This paper discusses migration policies and their impact on development on both the theoretical and practical levels, focusing on ESCWA member countries and highlighting good practices and major gaps. In order to shed light on the importance of the relationship between migration and development, the paper relies on six studies covering the following topics:

International migration policies in ESCWA member countries; fundamental issues of international migration and development in the Arab Mashreq and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries; labour migration; migrant remittances and their impact on development in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic; transnational communities and development; and brain and talent drain from the Arab Mashreq..