Concern as Gulf Nations Begin Deportations of Foreigners, Including Kenyans

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🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

According to Business Insider Africa , Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan have deported or ordered the deportation of thousands of foreign nationals in 2026, while the UAE has also stepped up the removal of residency violators.

Kenyan workers have already been affected by the ongoing enforcement operations, with reports in August this year indicating that a Kenyan woman was reunited with her daughter after deportation from Saudi Arabia.

The latest Saudi crackdown, conducted between August 20 and August 26, saw the Saudi Arabian government deport 14,905 people and arrest another 14,434 over various violations.

📌 What You Need to Know

Africans featured notably among those arrested for allegedly attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, with Ethiopians accounting for 58 per cent of the 1,450 people arrested during the operation.

Earlier in August, local Saudi media reported that Ethiopians accounted for 67 per cent of 1,457 people arrested while allegedly attempting to enter the country illegally between August 6 and August 12.

Ugandans have also appeared in recent Saudi enforcement operations, with reports indicating that at least 118 Ugandans were believed to be among 14,970 people arrested between July 16 and July 22.

Nigerians have similarly been affected by deportations from Saudi Arabia, with reports in June revealing that three Nigerian nationals were deported to Abuja after allegedly arriving with Ghanaian passports.

Meanwhile, the Omani government deported 2,944 foreign workers in the first half of 2026 after identifying 11,172 expatriates in labour violations.

Bahrain has also intensified its crackdown, with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority saying 543 foreigners were deported in August following 3,152 inspections and enforcement campaigns.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke

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