Where will the conference be held?

The conference is scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

What is the duration of the event?

The conference will run for two days.

What is the primary focus of the conference?

The conference focuses on shaping migration futures in the Gulf States, exploring policy, sustainability, and regional transformation.

Shaping Migration Futures in the Gulf States: Policy, Sustainability, and Regional Transformation

Name: Shaping Migration Futures in the Gulf States: Policy, Sustainability, and Regional Transformation
Start: 2026-11-04T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-11-05T00:00:00Z
Location: Dubai

Nov 4–5, 2026Dubai, United Arab EmiratesIn-person

Registration open

The conference, "Shaping Migration Futures in the Gulf States: Policy, Sustainability, and Regional Transformation," will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This event serves as a critical forum for examining the multifaceted dimensions of migration within the Gulf region, addressing policy frameworks, sustainability challenges, and the broader implications for regional development. Participants will engage in discussions aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of migration dynamics and their impact on the social, economic, and political landscapes of the Gulf States.

Committees & topics

Topics
Migration, Development, and Economic Transformation in the Gulf · Student Mobility and Knowledge Circulation · Migration Governance and Policy Reforms · Technology, Data, and the Future of Work · Migration, Sustainability, and the SDGs · Social Change, Integration, and Regional Transformation

Why it matters

Migration is a defining feature of the Gulf States, profoundly influencing their economies, societies, and international relations. The region's reliance on migrant labor for various sectors, coupled with its rapid development, creates a complex interplay of opportunities and challenges. This conference offers a timely platform to analyze these intricate relationships, bringing together diverse perspectives to inform more effective and equitable migration policies.

The event's emphasis on regional transformation highlights the profound demographic and cultural shifts occurring in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait. Understanding these transformations is crucial for ensuring sustainable development and social cohesion in a rapidly evolving geopolitical context. The discussions will likely touch upon the long-term implications of current migration patterns and the need for adaptive governance strategies.

Furthermore, the conference provides an opportunity to explore the global dimensions of migration to the Gulf. While the focus is regional, the implications extend to sending countries and international organizations concerned with labor mobility, human rights, and development. By fostering dialogue among stakeholders, the event aims to contribute to a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to managing migration, benefiting both migrant populations and host communities.

How to prepare

To effectively engage with the themes of this conference, delegates should undertake a thorough review of contemporary migration theories and policy frameworks relevant to the Gulf region. A strong understanding of the economic drivers of migration, as well as the social and cultural impacts on both sending and receiving societies, will be essential. Delegates should also familiarize themselves with the specific policy initiatives and challenges faced by individual Gulf States.

Consider utilizing a Dynamic Analysis approach to understand the evolving nature of migration flows and policies. Identifying Hidden Stakeholders, such as informal labor networks or marginalized communities, can provide a more nuanced perspective on the complexities of migration in the region. Preparing a Stakeholder Mapping Workshop in advance could help in identifying key actors and their interests, facilitating more productive discussions during the conference.

Delegates should also be prepared to discuss the ethical dimensions of migration, including labor rights, integration challenges, and the role of international cooperation. Understanding the Gender Dynamics Across Cultures in migration is also critical, as women migrants often face unique vulnerabilities and opportunities. Developing robust Engagement Strategies will be key to fostering collaborative solutions among diverse participants.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United Arab Emirates

As a major destination for migrant workers, the United Arab Emirates is focused on policies that balance economic development with social stability and worker welfare.

Role in topic

The United Arab Emirates is a primary host country for a large migrant population, playing a central role in shaping regional migration policies and practices. Its economic growth is heavily reliant on migrant labor, making the sustainability of its migration model a key concern.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is implementing reforms to its labor system to enhance worker protections and diversify its economy, impacting its approach to migrant labor.

Role in topic

As the largest economy in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia is a significant destination for migrant workers. Its Vision 2030 initiatives and labor market reforms directly influence regional migration patterns and the rights of expatriate workers.

Qatar

Qatar has undertaken significant labor reforms to improve conditions for migrant workers, particularly in light of international scrutiny.

Role in topic

Qatar's rapid development and hosting of major international events have made it a prominent destination for migrant workers. The country has been at the forefront of implementing labor reforms, making its experiences relevant to discussions on worker rights and welfare.

India

India is a major sending country for migrant workers to the Gulf, focused on protecting its citizens abroad and ensuring fair labor practices.

Role in topic

India represents a significant source of skilled and unskilled labor for the Gulf States. Its perspective is crucial for understanding the challenges faced by migrant workers, the role of remittances, and the bilateral agreements governing labor mobility.

Philippines

The Philippines actively advocates for the rights and welfare of its overseas workers, particularly those in the Gulf region.

Role in topic

The Philippines is a key sending country, known for its proactive stance in protecting the rights of its overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Its policies and diplomatic efforts are vital for discussions on migrant worker protection and international labor standards.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Migration, Development, and Economic Transformation in the Gulf

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states host one of the world's largest migrant labor populations, with non-nationals comprising over half the population in several countries and the overwhelming majority of the private-sector workforce. This dependence took shape after the 1970s oil boom, when massive infrastructure expansion drew workers first from other Arab states and later, in far greater numbers, from South and Southeast Asia. Remittance corridors from the Gulf to countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, and Egypt now constitute some of the largest South-South financial flows in the world. As Gulf economies pursue diversification under national visions such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE's 'We the UAE 2031,' the structure of migrant labor is being reshaped. Mega-projects, tourism, logistics, and advanced manufacturing are creating new demand profiles, while nationalization policies (Saudization, Emiratisation, Omanization) seek to channel citizens into formerly migrant-dominated sectors. The result is a complex bargain: continued reliance on foreign labor for competitiveness, alongside political pressure to expand citizen employment. Today, the central debate concerns how migration can be aligned with sustainable economic transformation — protecting remittance-dependent sending economies, upgrading worker skills, and ensuring that diversification does not produce mass displacement of low-wage migrants without parallel reforms in countries of origin.

Key players

Student Mobility and Knowledge Circulation

The Gulf has shifted from being primarily a sender of students abroad — through programs like the Saudi King Abdullah Scholarship — to becoming a growing destination for international higher education. International branch campuses in Qatar's Education City, the UAE's free zones, and emerging Saudi research universities such as KAUST have repositioned the region within global knowledge networks. Outbound mobility nonetheless remains significant, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia as leading destinations. Student mobility is increasingly framed as a tool for human-capital development and economic diversification. Governments are tying scholarships to national priority sectors (AI, biotech, renewables) and investing in research partnerships to retain talent. At the same time, regional competition for international students has intensified, and concerns persist about brain drain from sending countries, recognition of qualifications, and the conversion of student visas into longer-term residency pathways. The contemporary policy question is how to move from one-way mobility toward genuine knowledge circulation: enabling diaspora scientists to return or collaborate, integrating international graduates into Gulf labor markets where appropriate, and ensuring that sending states benefit from the skills their citizens acquire abroad.

Key players

Migration Governance and Policy Reforms

Migration governance in the Gulf has historically rested on the kafala (sponsorship) system, which ties a migrant worker's legal status to a specific employer. While effective at managing large-scale temporary inflows, kafala has been widely criticized by the ILO, OHCHR, and civil society for enabling wage theft, passport confiscation, and restricted job mobility. International scrutiny intensified around Qatar's preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, catalyzing significant — though uneven — reform. Over the past decade, GCC states have introduced wage protection systems, domestic worker laws, occupational health standards, and partial reforms to employer-tied mobility. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have rolled out long-term residency categories (Golden Visa, Premium Residency) for investors and skilled professionals, while Qatar dismantled exit-permit requirements for most workers and introduced a non-discriminatory minimum wage. Implementation, however, remains uneven, and low-wage and domestic workers continue to face structural vulnerabilities. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018, provides a non-binding framework that many Gulf states have engaged with selectively. Current debates center on aligning national reforms with international labor standards, strengthening bilateral labor agreements with sending countries, and ensuring access to justice and grievance mechanisms for migrant workers.

Key players

Technology, Data, and the Future of Work

Gulf labor markets are undergoing rapid digital transformation. Governments have invested heavily in e-government, biometric identity systems, and digital labor platforms — including Saudi Arabia's Musaned and Qiwa, the UAE's Tawteen and Tasheel, and Qatar's centralized visa and wage protection systems. These platforms are reshaping how workers are recruited, contracted, paid, and monitored, and they generate vast datasets on migration flows that could improve policy if properly governed. At the same time, AI, automation, and platform-based gig work are altering the future labor demand profile. Sectors traditionally reliant on low-wage migrant labor — construction, logistics, retail, domestic work — face partial automation, while new demand is emerging in data, cybersecurity, fintech, and clean energy. National AI strategies in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including substantial investments in compute infrastructure and sovereign AI capabilities, signal a pivot toward high-skill migration. The policy challenge is twofold: leveraging technology to improve worker protections (digital contracts, wage-protection systems, complaint mechanisms) while safeguarding migrants from surveillance overreach, opaque algorithmic management, and data misuse. Cross-border data flows and the recognition of digital credentials are emerging governance frontiers.

Key players

Migration, Sustainability, and the SDGs

Migration is explicitly recognized across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including SDG targets 8.8 (labor rights of migrant workers), 10.7 (orderly, safe, and responsible migration), and 17.3 (remittance costs). For the Gulf, sustainability has multiple dimensions: the social sustainability of labor regimes, the environmental sustainability of rapidly growing migrant-built cities, and the long-term fiscal sustainability of welfare and labor models as energy transitions accelerate. Climate change is a growing variable. Extreme heat already poses occupational health risks for outdoor migrant workers, and several major sending countries — Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines — are themselves highly climate-vulnerable, raising the prospect of compounded displacement pressures. Gulf states are simultaneously positioning as climate actors: the UAE hosted COP28, Saudi Arabia advances its Green Initiative, and the region is investing in renewables, hydrogen, and carbon management, all of which will reshape labor demand. The policy debate centers on aligning labor migration with the SDGs and Paris-aligned transitions: occupational heat protection, decarbonizing construction, lowering remittance transfer costs, ensuring just transitions for workers in hydrocarbon-linked sectors, and recognizing the role migrants play in delivering Gulf sustainability targets.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Shaping Migration Futures in the Gulf States: Policy, Sustainability, and Regional Transformation.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

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Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Dynamic Analysis

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Stakeholder Mapping Workshop

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Policy Brief Writing

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Conflict Resolution

The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

Country dossier

United Arab Emirates November 2026

By committee

Frequently asked questions

Shaping Migration Futures in the Gulf States: Policy, Sustainability, and Regional Transformation

Nov 4–5, 2026Dubai, United Arab EmiratesIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

Topics
Migration, Development, and Economic Transformation in the Gulf · Student Mobility and Knowledge Circulation · Migration Governance and Policy Reforms · Technology, Data, and the Future of Work · Migration, Sustainability, and the SDGs · Social Change, Integration, and Regional Transformation

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United Arab Emirates

As a major destination for migrant workers, the United Arab Emirates is focused on policies that balance economic development with social stability and worker welfare.

Role in topic

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is implementing reforms to its labor system to enhance worker protections and diversify its economy, impacting its approach to migrant labor.

Role in topic

Qatar

Qatar has undertaken significant labor reforms to improve conditions for migrant workers, particularly in light of international scrutiny.

Role in topic

India

India is a major sending country for migrant workers to the Gulf, focused on protecting its citizens abroad and ensuring fair labor practices.

Role in topic

Philippines

The Philippines actively advocates for the rights and welfare of its overseas workers, particularly those in the Gulf region.

Role in topic

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

Migration, Development, and Economic Transformation in the Gulf

Key players