Saudi Arabia remained the top destination for Pakistani workers in 2025, employing 530,256 people—nearly seven out of every 10 Pakistanis who left the country for overseas jobs during the year, according to official data from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE).

Pakistan registered 762,499 workers for overseas employment in 2025, taking the cumulative number of registered migrant workers to 15.13 million between 1971 and mid-2026.

Saudi Arabia has consistently been Pakistan’s largest overseas labor market. Since 1971, the Kingdom has employed 7.87 million Pakistanis, accounting for more than half of all registered overseas workers. The United Arab Emirates follows with 4.48 million, while Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait remain other major destinations.

After pandemic-related disruptions in 2020 and 2021, overseas employment has rebounded strongly. Pakistan has sent more than 700,000 workers abroad annually over the past three years, reflecting renewed demand from Gulf economies.

Official statistics also show that Pakistan exports workers across a wide range of professions. In 2024, the largest categories included 364,574 laborers, 185,209 drivers, 14,938 masons, 10,895 electricians, 8,018 engineers, and 3,642 doctors, alongside thousands of other skilled and semi-skilled workers.

The Gulf continues to dominate Pakistan’s labor migration. Of the 54 destinations tracked by the BEOE, Gulf countries account for the overwhelming majority of overseas employment, while non-Gulf destinations represent less than five percent of total registrations.

The migration trend remains a key source of foreign exchange for Pakistan. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, workers’ remittances reached a record $38.3 billion in FY2024-25. Saudi Arabia was the largest contributor, sending $9.34 billion, followed by the UAE with $7.83 billion. Together, the two countries accounted for more than $17 billion, nearly half of Pakistan’s total remittance inflows during the fiscal year.