Saudi Transit Visa Emerges as Critical Escape Route for Indians in Qatar and Bahrain
In the midst of escalating regional tensions, a Saudi "pass" or transit visa has rapidly become one of the most coveted travel documents for thousands of Indians stranded in Qatar and Bahrain. With airports in Doha and Bahrain largely shut down since February 28 due to security concerns, these expatriates are urgently seeking alternative routes to return home to India.
Indians Form Largest Expat Communities in Both Nations
Indians constitute the single-largest nationality in Qatar, even outnumbering local Qataris, and similarly dominate the expat population in Bahrain. This demographic reality has magnified the crisis, as a significant portion of the workforce and families now find themselves trapped with limited flight options. The situation has prompted a frantic scramble for Saudi visas, which offer a potential land-based escape route.
Flight Cancellations Create Travel Gridlock
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium reveals the stark reality of air travel disruptions. On a recent Saturday, all 98 scheduled flights from Bahrain were cancelled, while in Doha, a staggering 321 out of 328 flights met the same fate. Even in the UAE, which has managed some operations, cancellation rates reached 53% at Dubai airport and over 76% at Abu Dhabi. In contrast, Saudi airports showed remarkable resilience, with less than 10% cancellations in Jeddah and 15% in Riyadh.
Oman's Muscat has emerged as another crucial hub, with only 19% flight cancellations, making it a primary Plan B for those stranded in the UAE.Diplomatic Channels Flooded with Visa Requests
Indian embassies in Doha and Bahrain are reportedly inundated with urgent messages and applications for Saudi transit visas. The process involves not just visa paperwork but also logistical preparations for land border crossings. One Doha-based Indian, who requested anonymity, shared his family's predicament: "I have a US visa and qualify for visa-on-arrival at the Saudi land border, but my family members don't. We've applied for the pass visa and are waiting. I want to have the Saudi visa ready so we can leave via there if flights don't resume and the war intensifies."
Overland Escape Plans Take Shape
Families are preparing for arduous journeys across borders. From Qatar, some have applied for vehicle permits and packed essentials, anticipating lengthy waits at crossing points. "I will leave my car there as we can do so for 90 days. Hopefully, things will improve and I will come back to drive back to Qatar," one individual explained. Similarly, in Bahrain, many plan to traverse the 25-kilometer King Fahd Causeway, known as the "Friendship Bridge," to reach Saudi territory.
Evacuation Efforts Underway Amid Regional Uncertainty
Despite Iran's conditional assurance on Saturday that it would not attack neighbors unless their territories are used by the US or Israel for strikes, Gulf nations remain on edge. This has accelerated evacuation efforts. According to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 52,360 people have been flown from the Gulf to India on 280 flights since the conflict began. Indian carriers operated 184 of these flights, supplemented by 85 from UAE airlines and 11 charters, primarily departing from Muscat, Fujairah, Jeddah, and Dubai.
The collective anxiety underscores a broader regional instability, forcing expatriates to balance hope with pragmatic contingency planning. As one stranded Indian poignantly noted, "While we hope for the best, we have to prepare for the worst." The Saudi transit visa, in this context, has transformed from a mere travel formality into a potential lifeline for safe passage home.
