{"id":"f-445134d771-9ab14b52-a0f5-5d9c-b5d7-b18a2e421206","title":"Iran-Israel Conflict: Are Jobs, Flights And $45 Billion In Remittances At Risk For India?","description":"Rising US-Israel-Iran tensions trigger Indian advisories as nearly 1 crore Indians in the Gulf face risks to jobs, remittances and travel.","timestamp":1772601343,"category":"national_v_two","headline":"Iran-Israel Conflict: Are Jobs, Flights And $45 Billion In Remittances At Risk For India?","modifiedHeadline":"Iran-Israel war: India’s $45B, jobs at risk?","subCategories":["scid_b6669955"],"subcategoriesName":["National"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"389","fcSummary":"Rising US-Israel-Iran tensions trigger Indian advisories as nearly 1 crore Indians in the Gulf face risks to jobs, remittances and travel.","summary":"Rising US-Israel-Iran tensions trigger Indian advisories as nearly 1 crore Indians in the Gulf face risks to jobs, remittances and travel.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/timesnow/f-445134d771-9ab14b52-a0f5-5d9c-b5d7-b18a2e421206","sourceUrl":"https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/iran-israel-conflict-are-jobs-flights-and-45-billion-in-remittances-at-risk-for-india-article-153748586","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/fjN3ODkoCad0.webp","content":"

After tensions flare in West Asia following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, India has urged its nationals to remain extremely

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cautious. The appeal follows a sharp military escalation in the region, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli and American military facilities in countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain. In response, Indian embassies across Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Palestine have issued advisories asking citizens to stay vigilant and strictly adhere to local safety and emergency instructions. Nearly 1 Crore Indians Live in GCC Nations The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region hosts one of the largest overseas Indian populations. The UAE accounts for the highest number, with 43.26 lakh Indians residing there. Saudi Arabia follows with 27.47 lakh, while Kuwait has 10.36 lakh, Qatar 8.30 lakh, Oman 6.76 lakh, and Bahrain 3.17 lakh. Altogether, close to 99.34 lakh — nearly one crore — Indians live and work across GCC countries, according to an ETNow report. For decades, destinations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have attracted Indian professionals and workers due to tax-free salaries, competitive compensation, and employment opportunities across construction, hospitality, IT, and healthcare. Remittances: A Crucial Economic Lifeline In FY 2023–24, India received USD 118.7 billion in total remittances. Of this, GCC nations contributed 37.9 per cent, roughly $45 billion. The UAE alone accounted for 19.2 per cent (about $22.8 billion), followed by Saudi Arabia at 6.7 per cent (around $.9 billion) and Kuwait at 3.9 per cent (about $4.6 billion), the report states. However, the GCC’s contribution has declined over time. In FY 2016–17, the region’s share stood at 46.7 per cent, compared to 37.9 per cent in FY 2023–24, indicating a gradual downward trend. According to the World Bank, India remained the world’s top remittance recipient in 2024. India-Gulf Air Corridor Faces Disruptions The India-Gulf route remains the busiest international air corridor for Indian travellers. As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 26,495 international flights were cleared weekly during the winter 2025 schedule, averaging 3,785 daily departures across all overseas routes, with the Gulf region forming the largest segment. Major carriers operating between India and Gulf countries include Air India, IndiGo, Emirates, Qatar Airways and others. Amid airspace curbs linked to the Iran conflict, more than 170 flights were cancelled or delayed in February–March 2026, prompting the DGCA to issue operational advisories. Over 1,000 Workers Depart Daily Data from the e-Migrate portal shows that 3,98,316 immigration clearances were granted for GCC nations in 2023 — an average of 1,091 departures daily. Most migrants fall under blue-collar categories. Saudi Arabia accounted for 2,00,713 clearances, followed by the UAE (71,687), Kuwait (48,212), Qatar (30,683), Oman (21,336), and Bahrain (7,376), as per the report. Given the scale of employment, remittance flows, and aviation connectivity, any prolonged geopolitical instability in the Gulf could have far-reaching consequences for Indian citizens and the broader economy.

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Iran-Israel Conflict: Are Jobs, Flights And $45 Billion In Remittances At Risk For India?

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