigrants by mid-2025, up from 1,077 last year.
Pakistan’s overall manpower exports totaled 336,442 workers in H1 2025, down from 727,381 in 2024. Despite this, experts remain optimistic, pointing to ongoing diplomatic efforts to renegotiate labor deals, especially with the UAE and Oman.
Remittances remain a lifeline—with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reporting $30.5 billion out of $38.3 billion came from the GCC, US, and UK in 2024 alone.