Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia

Ethnic group in Saudi Arabia

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Ethnic group

Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia

Pakistani workers at Al Masjid Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Medina

Total population
1,814,678 (2022 census) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Riyadh, Khobar, Jeddah, Makkah, Jubail, Dammam, Jizan, Medina
Languages
Urdu * Pashto * Punjabi * Hindko * Kashmiri * Sindhi * Arabic * Saraiki
Religion
Islam

Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia are either Pakistani people who live in Saudi Arabia after having been born elsewhere, or are Saudi Arabian-born but have Pakistani roots. By Pakistani roots, this could mean roots linking back to Pakistan or Pakistani diaspora or South Asia. Many Pakistani army officers and soldiers also serve in Saudi Arabia and train the Saudi military cadets. According to a 2023 estimate, 2.64 million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia.[2][3]

## Society

[edit]

### Culture

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A Pakistani hotel in Medina

There are numerous restaurants, shops and cultural activities in Saudi Arabia which cater to the Pakistani diaspora. In Jeddah's Azizia district, a large Pakistani community is present due the close proximity of Pakistan International School in Jeddah. Azizia district is home to numerous Pakistani food outlets and shops. Sharfia and Baghdadia district are other districts with significant Pakistani communities. Similarly, Al Shemaisy and Al Manfuha are areas with a substantial number of amenities related to the Pakistani community i.e. Pakistani food outlets, embroidery, groceries etc. A Pakistani diaspora exists on a smaller scale throughout Saudi Arabia.

### Economic contributions

[edit]

Numerous Pakistani entrepreneurs have established successful ventures in Saudi Arabia. Notable examples include Abdul Kabeer Shah, a native of Landhi in Karachi who began his career as a laborer in the kingdom and later founded a successful fast-food chain, Alta’am ("Taste").[4] In April 2025, a delegation of nearly 20 Pakistani-origin businessmen based in Saudi Arabia attended the inaugural Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. Organized by Pakistan's Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the event aimed to acknowledge the contributions of expatriates to the national economy and address their concerns. The businessmen expressed interest in investing in Pakistan's tourism infrastructure, agriculture, food processing, and general trading sectors. Faisal Tahir Khan, a Saudi-born Pakistani businessman, highlighted plans by the Pakistan Investment Forum (PIF) to establish a commercial hub in Saudi Arabia to promote the top 100 Pakistani brands.[5]

Ali Khurshid Malik, another Pakistani businessman in Saudi Arabia and finance secretary of PIF, emphasized opportunities in Saudi Arabia's construction sector, particularly with projects like NEOM City. He noted the demand for Pakistani construction materials and skilled labor, especially in smart city technologies. Malik also pointed out the need for Pakistan to enhance its certification systems to supply certified skilled workers to the Kingdom.[5]

### Education

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Pakistani male students (lower right) in front of their school, Pakistan International School Jeddah

To meet the requirement of the education, there are Pakistani schools in large cities of Saudi Arabia. They are known as International Schools with the name of the city comes after where the school is situated. They follow Pakistani national curriculum apart from Pakistan International School (English Section), Jeddah, which follow British Curriculum.

Riyadh: Pakistan International School, Riyadh - Largest School catering to Pakistani residents in Riyadh. Pakistan International School, English Section provides IGCSE and A-Level education to the Pakistani community

Jeddah: Pakistan International School, Jeddah and Pakistan International School (English Section), Jeddah

Jubail: Pakistan International School, Jubail

Taif: Pakistan International School, Taif

Al-Hassa: Pakistan International School, Al-Hasa

Al-Khobar: Pakistan International School, Al-Khobar

Al-Madina Al-Aqeeq international school, Al-Madina There are many private schools which cater to other educational needs of students.

## Notable Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia

[edit]

* In 1957, Pakistani expatriate Anwar Ali[6] became the governor of SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Fund), who had come to the country with an International Monetary Fund mission and who held the post as a confidant of King Faisal until his death, in 1974.
* Nawaz Sharif \- spent eight years in self exile upon an agreement with Pervez Musharraf and Saad Hariri. Returned to Pakistan in 2007.
* General Raheel Shareef \- Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Pakistan is currently the chief of Joint Islamic Forces, Saudi Arabia.

### Saudi citizens of Pakistani descent

[edit]

* Ghulam Akbar Khan Niazi, military physician[7]
* Umer Chapra, economist[8]
* Abdullah Alam Rashid, Ministry of Agriculture a Punjabi-Pakistani Civil Engineer who helped build and map Saudi roadways connecting Riyadh to Jeddah in the early 1900s. Alam Rashid created and mapped the roadways and major connections between two of the most populous cities in the Kingdom leading to the discovery of habitat, natural resources and settlements. In recognition of his services to the Kingdom, he was granted citizenship and the highest civilian honor for his services.

## Deportation

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Reportedly, in four months from late 2016 to early 2017, Saudi Arabia deported at least 40,000 Pakistani nationals due to visa issues and violation of the rules of residence and work.[9][10][11][12] In addition, an estimated 250,000 Pakistanis have been deported from various countries in a three year period from 2012 to 2015. Of them, 131,643 were deported from Saudi Arabia.[13]

## Media

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Urdu News targets Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia, providing them news in their national language, Urdu.[14] Bazm E Shaheen is also a community run organization which organizes events for the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia.

## See also

[edit]

* Pakistan portal
* Saudi Arabia portal

* Pakistan – Saudi Arabia relations
* Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia
* Migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region
* Treatment of South Asian labourers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region

## References

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1. ^ "Saudi Arabia 2022 Census" (PDF). General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
2. ^ Al Sherbini, Ramadan (May 5, 2023). "Pakistani expat worker numbers in Saudi Arabia surge to 2.64 million as ties thrive". Gulf News. Cairo. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
3. ^ "Lahore to Jeddah latest ticket price of PIA". Pakistan Observer. Lahore. 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
4. ^ Saeed, Aamir (15 March 2023). "Pakistani man, for years a laborer, now lives the Saudi dream as a successful restaurateur". Arab News. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
5. ^ a b Shabbir, Saima (13 April 2025). "Pakistani businessmen in Saudi Arabia eye investment in key sectors back home". Arab News. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
6. ^ "Technical Difficulties" (PDF). 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
7. ^ Shah, Aamir (17 February 2019). "King Abdullah's first Pakistani doctor says bilateral ties in the pink of health". Arab News Pakistan. Retrieved 13 April 2019. "But to his surprise the crown prince asked: "You have been living here for so many years, why shouldn't I grant you nationality of Saudi Arabia?" "This was indeed a pleasant surprise for me and I bowed my head to express consent," Niazi said. "He granted me the nationality, saying 'Go and serve my people as a Saudi citizen and nobody now will call you a foreigner or a non-Saudi national'."
8. ^ Al-Khudair, Deema (16 February 2019). "50 years of memories: Pakistani economist who helped build Saudi banking system". Arab News. Retrieved 13 April 2019. "Chapra won the King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies in 1990. In recognition of his services to the Kingdom, he was granted Saudi citizenship."
9. ^ "39,000 Pakistanis deported from Saudi Arabia in four months". The Express Tribune. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
10. ^ "Saudi Arabia 'deports 40,000 Pakistani workers over terror fears'". The Independent. 2017-02-13. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
11. ^ "40,000 Pakistani workers deported over terror fears from Saudi Arabia". 2017-04-12. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
12. ^ Dawn.com (2017-02-07). "Saudi Arabia deported 39,000 Pakistanis in last four months: report". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
13. ^ Dawn.com, APP | (2016-11-20). "Nearly 250,000 Pakistanis deported from 2012-2015: report". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
14. ^ "The biggest Urdu newspaper". Al Khaleejiah Advertasing and Public Relations Company. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2012.

## Bibliography

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* v
* t
* e

Immigration to Saudi Arabia

From Asia|

* Bangladeshis
* Filipinos
* Indians
* Indonesians
* Iraqis
* Koreans
* Lebanese
* Nepalis
* Pakistanis
* Syrians
* Turks

From elsewhere|

* Americans
* Australians

See also|

* Kafala system
* Human trafficking
* Demographics
* Foreign workers

* v
* t
* e

Demographics of Saudi Arabia

Religions|

* Islam
* Sunni
* Shia
* Ahmadiyya
* Christianity
* Catholicism
* Eastern Orthodoxy
* Oriental Orthodoxy
* Protestantism
* Jews
* Hinduism
* Buddhism

Ethnic groups|

* Arabs
* Bedoon
* Bedouin
* Rashaida

Immigrants and expatriates|

* v
* t
* e

Immigration to Saudi Arabia

From Asia|

* Bangladeshis
* Filipinos
* Indians
* Indonesians
* Iraqis
* Koreans
* Lebanese
* Nepalis
* Pakistanis
* Syrians
* Turks

From elsewhere|

* Americans
* Australians

See also|

* Kafala system
* Human trafficking
* Demographics
* Foreign workers

Related|

* Youth

* v
* t
* e

Pakistani diaspora

Africa|

* Libya
* Somalia
* South Africa

Asia|

| South|

* Afghanistan
* Punjabis
* Bangladesh
* India
* Baloch
* Pashtuns
* Sindhis
* Sri Lanka
* Pashtuns
* Sindhis

|

Gulf|

* Bahrain
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* United Arab Emirates
* Baloch
* Yemen

Far East|

* China
* Hong Kong
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South East|

* Burma
* Malaysia
* Jawi Peranakan
* Punjabis
* Singapore
* Thailand

Middle East|

* Jordan
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Europe|

* Denmark
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Americas|

* Brazil
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* Houston
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* Pashtuns
* Punjabis
* Punjabi Mexicans
* Sindhis

Oceania|

* Australia
* Baloch
* Pashtuns
* Punjabis
* Hazaras
* Sindhis
* New Zealand
* Punjabis

See also|

| Sub-diasporas|

* Baloch
* Gujarati
* Hazara
* Azad Kashmiri
* Kashmiri
* Pashtun
* Punjabi
* Saraiki
* Sindhi

|

Related articles|

* Anti-Pakistan sentiment
* Foreign relations
* Diplomatic missions
* Immigration to Pakistan
* Little Pakistan
* Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development
* Pakistani nationality law
* Pakistani passport
* Pakistani students
* Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens

Portals:

* Pakistan
* Saudi Arabia

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