Turks in Saudi Arabia
Encyclopedia
Turks in Saudi Arabia are either Turkish people
who live in Saudi Arabia
even though having been born outside Saudi Arabia, or are Saudi Arabian-born, but have Turkish roots. By Turkish roots, this could mean roots linking back to Turkey
, the island of Cyprus
or the communities of the Turkish diaspora
.
and Saudi Arabia
began to flourish as Turkish workers went to the kingdom in considerable numbers and Turkish businessmen won sizeable contracts there. In 1977, there was 6,500 Turks in Saudi Arabia, 5,000 of which were officially reported workers.
Turkish labour migration has traditionally been to European countries within the context of bilateral agreements. However, in the 1970s, when Europe began to lose its appeal, another workers’ migration began to the Arab countries. Migration to Arab countries first started with a labour-force agreement with Turkey
and Libya
in 1975 which opened a new phase in history of Turkish migration and diverted migration from Europe to North Africa
, and then the Middle East
. This movement intensified in the 1980s. Compared to Western European countries, the impact of the 1973 oil crisis
was the inverse in oil exporting Arabic Countries. Moreover, the oil crisis coincided with the decision of European states to freeze the recruitment of foreign workers. In this situation, Saudi Arabia, along with Libya, Iraq and other Gulf states
provided not only an alternative for labour migration, but also a huge market for Turkish contractors. These countries were richer with the increasing oil prices and looking for workers in big infrastructure projects. This demand of the Gulf countries corresponded very well to the searches of Turkey for new immigration countries. This period ended in mid-1990s for two main reasons: first the completion of projects and second the Gulf War
.
seem to be less likely to espouse Shariah (Islamic law) than those living in European countries.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
who live in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
even though having been born outside Saudi Arabia, or are Saudi Arabian-born, but have Turkish roots. By Turkish roots, this could mean roots linking back to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the island of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
or the communities of the Turkish diaspora
Turkish diaspora
The Turkish diaspora refers to "Turks" who have emigrated from their homeland. Thus, the term may refer to citizens of Turkey living abroad or ethnic Turks from traditional areas of Turkish settlement who are living abroad.Due to the...
.
History
Starting in the 1970s, economic relations between TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
began to flourish as Turkish workers went to the kingdom in considerable numbers and Turkish businessmen won sizeable contracts there. In 1977, there was 6,500 Turks in Saudi Arabia, 5,000 of which were officially reported workers.
Turkish labour migration has traditionally been to European countries within the context of bilateral agreements. However, in the 1970s, when Europe began to lose its appeal, another workers’ migration began to the Arab countries. Migration to Arab countries first started with a labour-force agreement with Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1975 which opened a new phase in history of Turkish migration and diverted migration from Europe to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and then the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. This movement intensified in the 1980s. Compared to Western European countries, the impact of the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
was the inverse in oil exporting Arabic Countries. Moreover, the oil crisis coincided with the decision of European states to freeze the recruitment of foreign workers. In this situation, Saudi Arabia, along with Libya, Iraq and other Gulf states
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf", are terms that refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering the Persian Gulf....
provided not only an alternative for labour migration, but also a huge market for Turkish contractors. These countries were richer with the increasing oil prices and looking for workers in big infrastructure projects. This demand of the Gulf countries corresponded very well to the searches of Turkey for new immigration countries. This period ended in mid-1990s for two main reasons: first the completion of projects and second the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
| Emigration of Turkish workers to Saudi Arabia | |||||||
| Year | Population | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–1973 | 4 | ||||||
| 1974–1980 | 26,739 | ||||||
| 1981–1985 | 107,994 | ||||||
| 1991–1995 | 150,654 | ||||||
Business
There is some 2,100 Turkish-operated hairdresser shops, 3,200 restaurants, and 1,900 furniture stores in Saudi Arabia.Religion
Turkish people living in Saudi Arabia are Sunni Muslims. Turkish laborers returning from RiyadhRiyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
seem to be less likely to espouse Shariah (Islamic law) than those living in European countries.
Notable Turks in Saudi Arabia
- Dodi Fayed
- Hajji Khalifa
- Adnan KhashoggiAdnan KhashoggiAdnan Khashoggi is a Saudi Arabian arms-dealer and businessman. He is also noted for his engagements with high society in both the Occident and Arabic-speaking worlds, and for his involvement in the Iran–Contra and Lockheed bribery scandals, and numerous other affairs...
- Nabila Khashoggi
- Samira KhashoggiSamira KhashoggiSamira Khashoggi was the first wife of Egyptian born Mohamed Al-Fayed, and the mother of Dodi Fayed.Her father Muhammad Khashoggi was a medical doctor of Turkish descent — the family name means spoonmaker in Turkish.She is the sister of Saudi billionaire Adnan KhashoggiShe met Mohamed Al-Fayed...
- Ahmad ShukeiriAhmad ShukeiriAhmad al-Shukeiri also transcribed al-Shuqayri, Shuqeiri, Shukeiry, etc.), was the first Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, serving in 1964–67....
- The Krimly Family