Bangladesh’s Labour Market amid the Saudi Airport Crisis: Advance Planning Essential to Help Expats

The conflict in Saudi Arabia has disrupted air travel, led to flight cancellations, and created uncertainty for Bangladeshi migrant workers who are unable to return to their workplaces. Reports of thousands of passengers facing difficulties due to disruptions at Riyadh Airport have raised fresh concerns. Some fear their visas may expire, others worry about losing their jobs, while many are anxious about the money they borrowed to travel abroad. For them, a cancelled flight is not simply a delay in travel. It affects their families’ livelihoods, debt repayments, and future dreams.

The military tensions in the Middle East surrounding Saudi Arabia are therefore not merely matters of foreign policy or security for Bangladesh. They are directly connected to the country’s labour market, remittance inflows, foreign currency earnings, and economic stability. If the situation continues, coordinated action must be taken now to address potential losses.

Following a missile attack by Houthi at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, concerns about air travel and security increased. Initial news reports stated that at least 12 people had been killed and more than 300 injured. According to reports published based on information from the relevant authorities, two Bangladeshis were killed and another 24 were injured in the incident. These casualties have further highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety of migrant workers, providing medical treatment to the injured, and delivering prompt assistance during emergencies.

According to Bangladesh Bank statistics, Bangladesh received approximately US$5.8491 billion in remittances from Saudi Arabia during the 2025-26 fiscal year, representing a 37.2 per cent increase compared with the previous fiscal year.  

A report published on October 15, citing information from the Civil Aviation Authority, disruptions at Saudi airports affected 100 direct and transit flights connected to Bangladesh, causing difficulties for 15,393 passengers. These included direct flights and transit flights. Not all flights were cancelled; some were cancelled, others postponed, and some faced different forms of disruption. Airlines have also adjusted their schedules in response to the situation.

On October 12, US-Bangla Airlines announced that its Dhaka-Riyadh route flights would remain cancelled until October 21. Under these circumstances, it is essential to provide passengers with reliable information, arrange alternative travel routes, and ensure assistance for those stranded.

For workers waiting to travel to Saudi Arabia for new jobs or preparing to return after leave, flight cancellations can create serious problems. Failure to join work on time may lead to complications involving visa validity, employment agreements, and job security.

Authorities must prepare lists of affected workers and take initiatives to extend their visas, relax deadlines for joining work, and protect their employment contracts. Emergency communication, accommodation, and other necessary assistance must also be arranged for workers stranded at airports or elsewhere.

Saudi Arabia is one of Bangladesh’s largest overseas labour markets and a major source of remittances. A large number of Bangladeshis work there in construction, transportation, cleaning, manufacturing, domestic services, and technical professions. The money they send home supports countless families. These remittances also play an important role in education, healthcare, housing, small businesses, and the rural economy.

According to Bangladesh Bank statistics, Bangladesh received approximately US$5.8491 billion in remittances from Saudi Arabia during the 2025-26 fiscal year, representing a 37.2 per cent increase compared with the previous fiscal year. During the first two months of the current 2026-27 fiscal year, remittances amounted to approximately US$1.1459 billion, up 39.1 per cent from the same period of the previous fiscal year.

These figures demonstrate the strong connection between Saudi Arabia’s labour market and Bangladesh’s foreign currency earnings. However, it would be premature to conclude that remittances have already declined because of the conflict. Instead, if the conflict continues, reduced working hours, job losses, restrictions on new recruitment, and disruptions to development projects could become serious concerns. These developments could put pressure on workers’ incomes and their ability to send money home.

The government must regularly monitor remittance flows. It is essential to make it easier for expatriates to send money through legal banking channels, help workers recover unpaid wages, and strengthen the role of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in protecting their financial rights. Bangladesh’s first priority in the current situation should be to maintain effective diplomatic communication with Saudi Arabia. The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh and the Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah must work in coordination. Information about the number of Bangladeshi workers in different locations, those facing security risks, those unable to return to work, and those at risk of visa expiry must be regularly updated.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant government agencies, diplomatic missions, and manpower recruitment agencies must establish a coordinated communication system. Reliable information should be provided through emergency hotlines, regular announcements, and clear instructions. This would help reduce rumours and confusion while making assistance easier to access when needed.

The government must also actively ensure medical treatment for injured workers, repatriation of the bodies of those killed, recovery of compensation, and delivery of the benefits owed to their families. At the same time, plans for the rehabilitation and re-employment of workers forced to return to Bangladesh are essential.

It is impossible to develop an alternative labour market overnight to replace a major destination such as Saudi Arabia. However, the current crisis has once again highlighted the need for Bangladesh to diversify its overseas employment markets. Employment opportunities based on demand could be explored in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, various European countries, and other Middle Eastern markets.

Simply increasing the number of workers sent abroad is not enough. Language education, technical training, internationally recognised qualifications, transparent employment contracts, and awareness of workers’ rights must be strengthened. Reducing migration costs and preventing fraudulent recruitment practices are equally important.

At the same time, Bangladesh must continue efforts to take advantage of employment opportunities associated with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and various development projects. The current situation should not be viewed as a reason to withdraw from the Saudi labour market. Instead, it should be treated as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral labour cooperation and improve worker protection.

The effects of the Middle East conflict may extend beyond the labour market. If international oil prices rise, Bangladesh could face higher import costs. This could increase expenses related to transportation, electricity generation, industrial production, and the supply of goods. Ultimately, ordinary people may also face a higher cost of living.

If the conflict continues, Bangladesh must regularly assess potential changes in international prices, transportation costs, and supply chains. Efforts to explore alternative sources of supply, improve energy efficiency, and reduce waste should also be strengthened.

The current situation in Saudi Arabia serves as an important warning for Bangladesh. Although migrant workers’ labour and earnings make a significant contribution to the national economy, international conflicts can threaten their employment, safety, and financial future. Addressing these risks requires both immediate assistance and long-term planning.

The protection of expatriates, the security of visas and employment contracts, monitoring remittance flows, exploring alternative labour markets, improving skills, and managing risks associated with energy imports must all be brought under a coordinated action plan.

Effective action taken now could reduce potential losses. If preparations are delayed, the country’s hardworking migrant population and the families who depend on them may ultimately bear the cost of an international conflict.