Relations between the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states and India are about more than trade figures, employment contracts that provide jobs for millions of Indians, or remittances flowing into the Indian economy every year. They represent a network of shared interests and deep-rooted human and social ties built over decades. Yet, this relationship raises a legitimate question that should not be ignored: when Gulf states come under attack from Iran or the Houthis, where does this enormous record of shared interests stand when it comes to popular and media solidarity commensurate with its importance?
The figures alone illustrate the scale of these ties. According to data submitted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs to the Indian Parliament in April 2026, more than 9.9 million Indian nationals were living in GCC countries as of March 2026. The UAE topped the list with around 4.326m Indians, followed by Saudi Arabia with approximately 2.748m, Kuwait with 1.06m, Qatar with 829,000, Oman with around 675,000, and Bahrain with approximately 315,000.
These are not merely expatriate communities passing through the region. They represent a vast population living, working and building their futures in Gulf societies, with millions of Indian families having a direct stake in their well-being.
The importance of this relationship extends beyond the number of residents. Data from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh indicated that remittances received by India from abroad during the 2024-2025 financial year amounted to approximately $52.44 billion. Nearly 38 per cent of these remittances came from GCC countries, equivalent to around $19.9bn.
The money sent home by Indians working in the Gulf is therefore a major contributor to the Indian economy and a source of income and stability for millions of families, alongside the extensive trade ties between the two sides.
In light of these facts, the question becomes more pressing: how can a relationship of such economic and human significance evoke fewer visible popular expressions of solidarity in times of danger than the scale of these mutual interests would suggest?
One striking contrast deserves closer examination. Some political and popular groups in India have shown clear enthusiasm for expressing support for Israel, whether through solidarity campaigns on social media, ideological positions embracing Israel’s security narrative, or celebrations of the growing ties between Israel and the Indian government. By contrast, organised popular and media solidarity with Gulf states when they face attacks threatening their security and sovereignty does not appear to enjoy the same prominence in public discourse.
Here, a distinction must be made between the official position of the Indian government, which has issued condemnations and called for respect for state sovereignty and an end to attacks on civilians, and the level of popular and media solidarity.
Some Indian groups have succeeded in turning support for Israel into a political and ideological cause with a clear public profile. Yet, solidarity with the Gulf states, despite the scale of the human and economic ties, does not appear to command the same visibility. This disparity warrants examination and explanation. It is therefore legitimate to ask why the levels of public engagement and mobilisation differ, and how much attention the Indian media give to attacks targeting Gulf countries.
The GCC states do not need to turn their relations with India into a daily test of loyalty, nor should the positions of millions of expatriates living in the Gulf be judged by passing social media posts. At the same time, Gulf countries have every right to question the balance between the opportunities and benefits their relationship with India provides and the solidarity expressed when their security is threatened.
Strategic partnerships are measured not only by the volume of trade and investment, or by the number of workers and the value of remittances, but also by the clarity of positions when sovereignty is violated and security is under threat. It is in difficult moments that the true value of relationships becomes apparent, revealing whether they have moved beyond economic interests towards a deeper level of understanding and mutual responsibility.
What is needed is not a confrontation with India, but an open and frank dialogue that reflects the true scale of the relationship between the two sides. Such a dialogue should make clear to New Delhi that Gulf security is not an isolated local concern but a shared interest, that the stability of the region matters to both sides, and that the millions of Indians who live and work in the Gulf represent a human bridge that should strengthen understanding and solidarity between them.
If around 10m Indians live in GCC countries, and the region accounts for nearly 38pc of the remittances India receives from abroad, we have every right to ask: why is solidarity with the security and sovereignty of our countries not expressed with the same clarity when they come under attack?
This question is directed at no one in particular. Rather, it concerns the future of a major partnership. The answer will not be found in slogans, but in clear positions, balanced media coverage and solidarity that reflects the reality of shared interests. A relationship that encompasses billions of dollars and millions of people should also make room for an unequivocal stance when Gulf security is at stake.
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