SRINAGAR: More than one crore Indian nationals are currently residing in West Asian and Gulf countries, the Ministry of External Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. The ongoing conflict in the region has disrupted travel, with airspace closures and flight cancellations affecting Indian tourists, students, pilgrims, and other visitors.
The ministry reported that the largest number of Indians live in the United Arab Emirates, with over 43 lakh nationals, followed by Saudi Arabia with nearly 28 lakh, and Kuwait with more than 10 lakh. Significant populations are also reported in Qatar and Oman, with 8.3 lakh and 6.7 lakh respectively, while Bahrain hosts over three lakh Indian residents. Smaller communities reside in Israel and Iraq, with around 42,000 and 25,000 people, and in Iran and Yemen, with 9,000 and 4,000 nationals. Indian citizens are also present in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, though in comparatively smaller numbers.
Indian embassies have been actively facilitating the return of citizens to India through both regular and non-scheduled commercial flights. Till March 21, 2026, over 3.75 lakh Indians had successfully travelled back home. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, emphasized that the government continues to monitor the situation closely and provide all possible assistance to those affected. Authorities are coordinating with local governments and airlines to ensure safe passage and have advised citizens to remain in contact with embassies while avoiding non-essential travel to conflict-affected areas.
The figures highlight the substantial presence of Indian nationals across the Gulf and West Asian region, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia alone accounting for more than two-thirds of the total population. The Ministry of External Affairs has stressed that evacuation and support operations will continue as long as the situation demands, underlining the government’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of its citizens abroad. -(KL)
