Nearly 10m Indians in danger: How a wider Gulf conflict will hit close to home

Nearly 10 million Indians living across West Asia could face heightened risk as tensions escalate following the US-Israel military operation against Iran and Tehran’s retaliation.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday described the situation in West Asia as a “matter of grave concern” and reiterated that India supports dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said it is “deeply concerned” and has urged all sides to exercise restraint, while Indian missions remain in touch with nationals and have issued advisories. The Gulf hosts one of the largest overseas Indian communities. Around 3.5 million Indians live in the UAE, about 2.7 million in Saudi Arabia, 1 million in Kuwait, nearly 800,000 in Qatar, around 660,000 in Oman and about 350,000 in Bahrain. Smaller communities are also present in Jordan, Iraq and Israel. In the UAE, Indians make up roughly 35% of the population, making it the single largest hub of Indian citizens abroad. The workforce spans construction and maintenance roles as well as professionals in healthcare, finance and IT. The military strikes on Saturday also put the spotlight on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for India and other Asian countries, prompting officials here to activate contingency plans to safeguard energy supplies.The region is a major source of remittances to India. In 2023–24, the UAE alone accounted for nearly 19% of India’s total inward remittances, underlining the economic implications of any prolonged instability. External affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke separately with Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, conveying India’s concern.The Cabinet Committee on Security reviewed the evolving situation and flagged the safety of Indian nationals. Amid airspace closures in Iran, Tehran has allowed stranded foreign students, including Indians, to exit via land borders and reschedule examinations.