The Department of Foreign Employment reported that 472,577 Nepalis received labor permits in the first seven months of the current fiscal year. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains the primary destination, attracting 106,687 workers. Qatar followed with 79,571, Saudi Arabia with 78,397, and Malaysia with 51,629 permits. Spokesperson Chandra Bahadur Siwakoti noted that the UAE has held the top spot for two years. Expert Rameshwar Nepal attributed this surge to massive post-pandemic investments in the UAE’s construction and service sectors, which have significantly increased the demand for migrant labor.
