Arabs of Indian Origin – A Forgotten Diaspora

Arab traders were fascinated with India’s spices, pearls, precious stones, silk, sandalwood, Oudh (Agar), Frankincense and perfumes. The famous Danish explorer Carsten Niebuhr (1762) and the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt (1814) described the pivotal role of the Jeddah port in the entrepôt trade between India and Egypt. The English explorer and hydrographer James Wellsted, who surveyed the Hijaz coast in 1831, listed the goods brought here from India as rice, sugar, fine muslin, cashmere shawls, other coarse and fine cloths, indigo, teak, coconut oil, coconuts, pepper, ginger, turmeric and other spices.

Cultural contacts between Arabs and Indians reached their acme during the reign of Khalifa Harun Al-Rashid, when scientists, mathematicians, and philosophers from India made outstanding contributions to promoting learning among Arabs. As a result of these contacts, significant developments took place in the arts, mathematics, and sciences, especially astronomy.

Indians were also fascinated by Hijaz because it is home to Islam’s two holiest shrines—Makkah and Madinah. During the Mughal period, noble ladies travelled in large groups to perform the Hajj. One notable figure, Gulbadan Begum, the aunt of Mughal Emperor Akbar, led a large group of elite women from India to perform the Hajj. She stayed in Makkah from 1576 to 1582, when she formed many trading alliances with the people of Hijaz.

Likewise, the Nizam of Hyderabad sent ships full of pilgrims and the Khiswa (outer covering) for the Holy Kaa’ba. Like many other Indian rulers, he established several Rubats, or rest houses, for the free stay of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.

In the mid-19th century, several Indian Muslim scholars and political leaders fled to the Hejaz region to escape British persecution for participating in the 1857 revolt, often called the ‘First War of Independence.’ Among them was Maulana Muhammad Rahmatullah Kairanavi from Uttar Pradesh. In 1873, he founded Madrasa as-Sawlatiyah in Makkah, regarded as the first regular school established in the Arabian Peninsula.

In modern times, India established diplomatic relations with several Arab countries soon after gaining independence, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. While the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations commemorate 75 years of India’s independence, it also reminds us that three-quarters of a century has passed since India established diplomatic relations with many key countries in the Arab world.

Arabs of Indian Origin

India has the world’s largest diaspora population. The global Indian diaspora numbers approximately 35.42 million as of May 2024, comprising 15.85 million Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and 19.57 million Persons of Indian origin (PIOs). Countries like the United States (4.46 million), Malaysia (2.99 million), Myanmar (2.01 million), United Kingdom (1.76 million), Canada (1.69 million), Sri Lanka (1.6 million), South Africa (1.56 million) and Mauritius (0.89 million) have significant PIO populations.

The largest number of NRIs (8.9 million) are found in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, making them one of the largest Indian diaspora groups globally. The country-wise breakdown of the Indian expatriate population in the Gulf countries includes the UAE (3.5 million), Saudi Arabia (2.6 million), Kuwait (1 million), Qatar (750,000), Oman (700,000), and Bahrain (350,000).

The number of Arab nationals of Indian origin in the GCC countries having ancestral links to India is minuscule and difficult to quantify due to restrictive citizenship laws across the region. There are likely fewer than 15,000 Arab nationals of Indian origin across the GCC countries, primarily in Oman and the UAE.

Oman has the largest national population of Indian origin in the GCC. The Omani government has historically been more open to naturalising long-resident expatriates, especially those with historic links to Oman. An estimated 10,000 Omanis of Indian origin live in Oman today, mainly from the Lawati, Khoja, and Memon communities. These families originally came from Gujarat and settled in Oman generations ago. Although they have integrated into Omani society, they maintain distinct cultural identities and are known in Oman for their historical trading expertise.

There are fewer than 2,000 Emirati nationals of Indian origin and fewer than 1,000 Indian-origin individuals in Kuwait. Only a few hundred Saudi nationals are estimated to be of Indian origin. These individuals are usually descendants of traders, religious scholars, physicians of high repute, or those who settled there decades ago, often with special permission. However, in 2021, as part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia introduced a formal naturalisation program for foreigners with exceptional skills, including doctors and academics. On July 4, 2024, a royal decree was issued to grant citizenship to scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and “distinguished talents with unique expertise and specialisations.”

During British rule, many Indians migrated to the Arab world, especially the Gulf, Levant, and Hijaz (now part of Saudi Arabia). They moved as traders, religious scholars, labourers, or members of the British colonial administration. Some Indian settlers integrated deeply into local society, while others preserved distinct cultural markers, including surnames that reflect their Indian origins. These surnames often indicate the region of India they came from or their family’s social or religious background.

For instance, common surnames in Saudi Arabia for people of Indian origin include Al-Hindi / Al-Hind, Dehlavi, Malabari, Siddique, Kidwai, Faruqi, and Surati.

Many Al-Hindi families can trace their roots to various regions in India. Their history in the Arab world spans several generations, making them both culturally Arab and proudly connected to their Indian ancestry. The surname Dehlavi is used by individuals with roots in Delhi and the surrounding regions of northern India.

During British rule, many scholars, Sufi practitioners, and religious leaders migrated from Delhi to the Hijaz, particularly Makkah and Madinah.

‘Malabari’ refers to people from the Malabar Coast in Kerala. Many Malabari Muslims, often known as Mappilas, migrated to the Gulf and Hijaz for trade or pilgrimage, settling in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE. These families engaged in trade, particularly spices, textiles, and food.

The Khimji Ramdas family in Oman is among the Gulf region’s most prominent and respected Indian-origin business families. It migrated from Kutch, Gujarat, to Oman in the 19th century, when Indian merchants were actively involved in trade with the Arabian Peninsula. The family’s founding members initially traded essential goods, including food, textiles, and building materials, establishing a solid foundation in Oman’s commercial sector. The family has played a vital role in developing trade relations between India and Oman and has participated in various social and educational initiatives.

Sultan Said bin Taimur, the father of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, officially permitted the Khimji family to expand their business operations in Oman, marking the beginning of their deep-rooted association with the Sultanate. For all these years, the Khimji Ramdas family has maintained a close relationship with the ruling Al Said family and the Omani government. The patriarch of the Khimji family, Kanaksi Gokaldas Khimji, was conferred the honorary title of ‘Shaikh’ by Sultan Qaboos, a rare and highly prestigious recognition for a non-Omani.

The Al-Lawati (or Lawatiya) community, originally from Gujarat, is an influential group in Oman. They are involved in trade, jewellery, and real estate. Many Lawatiya families have been naturalised and are fully integrated into Omani society.

In UAE, the Al-Ghurair family is one of the most influential business families of Indian (Gujarati) origin. They own the Al Ghurair Group, which operates across construction, banking, retail, and education. The family’s contributions to Dubai’s economic development are highly notable. Juma Al Majid, the founder of the Juma Al Majid Group, has roots tracing back to India. The family is now a significant player in sectors such as construction, automotive, and financial services, with Juma Al Majid being a well-respected figure in Emirati society.

Likewise, members of the Al-Fardan, Al-Moosa, Al-Rais, and Al-Ansari families in the UAE, the Darwish and Al Mana families in Qatar, the Al-Zayani family in Bahrain, and the Al Mulla family in Kuwait have Indian ties.

Recent estimates suggest over 300,000 persons of Indian descent live in Yemen. There has been a significant Indian presence in Yemen, particularly in Aden, dating back to the 19th century, when Aden was administered by the Bombay Presidency from 1839 to 1967 as part of the British Empire. The British administration facilitated migration from India to support the colony’s economic and administrative needs. Many Indians settled in Aden, Mukalla, Shihr, Lahij, Mokha, and Hodeidah. These individuals have integrated into Yemeni culture while maintaining aspects of their Indian heritage. In particular, Al-Quaitis, Al-Kathiris, and Al-Awlaqis in Hadhramaut, Shihr, and Lahej provinces of Yemen have deep connections with Hyderabad.

Indian culture, including its music, had a significant impact on Aden’s society. The first band in Aden in 1903 was an Indian ensemble, showing the strong presence of Indian music in the city. Arabic songs were routinely sung to Indian music. Some popular Indian-origin singers include Mohammed Juma’a Khan (1903-1964) and Iskandar Abdulghaffour.

Cultural and people-to-people contacts have been the strongest pillars of India’s relationship with the Arab world. Arab traders started arriving in India in the early Islamic era, and many settled on the Malabar coast and other parts of the country, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka. Several well-known families from Jeddah, Dammam, Bahrain, UAE and Oman have settled in India. There is also a large Hadhrami diaspora settled in different parts of India. (This topic will be discussed separately in another article).

India is recognised as a pioneer in engaging its diaspora. It organises several outreach programs and confers the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman to distinguished members of its diaspora every other year. While many non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Gulf countries have regularly received this award, only a handful of Arab nationals of Indian origin have been honoured with it. Notable exceptions include Sheikh Kanaksi Gokaldas Khimji (2003) from Oman and Dr Majid-Uddin Kazi (2006) from Saudi Arabia. The latter served as the personal physician to King Faisal and King Fahd, as well as the chief of Royal Clinics.

Some Indian embassies and consulates, especially the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, have organised innovative programmes to engage with this small segment of the Indian diaspora. It is time to consider a deeper engagement with Arabs of Indian origin at a higher level, particularly during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, whose 18th edition will be held from January 8 to 10, 2025, at Bhubaneswar in Odisha.