NEPAL-THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES(UAE) RELATIONS

1. Diplomatic Relations

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates established their diplomatic relations on 22 January 1977. Nepal established its residential embassy in Abu Dhabi at the Charge d’ Affairs level on 11 April 2004 and upgraded it to the Ambassadorial level on 21 December 2007. Similarly, the UAE established its residential mission at Ambassadorial level in Kathmandu on 10 May 2016. Nepal has decided to establish its Consulate in Dubai which is in its final stage. It is likely to be materialized by the second half of 2025.

At bilateral level, the two countries have been enjoying friendly and cordial relations based on mutual goodwill, friendship, understanding and cooperation.

At the multilateral level, Nepal and the UAE, both as the member of the United Nations and Non-Alignment Movement, share common views on significant global issues ranging from renewable energy, climate change to world peace and fight against terrorism.

Nepal and the UAE have tremendous potential for cooperation in the domains of tourism, renewable energy, and human resources development. Nepal looks forward to strengthening its relation with the UAE for the mutual benefit of both the countries and peoples.

2. Economic Relations

I. Trade and Aid

The UAE is one of the major trading partners of Nepal.  The following table exhibits the volume of export, import and trade balance between Nepal and the UAE in the last five years.

Value in: USD ($), In million

Source: TEPC, Nepal, 2018

Major exports from Nepal to the UAE include woolen shawls, scarves, carpets, paan-mashala, chewing tobacco etc. whereas gold, silver, petro-bitumen, lubricating oil etc. are the major importable items from the UAE. Nepal has been exploring the trade market in the UAE in recent years. It might be a lucrative market for the Nepalese cereals, food items, spices, tea, herbal and medicinal plant products, essential oils, bottled water, garment, and handicraft items. etc.

The UAE is the largest donor of Official Development Assistant (ODA) in terms of its GNI. It exceeded the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) target of 0.7% ODA/GNI becoming the largest ODA donor with the contribution of 1.34%, 1.26%, 1.09% and 1.21% as ODA/GNI in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. During the devastating earthquake of 2015, the UAE provided humanitarian aid to Nepal through its official channels and Emirates Red Crescent also. As the UAE provides bilateral development cooperation in the sectors of economic development, infrastructure projects, education, health etc., Nepal can benefit from the mobilization of UAE resources in areas of socio-economic and infrastructure development.

In between 2010-2016 AD, the aid provided by the UAE has remained as listed below:

Source: UAE MOFAIC, 2017

The foreign aid provided by the UAE to Nepal in 2015 can be categorized as follows:

Figure in AED

Source: UAE Foreign Aid, 2015

However, the Government of Nepal has to coordinate with the Government of the UAE and its bodies like Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) which are the major donors for development assistance and ODA and attract more aid for its development as the UAE has provided 92% of its total assistance in the development projects in comparison to 6.7% and 1.3% as humanitarian aid and charitable assistance respectively in 2015 AD.

II. Investment and Nepali Businessmen

Nepal offers a very conducive and favorable environment for foreign investment with comparatively cheap production and labour cost. The UAE has made investment in Nepal but it is very nominal considering its capacity to invest which is shown in the figure below:

Rs. In Million

Source: doind.gov.np, 2023

Nowadays, Nepalese businessmen have also been investing in the UAE in different sectors like real state, travel and tourism, hotels and retail business. Nepali businessmen have made millions of Dollars of investment in the UAE compared to the UAE investments made in Nepal. Nepali Business Council, Dubai has already been registered in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce hence providing the platforms for Nepalese businessmen to explore avenues and invest in different sectors and parts of the country. Establishment of Nepal’s Consulate Dubai is anticipated to enhance FDI from the UAE to Nepal.

III. Foreign Employment 

The UAE is a home for the expatriates from around the world which roughly constitutes 88 per cent of its total residents in the country. It is one of the five major destination countries for the Nepali migrants to work and live. As of today, about 12 per cent of the total migrants from Nepal live in the UAE. Likewise, Nepal is one of the most important source countries of migrant workers for the UAE as well, constituting the fifth largest group of expatriates in this country. Nepalese work in the field of Security, Driving, Sales, Hospitality, Construction, Cleaning etc. Provided that Nepal trains and sends the semi-skilled and skilled labor-force in this country, there is lots of demand for the Nepalese workers for their hard work, sincerity and performance at par excellence in their fields.

The UAE is the fourth largest source country of remittance income for Nepal. As it is illegal to do transaction through Hundi/Hawala to Nepal, most of the remittance from the UAE to Nepal flows through banking channels like commercial banks, remittance companies and money transfer agencies. In the F/Y 2013/14, $535.502 million has been sent as remittance money from the UAE to Nepal through banking channels only.

IV. Tourism and Aviation

Both Nepal and the United Arab Emirates are the most potential touristic destination countries with their own distinct destinations, products and services. Comparatives to its potentials, very few Emiratis visit Nepal despite the enormously attractive packages that Nepal has to offer. Only 556 UAE nationals visited Nepal in 2023 whereas the number of Nepalese visiting the UAE has also been increasing significantly in recent years.

The UAE is one of the oldest destinations of Nepal Airlines. However, it suspended its flights for some time. Three UAE based airlines, Etihad, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia have been operating about 60 flights a week to Nepal. In view of the growing passenger movements and the preparation by the Emirates and RAK Airlines to operate their flights to Nepal, resuming regular flights by Nepal Airlines since August 2016 and operation by Himalayan Airlines since April 2017 has definitely been a boost for promoting tourism in Nepal. Fly Dubai has commenced its flight to Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa from 08 November 2024.

3. Agreements

Nepal and the UAE have signed the following Agreements/ Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs):

1. Air Services Agreement (ASA), 2019 (28 September 2019)
2. Loan Agreement, 2006 (recruiting Nepalese Ex-armed forces in the UAE the periodic review made in every 3 years and scraped since February 2016)
3. Memorandum of Understanding in the Recruitment, Employment and Repatriation of Workers, (14 June 2019)
4. Memorandum of Understanding in setting up Joint Committee, 2010
5. FNCCI and UAEFCCI have signed a MoU in April 2010 to promote bilateral trade and commerce

4. Bilateral Visits

I. Visits from Nepal

Recent high-level visits from Nepal to the UAE include the following:

1. Rt, Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Puspa Kamal Dahal Prachanda visited the UAE in 2023 to attend the UN Climate Summit (COP 28).
2. Rt. Hon. President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from 13-16 November 2017 at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
3. Rt. Hon. Bidhya Devi Bhandari and her entourage paid stop-over visit to Abu Dhabi on 13-14 June 2017 en route to Geneva to participate in the 105^th ILO Summit.
4. Hon. Dhaniram Paudel, Minister for Education paid five-day visit to the UAE from 17-21 March 2017 to participate in the 5^th Global Education and Skills Forum, Dubai.
5. Hon. Keshav Budhathoki, Minister for General Administration and Hon. Umesh Prasad Mainali, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission participated in the World Government Summit held in Dubai from 10-15 February 2017.
6. The Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ paid an official visit to the United Aram Emirates from 14-17 January 2016 at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayad Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and participated in the World Future Energy Summit held in Abu Dhabi. Hon. Janardan Sharma, Ministry of Energy also visited the UAE from 14-20 January 2017 to participate in the 10^th World Future Energy Summit.
7. A Five-member delegation led by the Speaker of the Legislative Parliament, Rt. Hon. Onsari Gharti paid a five-day visit to the UAE from 10-14 December 2016 to participate in Global Summit of Women’s Speaker of the Parliament held at Abu Dhabi from 12-13 December 2016.
8. Mr. Bishnu Prasad Lamsal, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment participated in Abu Dhabi Dialogue Senior Officials Meeting held at Dubai from 11-12 May 2016.
9. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Hon. Chandra Prakash Mainali visit UAE from 15-18 November, 2015 to participate in We Protect Children Online Summit.
10. Hon. Khagraj Adhikari, Minister for Health and Population paid an official visit to UAE from 16-19 March 2015.
11. Chief of Army Staff Mr. Gaurav Shamser Rana visited UAE to participate in IDEX from 22-26 February 2015.
12. The then Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sushil Kumar Koirala and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey visited UAE from 19-20 October 2014 en route to New York following their participation in the 69^th UNGA.
13. Rt. Hon. Khilraj Regmi, Chairman of the Council of Minister of Nepal visited the UAE on 25-26 April 2014.
14. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Narayan Kaji Shrestha visited UAE from 3-4 October 2012 en route to New York following their participation in the 67^th UNGA.
15. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Sujata Koirala paid an official visit to UAE from 22-26 June 2010.
16. The Ministers for Labour and Transport Management, Hon. Aftab Alam and Hon. Lekh Raj Bhatta visited UAE from 26-30 August 2009 and 15-18, 2009 respectively.
17. Then Crown Prince Paras and Crown princess Himani visited the UAE in April 2006.
18. Then King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah paid a friendly visit to the United Arab Emirates from June 18-22, 2005. Hon. Ramesh Nath Pandey, Minister for Foreign Affairs visited the UAE in March 2005.
19. Then Minister for Information and Communication Dr. Mohamad Mohsin visited the UAE in 2004. The delegation included then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat and Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Mr. Urba Dutt pant.
20. Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs visited United Arab Emirates in November 2004 representing the Government of Nepal in the funeral of the Late President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who died on 2 November 2004.
21. Late Qeen Aisharya and late prince Nirajan paid an official visit to the UAE in 1995.

II. Visits from the UAE

Recent high-level visits from the UAE to Nepal:

1. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation visited Nepal on 10 May 2016 during the inauguration ceremony of UAE Embassy to Nepal.
2. His Excellency Mr. Humaid Rashid Khalifa Deemas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Under-Secretary of Ministry of Labour, UAE, unofficially, visited Nepal in December 2014.
3. H.E. Mr. Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Labour visited Nepal on 28-29, October 2013.
4. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates paid a one-day visit to Nepal on 11 June 2009.
5. H.E. Mr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water visited Nepal on 15 May 2009.
6. His Excellency Mr. Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Labour visited Nepal in 2007.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division

18 March 2025