More than one million Sri Lankans are currently living and working across the Middle East, government figures show, highlighting the scale of the country’s labour links with the region as tensions continue to rise.
Official data released this week shows that as of Feb. 28, 2026, a total of 1,007,855 Sri Lankan nationals were residing in 14 Middle Eastern countries. The largest communities were in the United Arab Emirates (350,000), Saudi Arabia (246,139), Kuwait (175,000) and Qatar (140,000), followed by significant populations in Jordan (14,500), Oman (32,000) and Bahrain (13,130).
Smaller Sri Lankan contingents were recorded in Israel (30,000), Lebanon (7,000), Iran (35), Syria (20), Yemen (27) and Palestine (4), with no data available for Iraq.
The figures come amid heightened concern over escalating hostilities in the Middle East, prompting the Sri Lankan government to call for restraint and de-escalation to safeguard civilians and foreign workers.
Sri Lankans form a significant portion of the expatriate workforce in the Middle East, particularly in domestic work, construction, hospitality and healthcare — sectors that contribute remittances critical to Sri Lanka’s economy.
The government has urged Sri Lankans in volatile areas to remain in contact with authorities and follow travel advisories issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Newswire)
