Future Migration from Egypt to Saudi Arabia in the Context of Transnational Socio-Economic Transformation
摘要
This chapter attempts to forecast the future of migration from Egypt to Saudi Arabia in the context of transnational socio-economic transformation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Migration between the two countries is explained through a historical outline of the structural change starting from the 1950s till the present day in order to clarify the dynamics of transnational transformation and how these dynamics have transformed Egypt into a sending country to Saudi Arabia. Then, I elaborate on how the ongoing socio-economic reforms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia transformed it into a desirable destination for migrants of different socio-demographic characteristics and professional profiles. I argue that women, Copts, and artists, being among the most vulnerable in Egypt in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, are most likely to migrate. The dynamics through which these three groups are expected to meet the emerging demands of both the Saudi labour market and the rapidly changing social context are explained in order to draw a scenario for the future migration trends from Egypt to Saudi Arabia within the future migratory context in the Gulf area.