Socio-Cultural and Political Contexts of Kerala Migrants in the United Arab Emirates: Adaptation, Identity, and Community Life

There are two main reasons why labour migrants remain in a host country for a long time. The first is the presence of favourable conditions for migrants in the host land, and the second is the existence of compelling circumstances in which migrants have no alternative but to stay. The socio-cultural and political circumstances of the host country are significant factors in the success of any migration. Kerala has had a long-standing connection with the GCC countries, maintaining at least 50 years of migratory relations with the UAE. Malayalees have consistently chosen the UAE as a preferred migration destination. The socio- cultural, political, and economic aspects of the UAE have influenced Malayalee migrants to reside there for extended periods.According to the Kerala Migration Survey 2023, Kerala has 2.15 million (21,54,275) migrants worldwide, of whom 38.6 per cent are in the UAE. The majority of migrants from Kerala continue to choose the UAE as their migration destination. The main objective of the present study is to examine the socio-cultural and political conditions of Kerala migrants in the UAE. The study is based on both primary and secondary data, applying qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection. Primary data were collected from Malayalee migrants across the seven emirates of the UAE using surveys and interviews. Secondary data sources include journals, articles, and newspapers.