Indian Diaspora in Saudi Arabia: Migration, Cooperation and Soft-power Strength

Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia is arguably the least explored category. To conceptualise this diasporic event and its genesis, it correlates with the oil boom in Saudi Arabia in the 1970s, coinciding with oil exploration, drilling, commercialisation and transportation. The demand for workforce was met by India and other countries, mainly from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, etc. What characterised the core of Indian diasporic success in Saudi Arabia, given the Kingdom’s religious orthodoxy and strict civic and juridical regulations, is professionalism, dedication and commitment. This has catapulted them to robust engagements in various domains, including energy, infrastructure, trade, security and defence, as well as cricket, cuisine, culture and yoga. In light of this, the article examines the role of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia and its complex history marked by Saudisation, stringent regulation and non-citizenship legal restriction in harnessing potential through enterprise and persistent entrepreneurship. It also argues that diaspora is a soft power asset that secures shared success and deeper synergies, binding the two countries in an enduring relationship.