Brief History
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adopts the approach of development planning in drawing its social and economic policies and programs within the framework of comprehensive five year plans, which included two basic complementary roles: the guiding role, concerned with state institutions and the public sector, and an indicative role, related to the private sector.
In this regard, the 2030 Vision outlines the general trends for all aspects of the country’s socio-economic development for the coming years. The plan also addresses the main challenges expected, along with the policies, programs and resources needed to meet these challenges and achieve development goals and objectives.
In this context, and during 2016, the International Organization for Migration [IOM] appointed, by special agreement, its first staff at the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action to support IOM cooperation with the International Solidarity Organization on humanitarian aspects and capacity-building activities.
Another Memorandum of Understanding was signed, in December 2016, between IOM and the Human Rights Committee in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the field of capacity building for related institutions in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Justice).
A related workshop was held from the 26th to 27th of November 2018, resulting in the development of a 36-month anti-trafficking project that is expected to be signed soon.
In 2017, IOM submitted a request to open an official office in Saudi Arabia, and the government is currently considering the application. Thus, IOM is currently a non-resident agency and part of the United Nations country team, where most United Nations agencies have the same status.
Key Donors
King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action
Office Location
IOM Saudi Arabia
UN Building, no. 9, Dipolomatic District
Postal Code: 94623
Riyadh, 11614, Saudi Arabia
Anti-trafficking project in progress
IOM proposes the support of the Human Rights Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address anti-terrorism issues with a focus on five areas of intervention: (1) monitoring of anti-trafficking activities in the country; (2) prosecution; (3) protection; (4) prevention; and (5) cooperation and partnership. Thus, when the proposal is signed, the International Organization for Migration will be able to have an active presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This would enable IOM to expand on its other activities as there are good prospects.
Thematic Programming
Movements of migrants from the Gulf Cooperation Council (2017)
| Country of Departure | Country of Destination | Total Travelers |
| UAE | CA, GB, SE, FI, IE | 128 |
| Bahrain | SE | 3 |
| Kuwait | CA, GB, SE | 80 |
| Oman | SE | 1 |
| Qatar | CA, NO, SE | 13 |
| Saudi Arabia | CA, GB, GH, IS, NO, SE, | 122 |
| 347 |
The table only covers the records for January-June 2018
| Country of Departure | Country of Destination | Total Travelers |
| UAE | CA, GB, SE | 79 |
| Kuwait | CA | 9 |
| Saudi Arabia | CA, GB, SE, IS | 56 |
| 144 |
External relations / finance (2018)
| Value | Type | Country |
| $2,230,000 | WASH | Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh |
| $1,444,986 | 2nd in-kind NFI | Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh |
| $600,000 | CS | Greece |
| $46,082,678 | YHRP | Yemen |
| $1,000,000 | CS | Lahij, Yemen |
| $2,000,000 | AVRR | Somalia |