Spatial Distribution of Foreign Migrants in the city

of Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

By: Dr.Mohammed Al-Gabbani

Department of Geography,King Saud University

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Study Objectives

Investigate the growth and spatial distribution of foreigners in the city of Riyadh.

Sheds light on some of their aspects.

Rationale of the Study

The city of Riyadh has experienced a rapid change in its population size and composition which have several considerable consequences.

Rationale of the Study

In about 29 % of the city residential areas foreigners exceeds the number of nationals.

Foreign’s Share of Riyadh Neighborhoods Population

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10

15

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25

lessthan10

20-29 40-49 60-69 80+

Migrants as % of Neighborhood's Total Population

No of Neigborhoods

Foreign Population Distribution By City Sector

Disribution By City Sector

Northern

Eastern

Western

Southern

Distribution Of Foreign Population By zone

Dist.Of Foreign Migrants By Zone

Inner Middle Outer

Sources and Limitation of Data

This study is based on latest national population census of 1992, as well as additional data obtained from official reports and sample surveys made by the government agencies and the author.

Sources and Limitation of Data

Limitation: lack of reliable and recent data.

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Saudi Arabia has experienced in the last three decades heavy international migration which influenced social and economic situation of the country in general and urban areas in particular.

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

The size and increase of foreign population in the country and in the city is rapid and enormous( Graph).

Growth of Foreign Population(000)

Growth of Foreign Population (000)

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2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

1974 1992 2003

Country Riyadh

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Now their size exceeded 8 millions, accounting for nearly 30% of the total population and their numbers are still on the increase.Most of them are unskilled and semi-skilled .

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Some 5.5 million are employed.

Asian workers are now the majority.

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Foreigners found every where but are concentrated in major regions and more than 97% live in urban areas.

Foreign Population Distribution By Region

Distribution of Foreign Migrants By Region

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Foreign Migrants Dist By Region

Foreign Population By Major city Major Cities Share of Foreign population

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

% of total f oreign population

Major Foreign Population Groups in Saudi Arabia By Nationality

Country number %Egypt 748644 16.5%India 683152 15.1%

Pakistan 569962 12.6%Yemen 480898 10.6%

Philippine 361317 8.0%Bangaladsh 266529 5.9%

Sudan 227627 5.0%Indonesia 169277 3.7%

Jordan 134333 3.0%Palastine 116655 2.6%

Syria 113678 2.5%Sir lanka 103766 2.3%

Major Foreign Population Groups in Riyadh By Nationality Country Number %

Egypt 213734 17.8%India 197793 16.5%

Pakistan 137840 11.5%Yemen 77779 6.5%

Philippine 129817 10.8%Bangaladsh 61179 5.1%

Sudan 70769 5.9%Indonesia 45149 3.8%

Jordan 43592 3.6%Palastine 35308 2.9%

Syria 48160 4.0%Sir lanka 39732 3.3%

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Seven cities (Riyadh,Jeddah, Makkah,Dammam,Khobar,

Medina and Taif) account for more than 63% of them.

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Unskilled and semi-skilled foreign workers tend to live in cheap houses available mainly in inner cities residential areas.

Foreign Population in Saudi Arabia: Size and Growth

Professionals tend to rent apartments or villas in other parts of the cities.

Riyadh is the capital and largest city in the country.

The study Area

The city has grown rapidly to almost 5 millions.(Annual growth rate is 8% a year compared with 3.2% nationally, partly as a result of the influx of foreigners.

The study Area

Study Area

. The number of foreign migrants in the city of Riyadh has risen rapidly during the past three decades. The city has the largest number of foreigners in the country (estimated to be more than 1.8 millions or 40% of the city population) of 190 different nationalities and socio-economic while their numbers did not exceed 121 thousands in 1394h,(1973) representing 18% of city total population?

Study Area

Before 1975 foreign migrants were mainly immigrants :Yemenis ,Sudanese, Egyptians, Syrians, Palestinians, and Pakistanis, Eritrea’s, Americans and British.(Table).

Inner City Residential Area

Nearly 78% of the city derelict buildings are located within this area.

Buildings in good and satisfactory conditions represent 10% and 37% respectively.

Inner City Residential Area

o It Surrounds the Central Business Districts.

The central area is approximately 28 Sq. Km .

Total population nearly 503 thousands or 18% of city population as of 1992 census, Live in 4% of city area.

Inner City Residential Area

Nearly 70% of the city above ten stories buildings are located within this area.

The inner area lost most of Its single story buildings.

Neighborhoods in Inner Area

Inner area neighborhoods vary in size, socio-cultural economic characteristics

Neighborhoods at the edge of the

Inner area

Occupied mainly by Saudi population .

They are characterized by large size lots, wider streets and have villa and apartment house types of medium density.

Neighborhoods located in

immediate vicinity of the CBD

Have small size lots. Densely populated with mud and cement block structures.Mainly occupied by unrelated individual foreign workers and poor Saudi families.

Population of Inner Residential area

Population has increased by 39% during the last two decades.

Population composition here is converse to the city’ population composition.

Neighborhoods in intermediate

areas

Generally occupied by mixed groups .

Characterized by apartments type of buildings and have the highest population density in the city.

Population of Inner Residential area

More Than 60% is foreign.

Nearly 44% of those are Arabs,

66% Non-Arab.

About 79% Male.

Distribution of Foreigners Among City Residential Neighborhoods

Major Nationalities Living in Inner residential Areas

Nationality %

Pakistani 22.1

Egyptians 15.1

Indians 13.2

Sudanese 13.2

Yemeni 9.9

Bangali 7.2

Syrians 6.6

Palestinians 2.2

Chadis 1.2

Jordanians 1

Population Density

Gross density of central ranges between 135-496 p/h with an average of 186p/h(six times higher than the city (31 p/h).

Housing Arrangements

. 55% live in apartments,36.8% in traditional houses,6.2% in villas,camps,workshops.

36% in good conditions,52% in fair conditions, 6% in excellent conditions and 6% in poor conditions.

Housing Arrangements

24.5%have been living in this area for more than 15 years.

96.6% intend to continue to work in the city and country as long as circumstances permit.

Residential Satisfaction

91.6% were satisfied.only 8% plan to move of the area.

Reasons for satisfaction

Availability of services.

People residing there(social environment).

Reasons for satisfaction

Cheapness of rent.

Nearness to jobs.

City center.

Reasons of Residing in inner areas

 

Cheap rent.

Availability of housing.

Reasons of Residing in inner areas 

Presence of people of same nationality.

Nearness to job.

Nearness to services and facilities(transportation, markets).

Consequences

Demographic : change in age and sex composition.

Rise in young age groups.

Males were more than females.

Consequences

Social: different (wide ethnic diversity) compositions.

Rise in crime and social problems

Consequences

Economic: less job opportunities for nationals, huge money transfers

Pressure on services and facilities

Conclusion and Recommendations

.Research findings indicate that foreigners in the city of Riyadh. were distributed among 29 nationalities belonging to three groups: Arabs (49.7%), Asians (45.5%) and Africans (4.9%). Six nationalities: Pakistanis, Egyptians, Indians, Sudanese, Yamane's and Bangladeshis constituted nearly 81% of the total sampled persons.

Conclusion and Recommendations

It appeared that there were concentration and centralization of some nationalities in certain residential areas as Pakistanis Bangladeshi in Margab in Shemasi, Sudanese in Ghebairah, and Yemenis in Margab. As to the reasons behind concentration and centralization, presence of relatives, friends, and people of same nationalities, proximity to city center and job locations and services, were frequently mentioned.

Conclusion and Recommendations

As a result of the presence of such huge number of foreign population and their continual growth in the city of Riyadh as well as in the country, along with the diversity in their cultural, demographic, economic and social characteristics backgrounds, in addition to centralization and concentration processes several disturbing problems have risen.

Conclusion and Recommendations

As such, short and long term policies and measures should be undertaken in order to reduce foreign workers size through replacement of expatriates by nationals especially after the increase in Saudi college graduates and job seekers, on the job training of nationals, elimination of disguised establishments ownership, minimum wage laws, and raising salaries of certain jobs, namely those presently undesired by nationals.

Appendix

Some Socio-economic and Physical Characteristics of Riyadh’ Central Areas

Appendix

Old Residential Area

New Built units within Old Area

Laborers Seeking Jobs

Shops

Adds

Restaurants

Gathering in a weekend At CBD