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As Iran vs US-Israel expands to West Asia, a look at Indians who live in the Gulf region

March 01, 2026 4 min read International Relations Social Issues GS2 (Indian Diaspora India's Foreign Policy)
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What Happened

  • Following joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, the entire Gulf region was plunged into a security crisis, directly affecting millions of Indian nationals living and working there.
  • Iran launched retaliatory drones and ballistic missiles targeting Gulf states including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq, prompting mass airspace closures across 11 countries.
  • Multiple airlines suspended or cancelled services to the Middle East, leaving thousands of Indian travellers, workers, and tourists stranded in Dubai, Doha, and other Gulf hubs.
  • The Indian government began preliminary contingency planning for a possible evacuation of its citizens from the Gulf, with Prime Minister Modi chairing a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on March 1, 2026 to assess options.
  • The 9-million-strong Indian diaspora in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — the largest concentration of overseas Indians in any region — faced sudden and severe disruption to livelihoods, travel, and safety.

Static Topic Bridges

Indian Diaspora in Gulf Countries

The Indian diaspora in the six GCC countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain — represents the largest and most economically consequential concentration of overseas Indians anywhere in the world.

  • UAE: approximately 4.3 million Indians (largest Indian diaspora in any single country)
  • Saudi Arabia: 2.65 million
  • Kuwait: over 1 million
  • Qatar: 830,000
  • Oman: 665,000
  • Bahrain: 350,000
  • Total GCC Indian diaspora: approximately 9 million
  • Despite comprising roughly one-quarter of India's total overseas population, Gulf-based Indians remit nearly 40% of India's total inward remittances
  • GCC countries contributed approximately 38% of India's total remittances in FY2023-24

Connection to this news: The scale of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf transforms any regional conflict into a direct Indian foreign policy concern — the safety, welfare, and eventual evacuation of millions of Indian nationals becomes a state responsibility the moment airspace closes and security deteriorates.

India's Evacuation Operations: Historical Precedents

India has a long and expanding tradition of mounting large-scale evacuation operations to bring citizens home from conflict zones. These operations have become a visible demonstration of Indian state capacity and diplomatic reach.

  • Kuwait Airlift (1990): India's largest-ever civilian airlift — over 1,50,000 Indians evacuated from Kuwait during the First Gulf War; remains a landmark in consular operations
  • Operation Vande Bharat (2020): Evacuated nearly 1.83 crore Indians stranded globally during the COVID-19 pandemic; involved 3 phases of air and sea operations
  • Operation Ganga (2022): Evacuated Indian students from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war
  • Operation Ajay (2023): Evacuated over 1,300 Indians from Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict
  • Operation Kaveri (2023): Evacuated 3,961 Indians and 136 foreign nationals from Sudan using INS Sumedha and Indian Air Force transport aircraft

Connection to this news: The 2026 Middle East crisis raises the question of whether India will need to mount a Gulf evacuation comparable to — or exceeding — the 1990 Kuwait airlift. The scale of potential evacuees (9 million) far surpasses any previous operation.

Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)

The ICWF is the Indian government's primary institutional mechanism for providing emergency financial assistance to Indian nationals in distress overseas.

  • Established in 2009 under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
  • Provides: boarding and lodging for distressed workers, emergency medical care, air passage to India for stranded Indians, initial legal assistance, expenses for airlifting mortal remains
  • Operated through Indian missions (embassies and consulates) worldwide
  • Eligibility: restricted to Indian citizens only — NRIs, PIOs, and OCI cardholders are not individually eligible for financial assistance
  • Administered at mission level — Indian embassies use ICWF funds to respond to emergencies without waiting for central approval

Connection to this news: In a conflict scenario where flights are disrupted and workers are stranded, ICWF becomes the first institutional response mechanism — funding shelter, medical care, and eventual repatriation for distressed Indian nationals across Gulf countries.

Understanding the legal status of overseas Indians is essential for comprehending the scope of state obligations and the reach of welfare mechanisms like the ICWF.

  • NRI (Non-Resident Indian): Indian citizen residing outside India for employment, business, or education; retains Indian passport and citizenship; full ICWF eligibility
  • PIO (Person of Indian Origin): Foreign national of Indian ancestry; category was officially discontinued in 2015; all PIO cardholders converted to OCI
  • OCI (Overseas Citizen of India): Foreign national of Indian origin holding an OCI card; entitled to lifelong visa-free entry to India and certain economic rights, but does NOT receive individual ICWF financial assistance
  • The distinction between NRI and OCI determines eligibility for consular protection, emergency repatriation funding, and welfare interventions

Connection to this news: The 9 million Indians in the Gulf are predominantly NRIs — Indian citizens on work visas — which means they retain full entitlement to Indian consular protection and ICWF assistance in an evacuation scenario.

Key Facts & Data

  • Indian diaspora in GCC: approximately 9 million (UAE 4.3M, Saudi Arabia 2.65M, Kuwait 1M, Qatar 830K, Oman 665K, Bahrain 350K)
  • India's total remittance inflows: USD 125 billion in 2023 (world's largest remittance recipient)
  • GCC share of India's remittances: approximately 38-40% of total inflows
  • Remittances as share of India's GDP: over 3%
  • Kuwait Airlift (1990): 1,50,000 Indians evacuated — India's largest civilian airlift
  • Operation Kaveri (2023): 3,961 Indians evacuated from Sudan
  • DGCA advisory (March 1, 2026): Indian carriers advised to avoid airspace of 11 countries in West Asia
  • Over 400 India-origin international flights cancelled on March 1, 2026 alone