Filipinos first arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1973, when a group of Filipino engineers migrated to the country.[6] Today, staff at the Saudi Arabian embassy in the Philippines process between 800 and 900 jobs for Filipinos daily.[7] In 2008, Saudi Arabia had 300,000 job orders for Filipinos.[8] Later, in the first time hiring Filipino medical professionals, Saudi Arabia announced intentions to hire 6,000 Filipinos as doctors and nurses between 2009 and 2011.[7] In addition to medical professionals, Filipinos work as automotive workers,[9] construction workers,[10] and engineers,[6] as well as in the fields of desalination,[10] petroleum production and processing,[10] telecommunications,[10] and transportation.[10]