The Saudi government, faced with growing economic crisis due to low oil prices, war against Yemen, providing Army for protecting Bahrain government from opposition onslaught and branding itself as “leader of Muslim world”, has started tough measures against expat workers in the Kingdom.

From July 1, every expat living with his family in that country will have to pay 100 riyals (approximately ₹1,723) for each member as “dependent fee” every month. The fee amount will gradually increase by 100 riyals each year till 2020, meaning that an employee will then have to shell out 400 Saudi Riyals for each dependent every month. An employee living with wife and two children, in 2020, will have to pay 1200 riyals (Approximately ₹21,000 with present exchange rates) every month as a dependent fee.

Saudi Arabia gives family visa to anyone with a salary of 5000 riyals (approximately ₹90,000) and above. The average employee would hardly be able to afford to keep his family in the Kingdom.

There are nearly 41 lakh Indians in Saudi Arabia, the largest expat group in that country. This is also the largest number of Indians living in a single country abroad. Ten lakh of them are from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.