Many Indian expatriates who left the Kingdom after the amnesty period granted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, expressed their desire to return back to Saudi Arabia.

Fahad Akhter, who worked as a personal driver for a Saudi family in Riyadh, said he left the Kingdom with great sorrow.

“I was earning around SR2,500 and could support my family back home without facing difficulties. I couldn’t transfer my residence permit under the person I was working with, and as a result had to leave. Now I work as a driver in my home country but the salary I receive is much less than what I used to earn. I wish to come back to the Kingdom and work there once again,” he told Arab News.

Another Indian expatriate Ather Ahmed, who worked as a security officer at a private company in Jeddah, said he had to return to his homeland because he was not under the sponsorship of the company he was working for and couldn’t rectify his status before the end of the amnesty period.

“I was working as a security officer for two years under a contract. My salary was around SR3000. Although I returned back to my country, I miss working and living in Jeddah. I haven’t found a job as good as my previous one, but I hope to benefit from the knowledge and experience I gained working in the Kingdom,” he said.

Rauf Mohammed expressed similar views, explaining that he had come to the Kingdom for Umrah and then overstayed. He worked in the Saudi capital for two years in a supermarket before being forced to return back to India.

“I didn’t object to working in a supermarket, despite possessing a bachelor degree, because I was able to earn good money; more than what I would have received back home. I was expecting to work for a few more years, get a residence permit and settle down. But, unfortunately, I had to leave because of the new labor laws,” he said, expressing his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and its people for their generosity.

Naeem Siddiqui, owner of a transport company in Hyderabad said that most of his new drivers are returnees from the Kingdom. “The drivers I employed have gained good experience from Saudi Arabia. Many of them have taken release from their sponsors and expect to return to the Kingdom and work under their sponsors,” he added.

Gafoor Rehman said he spent three years in the Kingdom working as a tailor. Although the new law disheartened him, he thanked the Saudi government for its hospitality and kind treatment.

“I enjoyed the time I spent in the Kingdom. I support the Saudi government’s decision to rectify the status of expatriates, as one cannot continue living without a legal residence permit. I hope to turn back to the Kingdom soon,” he said.

According to a Saudi company, several visas are being issued to different cities in India for various job positions. Many Indian expatriates who had formerly lived in the Kingdom have reapplied for jobs in the Kingdom.