00:00Most African workers are not leaving Gulf countries.
00:03Despite the rising tensions, leaving isn't really an option
00:07because the region isn't just a workplace,
00:10it's a financial lifeline for families back home.
00:14In 2023 alone, African workers in Gulf countries
00:17sent about $131.5 billion back to their home countries.
00:23Take Saudi Arabia.
00:23In 2022, the country reported about 715,000 sub-Saharan African residents,
00:31making up more than 5% of the foreign population.
00:34Or Kenya, where the government estimates that over 500,000 Kenyans
00:39leave and work across the Middle East.
00:41People who had secured jobs in the Gulf are also stuck
00:45and visa policies are tightening.
00:48The UAE has also paused new work visas for citizens
00:52from several African countries, including Uganda, Sudan, Somalia,
00:56Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia.
00:59At the same time, Gulf countries are pushing policies
01:02that prioritize local workers.
01:04You may have heard of something called Saudization in Saudi Arabia
01:09or emirization in the UAE.
01:11These policies aim to increase employment for local workers,
01:15which means fewer opportunities for foreigners.
01:18For many Africans, the Gulf has long represented opportunity,
01:22but with a shift in political and regional instability,
01:26how will Africans navigate the job market?
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