The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, is set to arrive in Kathmandu on Tuesday, 23 April for a two-day official visit, marking the highest-level visit from Qatar since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1977.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday that the Emir is visiting Nepal at the invitation of President Ramchandra Paudel. During his stay, Al-Thani will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday.
“Following the talks, both leaders will witness the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding,” the foreign ministry statement said, though details of the specific deals were not provided.
Officials have indicated that at least nine agreements focused on development cooperation between Nepal and the Gulf nation will be signed during the visit.
The Emir is scheduled to meet with President Paudel on Tuesday and attend a state banquet hosted in his honor that evening. His earlier planned visit in November 2022 was postponed due to tensions in the Middle East at that time.
Qatar is a major destination for Nepali migrant workers, with remittances from the Gulf state playing a vital role in Nepal’s economy. The visit comes after former Nepali presidents Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari paid state visits to Qatar in recent years.
The Emir’s trip underscores the growing ties between Nepal and Qatar across economic, labor, and diplomatic spheres. Officials from both nations are expected to leverage the visit to bolster cooperation across sectors of mutual interest.
