A large number of expats onboard departing flights from Kuwait International Airport left Kuwait, which was allowed to operate at 15 percent capacity, reports Al Rai daily. According to official statistics, about 160 thousand left on repatriation flights since March 16 until yesterday, and the number of departures is expected to rise to about one and a half million by the end of this year.
The reasons for returning to their home countries expressed from many expats is due to the financial and living situation that has become difficult after the coronavirus pandemic struck Kuwait. In particular, some private sector institutions have ended the services of large numbers of employees, due to the financial losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, in addition, the government is strictly following a replacement policy in the state where expats are being terminated to make way for Kuwaitis. Adding to the tension of the expat population is the rumors of a draft expat quota bill that states Indian’s should not exceed 15 percent of the population. This could result in 800,000 Indians leaving Kuwait, as the Indian community constitutes the largest expat community in Kuwait, totalling 1.45 million.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a spike in anti-expat rhetoric as lawmakers and governmental officials call for reducing the number of expats in Kuwait.
Last month, Kuwait’s prime minister, Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, proposed decreasing the number of expats from 70 per cent to 30 per cent of the population. This has contributed to prompting a large number of expatriates to pack up their belongings and return to their homeland to settle with their families.
Al Rai daily, quoting a source in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), stated that from March 16 to July 9 (i.e. within 116 days – 16 March, 30 April, 31 May, 30 June and 9 July), Kuwait International Airport witnessed the departure of 15, 8031 expats traveling on 993 flights, to many Gulf and International countries, while the largest share was the Egyptian and Indian communities, and the rest varied between East Asia and Europe.
The source said that the number of passengers is expected to double with the opening of the airport early next month. He pointed out that the DGCA represented by the Operations Department issued direct instructions to all airlines, service providers and passengers, of the obligation to adhere to health guidelines, such as the social distancing of passengers, the wearing of masks and gloves, checking temperatures for all travelers, and applying all safety conditions.