The number of Kenyans working and living in Qatar has been steadily increasing over the last 5 to 10 years. This shows the demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers in the country.
As of 2025, the official number of Kenyans living in Qatar is 75,000.
According to Kenya’s Ambassador to Qatar, about 14,000 of them are employed in the public transport sector alone.
These workers play an important role in Qatar’s transportation systems, from operating buses and taxis to maintaining logistics operations.
As soon as you land at Qatar’s airport, Hamad International Airport, you will immediately see a lot of Kenyans working in the airport.
Another sector that you will find a lot of Kenyans is in the security industry, as guards patrolling in malls, or in botique shops.
10,000 and 15,000 Kenyans have relocated to Qatar in the last three years alone. This is between 2023 and 2025.
New labor agreements with the government of Qatar and the pursuit of better job opportunities abroad partly drive this increase.
Looking ahead, the Kenyan government has set an ambitious goal to increase the number of Kenyans working in Qatar to 250,000. This is a very ambitious project, noting that the other Gulf states are also trying to bring in Kenyans.
GCC countries are working on a unified GCC visa that will allow one to get a single visa to visit all states, something that could be great for Kenyans, as they decide on which GCC country is best for them.
The Ministry of Labor hopes to achieve this through formal labor export frameworks and partnerships that ensure fair treatment and decent working conditions for all Kenyan workers.
A lot of Kenyans have also been relocating to the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia for greener pastures. Although there have been complaints about the working conditions, especially for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
With the Middle East continuing to offer promising employment prospects, Qatar remains a top destination for Kenyans seeking new horizons, career growth, and international experience.
