New Delhi, December 28, 2025 – Saudi Arabia deported more than 11,000 Indian nationals in 2025, marking the highest number of deportations of Indians from any country this year, according to data tabled by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Parliament.
The figures, presented in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, reveal that over 24,600 Indians were deported from 81 countries worldwide in 2025. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for the bulk of these cases, far surpassing the United States, which deported around 3,800 Indians – its highest in five years.
Officials attribute the high numbers from Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia primarily to violations of residency and labor laws, including visa overstays, working without valid permits, absconding from employers, and involvement in civil or criminal cases. Many affected individuals are low-skilled migrant workers in sectors such as construction, domestic work, and caregiving.
Other notable countries include the United Arab Emirates (1,469 deportations), Bahrain (764), Myanmar (1,591), and Malaysia (1,485).
Separately, reports circulating on social media and in some regional outlets have alleged that a portion of recent deportations and detentions of Indian nationals in Middle Eastern countries involve accusations of espionage on behalf of Israel.
These claims suggest involvement in security-related incidents in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Iran, with some assertions pointing to Indian workers in critical sectors – including those employed by major IT firms – allegedly collecting intelligence that compromised digital and military systems.
In Iran, hardline media and social media posts have claimed arrests of dozens of Indians linked to Israeli intelligence operations, with some reports mentioning executions or eliminations by special forces. Similar unsubstantiated allegations have emerged regarding Qatar and the UAE.
One particularly claim links an Indian intelligence role to an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar, on September 9, 2025, which targeted Hamas leadership in a residential complex and drew international condemnation as a violation of Qatari sovereignty.
However, these espionage allegations remain unconfirmed by official sources from India, the affected countries, or Israel. Fact-checking efforts and credible reporting have debunked several viral claims as baseless or exaggerated, often stemming from misinformation during heightened regional tensions.
India's MEA has not commented on these specific reports, emphasizing instead its priority on the welfare of nationals abroad and engagement with host governments for fair treatment.
The Indian government continues to advise citizens traveling abroad to adhere strictly to local laws and visa regulations to avoid such issues.
