More than 14 lakh Indian nationals have availed concessions granted by the Saudi Government and legalized their status in the Kingdom. Over 1 lakh 34 thousand have returned home during the seven month long grace period. Nearly 4 lakh 35 thousand Indians transferred their services to other firms, around 4 lakh 81 thousand changed their jobs/profession and over 470000 Indians renewed their licenses/job permits. These are the latest figures provided by the Saudi authorities to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
The Charge de affairs of Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Sibi George told AIR that despite the return of expatriate Indians back home, the total number of Indians in Saudi Arabia has gone up and it continues to grow. It shows that the Indian community has benefitted from the grace period and Nitaqat. He said that efforts are on to help those who could not avail the grace period. Indian volunteers and schools will be there to help them while the Embassy will take up the matter with Saudi authorities. Officials have been placed at tarheels and labour offices, 24×7 helplines at the Embassy is active and e-registration of those who need assistance will continue. The Indian Charge de Affairs in Riyadh said that 2.8 million Indians residents in Saudi Arabia have once again shown that they are a law abiding community and that’s why Indians are considered to be one of the most preferred communities in Saudi Arabia. Hence the job opportunities for expatriate Indians working legally in Saudi Arabia will continue to grow.