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Working abroad in 2026: overseas jobs hit a five-year low, and what is open

Overseas jobs for Bangladeshis fell to a five-year low in August amid Middle East uncertainty. Saudi Arabia eased permit renewals, Malaysia listed 25 recruiting agencies, and Oman's reopening is unconfirmed. What we know, and how to avoid recruitment fraud.

••2 min read
Two Biman Bangladesh Airlines jets on the apron at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka

Going abroad for work is the largest single route out of Bangladesh, and this year it has got harder. These are the developments we could find in the Bangladeshi press. Most are headlines, not full policy documents, so verify the details before you act.

The big picture

The Daily Star reported on 5 August 2026 that overseas jobs fell to a five-year low amid uncertainty in the Middle East. If you are waiting for a visa, expect delays and more offers that look too good to be true.

Saudi Arabia

  • On 4 August 2026 the Daily Star reported that Saudi Arabia eased residence permit renewal rules for foreign workers. Prothom Alo also listed a 1 July 2026 item urging workers to renew work permits on time.
  • The Saudi ambassador said the kingdom issued 750,000 work visas, and 1.4 million visas in total, to Bangladeshi citizens in 2025. A blog gives a lower figure of about 350,000, so treat any single number with care.

Malaysia

Malaysia listed 25 recruiting agencies (reported 23 August 2026). Prothom Alo also ran an editorial on a revoked agency licence tied to a recruitment syndicate, which is a reminder to check who you are dealing with. We did not find the terms of any wider reopening of Malaysia's labour market.

Oman

In January 2026 Oman said work visas for Bangladeshi workers would reopen within two months. We could not confirm that this has happened.

Before you pay anyone

  1. Confirm the recruiting agency is licensed through the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
  2. Ask for the job offer, contract and salary in writing, and read it in a language you understand.
  3. Get a written receipt for every payment. Do not pay for a visa that has not been issued.
  4. Check the visa and the employer with the destination country's embassy, not only with the agent.
  5. If an offer needs you to travel on a tourist or visit visa to "convert" it later, walk away.

Planning to study instead? See our summary of student visa changes in 2026.

Cover photo: Tarunsamanta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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