New data from India’s Ministry of External Affairs reveals a significant pattern of deportations affecting Indian citizens abroad, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the primary source of repatriations during 2025. According to parliamentary disclosures, Saudi authorities deported 10,884 Indian nationals—7,019 from Riyadh and 3,865 from Jeddah—surpassing combined figures from numerous other countries.
The United States ranked second with 3,812 deportations, reflecting intensified immigration enforcement under the current administration. The United Arab Emirates reported 1,469 deportations, marking the highest figure recorded in the past five years. Cumulative data shows nearly 4,000 Indian nationals have been repatriated from the UAE since 2021, with numbers steadily increasing annually.
Primary reasons for deportation include visa overstays, unauthorized employment, labor regulation violations, and fraudulent job schemes. The Indian government has identified 3,505 unregistered recruitment agents through its e-Migrate portal, maintaining ongoing vigilance against illegal labor practices.
The UAE’s recent visa amnesty program, extended through December 2024, provided temporary relief for residency violators seeking to regularize their status or depart without penalties. This marked the fourth such initiative since 2007, demonstrating ongoing efforts to address migration challenges through administrative solutions.
Globally, deportation procedures vary significantly between jurisdictions. Many countries do not disclose information regarding illegal residents until deportation orders require travel document verification. Indian missions typically become involved only when nationality confirmation or emergency certificates are necessary for repatriation.
The Indian government maintains multiple assistance channels for citizens abroad, including emergency hotlines, digital platforms like MADAD and CPGRAMS, and direct engagement with host countries’ immigration and labor authorities. The recently established Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) additionally addresses cyber-enabled employment fraud targeting overseas workers.