UAE and Nepal Strengthen a Promising Economic Partnership from Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi – Atef Al Batal

In a renewed demonstration of the strong bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and as part of a shared vision to deepen economic cooperation, the Embassy of Nepal in the UAEhosted the “Nepal–UAE Economic Diplomacy Forum 2026” at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, investors, and representatives of the public and private sectors.

The forum was attended by H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade; H.E. Juma Mohammed Al Kaabi, Advisor to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism; H.E. Masoud Rahma Al Masoud, Treasurer of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and H.E. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Ambassador of Nepal to the United Arab Emirates. The event also welcomed a number of ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, Happiness Ambassador Aisha Abdullah, Dr. Hussein Yaslam, business executives, investors, media representatives, and members of the Nepali community in the UAE.

Throughout the forum, speakers emphasized that UAE–Nepal relations have entered a new phase, one driven by economic diplomacy as a key instrument for advancing mutual interests and transforming the longstanding friendship between the two nations into a dynamic strategic partnership capable of delivering sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.

In his keynote address, H.E. Ambassador Tej Bahadur Chhetri highlighted Nepal’s remarkable progress toward political stability and economic reform, noting that the Government of Nepal is implementing comprehensive legislative and institutional reforms to create a more competitive, transparent, and investor-friendly business environment. These reforms include simplifying investment procedures, strengthening legal protections for investors, and modernizing the country’s regulatory framework.

The Ambassador underlined Nepal’s significant investment potential, citing its abundant natural resources, vast hydropower capacity, young and skilled workforce, and strategic location between India and China. These competitive advantages, he said, position Nepal as an attractive destination for Emirati and international investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

He also revealed that Nepal is working closely with the UAE to finalize several key bilateral agreements, including the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA), the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). These agreements are expected to strengthen investor confidence and establish a robust legal framework for expanding bilateral economic cooperation.

The forum also presented Nepal’s economic vision for the coming years, which aims to achieve an average annual GDP growth rate of 7% and expand the country’s economy to USD 100 billion over the next several years. This ambitious strategy focuses on accelerating investment in renewable energy, modern agriculture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable tourism.

A series of specialized presentations by Nepali government officials, business leaders, and economic experts showcased high-potential investment opportunities in hydropower, infrastructure, information technology, digital services, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and hospitality. Speakers emphasized that Nepal now offers a more liberal and investment-friendly environment, allowing full foreign ownership in many sectors, facilitating the repatriation of profits, and providing stronger legal guarantees for foreign investors.

Participants also highlighted the invaluable contribution of the Nepali community in the UAE, which now exceeds half a million people. Over the past decades, the community has played a vital role in supporting the UAE’s development while contributing significantly to Nepal’s economy through remittances, entrepreneurship, skills transfer, and stronger people-to-people connections.

The speakers further acknowledged the UAE as one of Nepal’s most important economic partners, emphasizing that the country’s global expertise in innovation, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, and the digital economy perfectly complements Nepal’s development priorities and creates exceptional opportunities for long-term collaboration.

The forum also called for expanding cooperation in the tourism sector by capitalizing on the growing network of direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Kathmandu, and Pokhara. Participants noted that enhanced air connectivity will further stimulate tourism, trade, investment, and cultural exchange between the two friendly nations.

The event concluded with a strong message that UAE–Nepal relations are entering a new era of strategic economic partnership founded on mutual trust, shared interests, and a common vision for sustainable development. Speakers also noted that the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations in 2027 will provide an ideal platform to launch new initiatives and strategic projects that will further elevate bilateral cooperation.

The Nepal–UAE Economic Diplomacy Forum 2026 clearly demonstrated the shared commitment of both countries to building a modern model of economic diplomacy—one that places investment, trade, tourism, innovation, and technology at the heart of a long-term strategic partnership, capable of responding to global economic transformations while creating lasting prosperity for both nations and their people