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.svg) A map showing Syria in orange and Saudi Arabia in green | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 449,314 (2022 census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Riyadh,Jeddah,Dammam | |
| Languages | |
| Arabic (Syrian Arabic),English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam,Christianity |
As of September 2015[update], the number ofSyrians in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be around 449,000[2][3][4] and consists mainly of temporary foreign workers.[5] According to theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' representative for thePersian Gulf region, Syrian nationals are referred to as "Arab brothers and sisters in distress".[6] Saudi Arabia does not consider Syrians as refugees. They are provided access toeducation andhealthcare, and allowed to take up jobs like other expats.[7]
As of September 2015[update], theflow of refugees to the European Union has increased significantly, and there is a rise in criticism of someMuslim nations for allegedly accepting few refugees. TheSyrian Civil War forced millions to flee their homes in search of safety. Saudi Arabia, as arich country, was heavily criticized for not offering land toSyrian refugees – it only offers resettlement for asylum-seekers whose families already reside in Saudi Arabia.[8]
TheCIA World Factbook estimated that as of 2013[update], foreign nationals living in Saudi Arabia made up about 21% of the population. The total number of Syrians in Saudi Arabia was 100,000 before the start ofSyrian Civil War.[9]
Saudi Arabia, like all the otherArab states of the Persian Gulf, is not a signatory to the1951 United Nations Refugee Convention,[10] which mandates member states to protect refugees within their country. However, according to a Saudi official, Saudi Arabia has issued residency permits to 100,000 Syrians.[8] On the other hand, theBBC claims, "Most successful cases are Syrians already in the Gulf states extending their stays, or those entering because they have family there,"[5] and, "No Syrians claiming asylum have been taken in by Saudi Arabia or other wealthy Gulf countries."[11]
Syrians in Saudi Arabia include migrants from Syria to Saudi Arabia and their descendants. The number of Syrians in Saudi Arabia (referred to as "Arab brothers and sisters in distress") was estimated to be at around 2,500,000[6] people in August 2015 and consisted mainly of temporary foreign workers.[5][6] However, aUNHCR official stated that the number of Syrians in Saudi Arabia was around 700,000.[4]
Saudi foreign ministry officials claim that the nation has received nearly 2.5 million Syrians since 2011.[12][13] However, theBBC reports that Saudi Arabia has let in 500,000 Syrian refugees since 2011,[14] whileArab News reported that Saudi Arabia wasalready home to 500,000 Syrians.[15] Saudi Arabia claims to have granted 100,000 Syrians residency. An official from Saudi Arabia'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs stated that Saudi Arabia "made it a point not to deal with them as 'refugees'."[8]
The Huffington Post has criticized the international community for saying that Saudi Arabia has taken no refugees. The newspaper claimed that outlets in the US have exploited a technicality used by the UN to count Syrian refugees, and that it is more plausible that 500,000 Syrian refugees are currently in Saudi Arabia.[16]
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| Related | |||||||
 Immigration to Saudi Arabia | |
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| From the World | |
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