Saudi Arabia has become the leading destination for Pakistani migrant workers in 2025, attracting over 242,000 job seekers in the year’s first half. This figure represents more than 70% of all overseas employment registrations, driven by the Kingdom’s large-scale Vision 2030 projects. These projects have opened up thousands of jobs for both skilled and unskilled Pakistani laborers.
This marks a major shift in Pakistan’s labor migration trend, as the UAE—previously a top destination—saw a steep decline. Only 13,865 Pakistani workers registered for jobs in the UAE between January and June 2025, a 94% drop compared to 2022. Experts attribute the fall to tighter visa rules and the UAE’s focus on localizing its workforce and investing in technology sectors.
Out of the 336,442 Pakistanis who registered for overseas work in the first six months of 2025, the majority—over 200,000—were laborers. Drivers came next with 73,342 registrations, showing the high demand for transport and service workers across the Gulf. Technical skills like electricians, plumbers, and technicians also remained in demand, with thousands applying for these roles.
While blue-collar jobs dominate, white-collar migration is also growing slowly but steadily. More than 2,800 engineers, 1,800 doctors, and over 3,000 accountants registered for overseas work. Meanwhile, nurses and IT professionals continue to seek opportunities in countries with skilled labor shortages.
Other Gulf countries are gaining popularity as well. Qatar received over 26,000 Pakistani workers, and Bahrain saw 18,679 registrations in just six months. These numbers suggest Bahrain may surpass last year’s migration total. Beyond the Gulf, Turkey and Germany are emerging as attractive destinations, especially for skilled workers, with 1,688 and 523 registrations respectively.
Despite a slight dip in remittances—from $4.05 billion in March to $3.41 billion in June—they remain vital for Pakistan’s economy. Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain the top sources, contributing a combined $1.54 billion. If the current pace continues, 2025 might approach last year’s total overseas employment figures, though still behind the post-pandemic highs of 2022 and 2023.