ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Amid increasing concerns over immigration compliance in the Gulf region, official data from Pakistan’s federal government confirms that 21,951 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf countries from March 1 to July 13, 2026. Presented to the National Assembly, these figures reveal that the deportations were largely due to violations such as overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The near 22,000 Pakistanis repatriated over four months for visa breaches and begging underscore a tightening of immigration enforcement across the Middle East.
The Ministry for Narcotics Control’s written statement detailed that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the majority of these deportations, with 15,500 Pakistani nationals expelled during this period. The United Arab Emirates sent back 3,803 individuals, followed by Oman with 1,606 deportations, Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429, and Kuwait with 97. Among those repatriated, a notable group included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 serving prison sentences, and 472 identified specifically as beggars.
Almost 22,000 Pakistanis Repatriated from Gulf States Amid Immigration Crackdowns
These developments come amid increased scrutiny by Gulf Cooperation Council countries regarding immigration rules and visa enforcement. The records indicate that 1,924 individuals were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry. The UAE and Oman also repatriated 347 and 295 Pakistanis respectively for similar reasons. Furthermore, 968 Pakistanis were officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 were linked to direct violations of visa regulations through administrative procedures.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has ramped up airport screenings domestically to prevent individuals from traveling abroad using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials emphasized that those attempting to exploit pilgrimage or tourist visas to undertake illegal work or beg will face lifelong bans on travel. Authorities highlighted ongoing coordinated efforts between domestic law enforcement and international organizations such as Interpol to manage the deportation of criminal suspects.
Saudi Arabia Leads the Repatriation Count from Gulf Nations
The official report revealed that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified “others” category, where the interior ministry did not specify the nature of the offenses. Nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE specifically via Interpol. Other reasons for deportation included expired residence permits, refusals at border crossings, theft, and attempts to travel further using invalid or fraudulent identification credentials.
Members of parliament expressed concern over how these high deportation figures might affect the international reputation of Pakistani workers abroad. Lawmakers urged for stricter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment agencies to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Government officials assured that efforts to monitor and align domestic emigration procedures with international legal standards will persist.