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Gulf conflict: Indians in Bahrain, Qatar eye Saudi visas to fly out

March 07, 2026 5 min read International Relations Social Issues GS2 (Indian Diaspora Bilateral Relations Effect of International Events on India)
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What Happened

  • Indians residing in Qatar and Bahrain are seeking Saudi Arabia transit visas as a contingency to exit the Gulf region by overland route, following widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures triggered by the West Asia conflict.
  • Airports in Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, and Kuwait have been largely shut or operating under severe restrictions, with the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks disrupting air traffic across the region.
  • Indian nationals unable to fly are exploring overland journeys to Saudi Arabia or Oman — countries where airports have partially resumed operations and evacuation flights have been organised.
  • India's embassy in Qatar began registering details of Indian nationals on short-term visas to assess the number of non-resident Indians requiring assistance; those on permanent job visas or resident permits in Qatar were not required to register.
  • The Ministry of Civil Aviation authorised 58 special repatriation flights; IndiGo alone operated 30 special relief flights during March 2-4, 2026, repatriating approximately 15,000 stranded passengers from UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
  • Indian carriers are using a "Southern Bypass" route — through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman — to avoid restricted Gulf airspace, significantly increasing flight times.

Static Topic Bridges

Indian Diaspora in the Gulf — Scale and Strategic Significance

The Indian diaspora in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries constitutes one of the most strategically and economically significant migrant communities in the world. As of 2024, approximately 8.9 million Indians lived across the six GCC nations, making them the largest single expatriate community in the region.

  • Total Indian diaspora in GCC (2024): ~8.9 million (Ministry of External Affairs estimate).
  • UAE: largest concentration (~3.5 million); Saudi Arabia (~2.6 million); Kuwait (~1 million); Qatar (~700,000-830,000); Bahrain (~350,000); Oman (~800,000).
  • Remittances: India received $125 billion in remittances in FY2024 — the world's largest recipient. Gulf-based Indians account for approximately 40% of total remittances.
  • Key sectors: construction, healthcare, IT services, retail trade, and domestic work.
  • The Gulf diaspora is predominantly composed of semi-skilled and unskilled workers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Operation Vande Bharat (2020), Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023), and Operation Sindhu (Afghanistan, 2021) are precedents for India's evacuation framework.

Connection to this news: The scale of the Indian population in Bahrain and Qatar — 350,000 and 700,000+ respectively — means even partial disruption creates a large-scale humanitarian coordination challenge. The registration exercise and special flights reflect the operational scale India must maintain for diaspora protection in conflict zones.

India's Evacuation Doctrine — Consular Protection Framework

India does not have a formal statutory right of evacuation for overseas citizens, but has developed an operational doctrine through successive crises. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through its Emergency Control Room and bilateral embassy networks, coordinates evacuations in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the armed forces.

  • The MEA maintains a 24-hour Emergency Control Room (+91-11-2301-2113) for diaspora distress situations.
  • Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) hold Indian passports and are entitled to full consular assistance; Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders are entitled to lifelong visa-free travel but have more limited consular rights in distress situations.
  • India's major evacuation operations: Operation Vande Bharat (COVID-19, 2020 — world's largest repatriation; ~7 million passengers); Operation Kaveri (Sudan, 2023 — ~4,000 evacuated); Operation Sindhu (Afghanistan, 2021 — ~600 evacuated); Operation Ganga (Ukraine, 2022 — ~22,500 Indian students).
  • The 1980 Citizenship Act and the Passports Entry into India Act, 1920 govern the legal framework for Indian citizens' repatriation rights.
  • Air India and private carriers (IndiGo, Vistara) are requisitioned for special flights; the government subsidises fares in humanitarian crises through the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra.

Connection to this news: The current operation reflects the established evacuation playbook — registration of at-risk nationals, special flight authorisations, and alternative route guidance — applied to the Gulf conflict context.

The Strait of Hormuz and India's Energy Vulnerability

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Approximately 17-21 million barrels of crude oil pass through it daily, representing roughly 20% of global oil trade. Iran has historically threatened to close the strait in response to Western sanctions or military action — a scenario with severe implications for India.

  • Width of the Strait of Hormuz: approximately 39 km (21 nautical miles) at its narrowest point.
  • Countries whose oil exports depend on the Strait: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar (LNG), and Bahrain.
  • India imports approximately 85% of its crude oil needs; Gulf imports account for 40-45% of total crude imports.
  • LNG: Qatar is among the world's top LNG exporters; India's Petronet LNG has long-term contracts with Qatar for approximately 8.5 million tonnes per year.
  • An Iranian disruption of the Strait would cause immediate price shocks for India — crude import bills would surge, feeding inflation in petroleum products, fertilisers, and transportation costs.
  • The US Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain — a key element in protecting Gulf shipping lanes.

Connection to this news: The disruption to Gulf flights is a visible humanitarian consequence of the conflict, but the economic risk via the Strait of Hormuz is the deeper structural concern for India — making India's strategic position on the West Asia conflict a matter of both diaspora welfare and energy security.

Key Facts & Data

  • Indian population in Qatar: ~700,000-830,000; in Bahrain: ~350,000.
  • Total Indian diaspora in GCC (2024): ~8.9 million (MEA estimate).
  • India's total remittances received FY2024: $125 billion (world's highest); ~40% from Gulf.
  • Special repatriation flights authorised: 58; IndiGo operated 30 special relief flights (March 2-4, 2026).
  • ~15,000 passengers repatriated from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman in the first wave (March 2-4, 2026).
  • Airspace restrictions in: UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait — major Indian travel hubs in the Gulf.
  • Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of global oil trade (17-21 million barrels/day).
  • India-Qatar LNG contract (Petronet LNG): ~8.5 million tonnes/year.
  • US Fifth Fleet headquarters: Bahrain.