Caste, Class, and the Lives of Indian Migrant Workers in Dubai

This research paper investigates how different factors, such as caste, gender, and socioeconomic status, shape the experiences of Indian migrant workers in Dubai, UAE. The UAE is a highly acclimated destination for Indian migrants, with the UAE hosting around 4.36 million Indian migrants alone. A significant number of these immigrants are employed in the informal sector. Even though previous research has intensively studied caste and its effect on international migration within India, there is limited research that explores whether these inequalities are brought internationally. This research paper addresses this gap by examining how caste and intersectionality influence Indian migrants' lives in Dubai, considering their opportunities, working conditions, and social experiences. This study employs a qualitative approach. There are semi-structured interviews conducted with five Indian migrants employed within various professional fields, such as the restaurant industry, construction, etc., with document analysis of migration reports, legislative framework, and other academic literature. Narrative analysis and thematic coding were utilized to identify any recurring themes within participants' interviews. This study's findings illuminate that economic, wage ceilings, and limited economic opportunities serve as push factors causing Indian migrants to leave India. However, women participants also cited a lack of gender safety and social restrictions as the primary reasons behind their migrations. When comparing the two places to work, participants consistently said Dubai offers higher wages, greater workplace respect, and improved relations than India. Moreover, this research also presented that caste and intersectionality inequalities continue to shape migrants' experiences internationally through occupational clusters and social prejudices present. Overall, this research continues to add to the vast debates about migration and systemic inequality, demonstrating how social hierarchies are reproduced in global labour systems.