Al-Hayat, London, Originally Posted in Arabic on September 12
There has been widespread criticism regarding the Gulf’s supposed unwillingness to absorb Syrian refugees. Some have genuinely raised this concern, while others did so cynically, simply to dehumanize the Saudi people.
In either case, the criticism is wrong.
Saudi Arabia has been continuously absorbing Syrian refugees ever since the fighting with Assad’s regime began. These refugees arrive in Riyadh on tourist visas and end up staying in the Kingdom for good. The Saudi authorities – unlike many European countries – provide them with free housing, education, and health services.
To date, it is estimated that some half a million Syrian refugees live in the Gulf. However, this solution cannot simply be scaled up. The Gulf economies are already heavily saturated with foreign workers, many of whom are redundant and unnecessary. Over the years, this led to very strict citizenship policies that make the process of absorbing immigrants very lengthy and difficult.
In addition, receiving millions of Arab workers would cause the Saudi economy to stall. Unlike the stable economies of Europe – that of Germany or France, for example – the Saudi economy would not sustain big demographic changes.
Lastly, and most importantly, there is something we must remember: Syrian refugees are leaving their country because they are tired of being refugees. Living in a tent is difficult anywhere – in Syria, Saudi Arabia, or the Gulf. What the refugees want is a viable future, one that could provide them with stability and security.
Absorbing millions of Syrians into tents in the desert is not going to solve their problem by any standard. – Jamal Khaskaji