Re-figuring Return. Halfway-Return Migration to the United Arab Emirates.

Halfway-return migration refers to an emigrant’s return from a distant country to the broader geographical region from which they originated, rather than the specific country they were born and raised in. The ideal-typical halfway-return destination is more geographically and culturally proximate to the emigrant’s origin country than their previous overseas destination, while also offering a higher standard of living and better career opportunities than what is available in the emigrant’s origin country. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 48 high-skilled multinational migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia who previously lived in the West or East Asia, we find that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) fulfils all four criteria for a halfway-return destination for migrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA), but not for Sub-Saharan African migrants. These findings demonstrate the need to “re-figure” our understanding of return migration to move beyond the methodological nationalism of assuming the origin country is the only home a migrant can “return” to. Rather than the traditional territorial logic, we suggest using alternative logics of return migration, in making a destination feel like an idealized home.