NEPAL-QATAR RELATIONS

Brief on Nepal-Qatar Relations

Nepal and the State of Qatar established their diplomatic relations on 21 January 1977. Since that time onwards, bilateral relations between the two countries have remained cordial and friendly that are based on mutual trust, respect, understanding and cooperation. Nepal opened its Embassy in Doha on 11 July 2000 whereas Qatar set up its Embassy in Kathmandu in August 2011. Before that, Qatari Ambassador resident in New Delhi was concurrently accredited to Nepal.

Exchange of Visits

Exchange of visits at different levels and interactions thereof, help promote understanding and goodwill which in turn also help widen and heighten the subsisting bonds of ties. 

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, paid a state Visit to Nepal on 24-25 April 2024. The visit which was realized at the cordial invitation of Rt. Hon. President of Nepal Mr. Ram Chandra Paudel has been pivotal in consolidating the relations so happily subsisting between our two nations. The friendly relations between Nepal and Qatar have been further widened and deepened through expansion of various areas of cooperation and collaboration through the signing of following Agreements and MoUs during the State Visit:

1. Agreement on Cooperation and Exchange of News between National News Agency, Nepal (RSS) and Qatar News Agency (QNA);
2. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Diplomatic Training and Education between The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and The Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.
3. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar;
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar;
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar;
6. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar;

In addition, following two MoUs were signed between the private sector apex bodies of Nepal and Qatar during the State Visit of H.H. the Amir of Qatar:

7. Agreement on the Establishment of Joint Business Council (JBC) between Qatar Chamber and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI);
8. Memorandum of Understanding between Qatar Chamber and the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari paid an official visit to Qatar from 29 October to 1 November 2018 at the invitation of the Amir of Qatar.

The Right Honourable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the first President of Nepal after transformation of the country into a Federal Republic, paid an official visit to the State of Qatar on 10-13 October 2011.

(Hon. Mr. Babu Ram Kunwar, Attorney General of Nepal also visited Qatar leading a ten member delegation from 25-31 October 2014 at the invitation of his counterpart H.E. Dr. Al  Bin Fetais Al-Marri to study the prosecution practices of Qatar. Hon. Bam Dev Gautam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs visited Qatar from April 11 to 14, 2015 leading a Nepali delegation to take part in the 13^th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. During his sojourn, the Deputy Prime Minister paid courtesy call on H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior on the sideline of the UN Congress on 13 April 2015. Likewise, Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat paid an official visit to Doha from January 10-12, 2017 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, H. E. Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani. During the Visit, Hon. Foreign Minister paid a courtesy call on His Highness Amir Tamim bin Hammad Al Thani and held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister and Labor Minister of Qatar separately.)

Then Minister of Labour and Transport Mr. Ramesh Lekhak visited Qatar and signed the Additional Protocol to the Agreement on the Regulation of the Employment of Nepali (Nepalese) Manpower on 20 January 2008.

The then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey visited Qatar and signed the bilateral Agreement Concerning Nepalese Manpower Employment in Qatar on 21 March 2005.

Similarly, former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai paid a visit to Qatar from 28 November to 03 December 2008, in the capacity of the Minister for Finance leading a Nepali delegation, to participate in the Follow-up of International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of Monterrey Consensus.

Likewise, former Prime Minister and Member of Constituent Assembly Hon. Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda paid a private visit to Qatar from March 19-23, 2014. During the visit, Hon. Mr. Dahal had meetings with H. E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H. E. Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Abdullah Saleh Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Likewise, former Foreign Minister Mr. Upendra Yadav paid an unofficial visit to Qatar on 14-16 March 2009.

From Qatari side, H.E. Dr. Al  bin Fetais Al-Marri, Attorney General of Qatar made private visit to Nepal on 17-18 July 2014. During the visit, Dr. Al Marri held bilateral meeting with his counterpart Hon. Babu Ram Kunwar, Attorney General of Nepal and paid courtesy call on Hon. Narahari Acharya, Minister for Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs. Similarly, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs H.E. Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi paid an official visit to Nepal from 4-7 April 2015 at the cordial invitation of the Hon. State Minister for Labour of Nepal. During the visit, H.E. the Labour Minister held bilateral meeting with Hon. Tek Bahadur Gurung, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, had meetings with Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey and paid courtesy calls on Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Rt. Hon. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.

Prospects of Bilateral Cooperation

Since both countries are endowed with natural resources, there is an ample scope of promoting cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism and manpower utilization. Moreover, Nepal is a preferred destination for tourism, trade and investment opportunities and both Nepal and Qatar should boost their economic relations in the domain of having comparative advantage.

Trade between Nepal and Qatar, thought in a small scale, has been growing steadily. Despite the growing volume of trade, the trade balance is heavily in favour of Qatar. Nepal’s major export items to Qatar include pasta, carpets, spaghetti, noodles and tea whereas polymers of ethylene, oil from petrol and bituminous minerals are major import items from Qatar. The following table reflects the recent trade figures between the two countries:

Source: Trade and Export Promotion Centre

Nepal should, therefore, explore the ways to reduce trade deficit through enhancement of exports to Qatar. In this context, the six Agreements and MoUs signed between Nepal and Qatar during the visit of H.H. the Amir of the State of Qatar are expected to provide legal framework to move ahead with implementation of collaborating projects and activities. Likewise, two MoUs signed between the private sector apex bodies of both the countries will help bringing closer the private sectors to advance business relations.

Tourism is an important sector where Nepal and Qatar co-operate to each other. Nepal and Qatar signed the Air Service Agreement in 2002. At present, Qatar Airways is operating daily direct passenger flights to Kathmandu and handling a significant quantity of Nepali export goods bound for Europe and America. The air connectivity between Kathmandu and Doha has facilitated the movement of the people to either side. Nepal’s most famous Himalayan beauty as well as its rich cultural and natural heritages, architecture and hospitable people are receiving worldwide attention and attracting an increasing number of tourists from around the world. Nepal could provide best alternative ambiance for Qatari tourists to spend their holidays away from the bustle of modernity. Flight duration is significantly short. Bilateral relations in the tourism sector have been further enhanced after the successful ascent of the world’s highest peak- Mt. Everest by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani on 22 May 2013. He is the first Qatari national to climb Mt. Everest.

Till date, there is a significant flow of Qatari nationals as well as expatriates residing in Qatar to Nepal. There is, indeed, a great potential to attract them through dissemination of information regarding he tourism destinations, products and services including natural beauty, cultural, ecological, natural and geographical diversity among the potential target groups of tourists in Qatar.

Bilateral Labour Relations

As part of the economic diplomacy, Government of Nepal has taken the policy of sending its nationals abroad for employment. Qatar has been one of the most preferred destinations for employment opportunities for many Nepali youths. After the signing of bilateral Agreement between Nepal and Qatar concerning Nepalese Manpower Employment in the State of Qatar on 21 March 2005 and its Additional Protocol (signed on 20 January 2008), the flow of people has been increasing annually. According to the estimate shared by the Embassy of Nepal in Qatar approximately 370,000 Nepali are currently working in Qatar but most of them are in menial jobs. Dedication to work, loyalty, sincerity and integrity are some of the attributes of Nepali workers that have earned trust and goodwill of the people and Government of Qatar. Very recently, the number of Nepali citizens engaging in skilled and professional jobs is also increasing in Qatar.

Cooperation in Regional and multilateral forums

As Nepal and Qatar share similar views on many international agenda and issues, both the countries at the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, and other international forums have been working in tandem and playing active role for the cause of global peace, security and development. Nepal and Qatar have been extending and exchanging support on many issues of common interest such as climate change, peace-keeping, skill development, and issues of least developed nations, among others.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division

18 March 2025