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The Regional Programme Gulf States of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in cooperation with the Gulf Labour Markets and Migration (GLMM) Programme of the Gulf Research Centre, is organising a one-day workshop focusing on highly skilled workers’ onward migration from the Gulf to the EU and North America. The workshop forms part of a broader research initiative examining the onward and stepwise migration of highly skilled workers from the Gulf to Europe and North America – a phenomenon shaped by shifting global competition for talent, evolving migration policies in the GCC and complex transnational mobility strategies. Recent studies show that many foreign professionals view the Gulf as a “stepping stone” within longer migration trajectories, using work experience acquired in the GCC to pursue opportunities in Western labour markets, while others return to the region with upgraded skills, better credentials or citizenship. This project explores these dynamics in depth, including drivers of onward migration, return movements, policy impacts and the implications for Gulf labour markets, talent retention, and destination countries in Europe and North America.
Against this backdrop, the workshop in Riyadh will explore emerging patterns and drivers of onward migration among non-Gulf highly skilled workers, including those originating from countries such as India, Pakistan and the Philippines. The event will feature authors presenting their key findings and policy recommendations from the project’s policy papers, setting the stage for in-depth discussions. Bringing together leading academics, experts, and stakeholders from across the GCC, the wider Middle East, Europe and North America, the workshop aims to provide a platform for evidence-based dialogue on the Gulf, European, and North American stakeholders can navigate the increasingly multipolar competition for global talent.
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