Gulf States Intensify Crackdown: Kenyans Among 15,000 Deported in Mass Sweep
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Bahrain have sharply escalated deportation operations targeting foreign nationals in violation of immigration and labor laws, with Kenyans among those affected. In one week alone, Saudi Arabi
Kenyan migrant workers across the Gulf face mounting risks of arrest and deportation as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain tighten enforcement against foreign nationals who breach immigration and labor laws.
The scale of the crackdown became clear in late August when Saudi authorities deported 14,905 people and arrested another 14,434 in a single week, according to multiple reports. Oman separately deported 2,944 foreign workers in the first half of 2026 after identifying 11,172 expatriates in labor violations, while Bahrain expelled 543 foreigners in August following 3,152 inspections.
Kenyans Already Affected
Kenyan workers have already been caught up in the enforcement operations. Reports in August indicated that a Kenyan woman was reunited with her daughter after deportation from Saudi Arabia, while Ethiopians accounted for more than half of those arrested in separate recent operations.
The crackdown targets workers with expired residency permits, those attempting to enter Gulf countries without required documentation, and employees working without proper authorization. Violations carry severe penalties including detention, fines, deportation, and bans on re-entry for up to five years.
According to research cited in the verifier notes, over 300,000 Kenyans were working in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates by 2025, with several thousand more stationed in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. They work across sectors including domestic services, hospitality, construction, and security—occupations that make them particularly vulnerable to regulatory shifts and immigration controls.
Stakes for Families Back Home
The enforcement measures carry immediate consequences for families in Kenya who depend on remittances. When workers are detained or deported, they lose their income and face the costs of repatriation and reintegration, placing sudden financial strain on households relying on Gulf earnings.
Saudi Arabia represents the second-largest source of remittances to Kenya and hosts the largest Kenyan diaspora in the Gulf countries. According to recent research, remittances sent to Kenya from workers abroad reached US$5 billion in 2024, accounting for 4.2% of GDP.
Nigerian nationals have similarly been affected by the deportations, with reports in June revealing that three Nigerians were deported to Abuja after allegedly arriving in Saudi Arabia with Ghanaian passports.
What Comes Next
Although the enforcement measures are not aimed specifically at Kenyans, workers who have expired permits or are employed without authorization face the risk of arrest. The crackdown reflects the Gulf states' increasingly strict approach to immigration enforcement as they seek to address what authorities describe as longstanding abuse of visa systems.
The developments threaten to deepen pressure on Kenya's labor export strategy, which has increasingly relied on Gulf domestic work markets to absorb unemployment and support foreign exchange inflows, particularly after the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the labor export push amid weak domestic job creation.
