ABSTRACT
This chapter examines trends in Arab labor mobility in the middle east in the wake of the oil glut and the economic recession in the period 1982-87, and analyzes the effect of political events on the movement of labor. During the 1970s the Middle Eastern states — especially the rich oil producers — were huge importers of Western technology, such as engineering products and construction and technical services. The major suppliers were the US, Japan and West European countries. Human resources are the most crucial variables in building modern nations, and are essential for economic and social development. The oil-producing countries needed to import technical and managerial personnel as well as semi- and unskilled workers. The oil-producing countries seek to reduce their dependence on foreigners for economic and political reasons. Arab foreign workers were given preference over Asian and African foreign workers by the labor and nationality laws of the Gulf states.
