Kenyan Workers Face Rising Deportation Risk as Gulf States Tighten Rules

Gulf states are tightening enforcement against foreign nationals, putting Kenyan migrant workers at greater risk of detention and deportation. 

The measures include mass inspections and targeted operations against people who breach immigration and labour regulations. Saudi Arabia has been the most aggressive in enforcing the rules. In late August, authorities reported deporting nearly 15,000 people in one week and arresting a similar number for alleged violations of residency and labour regulations.

The scale of the operations reflects the Kingdom’s increasingly strict approach to immigration enforcement. Attempts to enter the country without the required documents and expired residency permits are subject to severe penalties. Ethiopians accounted for more than half of those arrested in separate recent operations, while Kenyans have also been affected.

In August, a Kenyan woman was deported from Saudi Arabia and later reunited with her daughter, highlighting the impact that loss of legal status can have on migrant workers and their families. Other Gulf states are also stepping up enforcement. Oman deported nearly 3,000 foreign workers during the first half of the year after identifying more than 11,000 expatriates who had breached labour regulations.

In Bahrain, the Labour Market Regulatory Authority increased inspections and removed more than 500 foreign nationals in August. In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai’s Al Awir Centre processed nearly 12,000 cases involving immigration violators during the first six months of 2026.

Jordan has taken a less punitive approach but has set 30 September as the deadline for undocumented workers to regularise their status. Authorities have warned that deportations could follow for those who fail to meet the deadline.

The developments have implications for Kenya, where the Gulf is an important destination for migrant workers. Kenyans work across sectors including domestic services, hospitality, construction and security.

Although the enforcement measures are not aimed specifically at Kenyans, workers who have expired permits or are employed without authorisation face the risk of arrest, fines, detention and deportation. Such action can also affect families in Kenya that depend on remittances, particularly when workers lose their income and face the costs of repatriation and reintegration.