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Saudi Arabia hosts about 750,000 Ethiopian migrants with about 60% (450,000) likely to have travelled to the country through irregular means. On March 30th 2022, the Governments of Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to repatriate more than 100,000 Ethiopians irregularly residing in the country, many of whom were detained in poor conditions rife with abuse.
This snapshot examines the profiles and experiences of Ethiopian returnees in Saudi Arabia, interviewed after their return to Ethiopia. This snapshot also reflects on the expectations of Ethiopian returnees of life in Saudi Arabia and their experiences of detention and explores how this shapes respondents' willingness to encourage migration. It draws on 356 4Mi Returns surveys conducted in January 2023 with Ethiopians who had returned from Saudi Arabia and been back in Ethiopia for between 6 months and 2 years prior to the date of interview.
Key findings
• Women respondents had spent longer periods of time in Saudi Arabia than men, with 53% having lived there for over five years, as compared to 16% of men.
• All women who had earned an income in Saudi Arabia reported earning it through domestic work and cleaning, while 80% of men had earned an income in the agriculture and pastoralism sector.
• A majority of respondents (54%) did not acquire skills that would help them improve their economic opportunities in Ethiopia.
• More than half of the respondents (51%) had lacked knowledge of what life would be like in Saudi Arabia before migrating.
• 74% of respondents said that their experience in Saudi Arabia had not met their expectations.
• 95% of respondents had been held in detention in Saudi Arabia relating to their migration status, with the majority (78%) for more than a month and up to one year.
• A majority of respondents (89%) are unlikely to encourage others to migrate.