Report claim that the Emirates expelled thousands of foreign workers, including Shia Pakistanis, after the war began in Iran.
According to the report, some of the expelled were questioned about their sectarian identity, visits to Shia mosques, and even names associated with Shia Islam.
It is important to clarify that Pakistan has not officially confirmed the expulsion claims, but even if part of the report is true, it shows how the war with Iran is beginning to penetrate the Gulf labor market.
And this is already a significant economic matter. It is estimated that about 1.8 million Pakistanis live in the Emirates. Their remittances home are a critical source of foreign currency for Pakistan's economy. Just last month, about $735 million were sent from the Emirates to Pakistan—the second largest source after Saudi Arabia.