International Migration in the Middle East

Abstract

� International migration is one of the current most important socio-economic and political phenomena in the Middle East. Its importance increased in the early 1970s as a result of the huge increase in oil prices and the adoption of ambitious development plans, especially in the GCC (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain). International migration provided solutions not only to many countries of the region, but also to countries from outside the region. It helped the sending countries deal with the problem of unemployment and secured successive flows of foreign currencies needed for investment and development. It also helped the receiving countries by producing the necessary labor force to meet the requirements of development plans. The historical classification of the countries of the region as immigrant-sending or immigrant-receiving countries does not adequately describe the current situation of international migration in the region. From the early twenty-first century, the region faced many complicated political and economic circumstances, represented in the outbreak of the second Gulf War against Iraq in 2003, the revolutions in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Syria, and Yemen beginning in 2011, the outbreak of civil wars in some of these countries, and the global financial crisis of 2008. As a result of these circumstances, new patterns of international migration in the region have appeared and consequently many of these countries have multiple classifications according to their relationship with international migration.� This paper aims to explain the current patterns of international migration in the Middle East; to lay out a new classification of international migration streams in view of the changing socio- economic circumstances of the region; and to highlight the main reasons for international migration and future of international migration in the Middle East.�