Exist or Exit: UAE Migrant Workers Flee Covid-19 Economic Crisis
The Coronavirus pandemic hasn’t failed to infect the world in the worst way possible. Besides human life, the disease has infected both, big and small economies around the world, by putting countries at a standstill. One of the biggest hits is being endured by the United Arab Emirates. Now, the pandemic has left UAE migrant workers with no option, but to quit and return to their native lands, following a crunch of work, as a result, lack of livelihood and income, while already pinned to a pile of debts.
The UAE economy, like any other economy across the globe today, has been suffering from a decline due to halted tourism, hospitality sector, real estate and construction business. Covid-19 has been the worst economic turbulence faced by the world till date.
UAE Economy and Migrant Workers
The UAE economy literally relies on the expatriate community, which roughly comprises of 90% of the Gulf nation’s population. With the rise of coronavirus in UAE, migrant workers were hit the hardest by the economic impact.
Life came to a standstill in most of the Middle Eastern nations, including the United Arab Emirates. The migrant workers have served as the spine of Gulf economies for decades. However, the fast fleeing migrants are becoming a massive problem for the emirate that is said to have lasting impact on the UAE economy, long after the coronavirus-led economic crisis has been dealt with.
The harsh reality of the pandemic has been worst encountered by those in blue collar jobs, working in the service, transport and construction sector. Many of these UAE migrant workers have had debts, pushing them to go hungry on days, awaiting help from charities as no work led to no income for months.
The glistening lifestyle and infrastructure has, for years, lured many to the United Arab Emirates, seeking economic opportunities. However, the UAE economy has had trouble remaining stable through financial crisis such as, the Dubai 2009 financial crisis, coronavirus crisis, crash of oil prices, etc.
At present, about 200,000 UAE migrant workers have left the nation, as per official statistics of the diplomatic missions run by India, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines. The construction and retail sector in the emirate had been struggling long before the spread of coronavirus in UAE. However, the pandemic served as fuel to the fire, burning to ashes the dreams and hopes of the low-paid foreign workers who had played the biggest part in running the oil-rich UAE economy.
