Nepal is home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth.
The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
NepalSouthern Asia+1:45Hours ahead of the UAE
About the Country
General Information
National Identity
Official Language(s)Nepali
National CurrencyNepalese Rupee (NPR)
National Day(s)20 September (Constitution Day; observed on Asoj 3 in the Nepali calendar, which falls on 19 or 20 September)
Capitals
Political / Administrative CapitalKathmandu
Economic CapitalKathmandu
Cultural CapitalKathmandu
Transport & Connectivity
Flight Duration from the UAE≈ 4 – 4.5 h
Direct flights
Primary AirportTribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (KTM)
Primary PortNone (landlocked)
Geography
Land Area-
Length of the Coastline0 km (landlocked)
Highest PointMount Everest (8,849 m)
Primary Inland Water Body / RiverKoshi River (largest river by volume, critical for irrigation, hydroelectric power and transboundary water management with India)
ClimateVaries from subtropical to alpine
Border Countries
ChinaIndia
2Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Key Facts
The country has a unique flag, the only one in the world that is not rectangular or square. It consists of two stacked triangles.
The country boasts over 6,000 rivers, making it rich in water resources.
Nepal is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha, who founded Buddhism.
Nepal is the world’s largest producer of large (black) cardamom, one of the world’s most expensive spices, accounting for around two-thirds of global production.
Nepal has nearly tripled its wild tiger population since 2009, becoming one of the world’s most successful countries in tiger conservation.
Nepal is divided into three main geographical regions: the Himalayas, the Hilly Region and the Terai.
Nepal is one of the few countries in the world that has never been colonized by a foreign power.
Chitwan National Park is a popular destination for safari tours and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including rhinos, tigers and elephants.
Nepal is home to over 100 different ethnic groups, and more than 123 languages are spoken in the country.
The Kali Gandaki River, which flows through Nepal, has the world’s deepest gorge.
The Kathmandu Valley, with its ancient temples and palaces, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Economic Overview
Macroeconomic Snapshot
GDP, current prices-USD Billions
Real GDP growth-Annual percent change (%)
GDP per capita, current prices-USD per capita
Population-Millions of people
General government gross debt-% of GDP
Income levelWorld Bank classification-
Economic Comparison
| Indicator |  UAE | NepalUAE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP, current pricesUSD Billions | - | - | |
| GDP, PPPCurrent int$ | - | - | |
| Real GDP growthAnnual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| GDP per capita, current pricesUSD per capita | - | - | |
| PopulationMillions of people | - | - | |
| Unemployment rate% of total labor force | - | - | |
| Inflation rate (avg. consumer prices)Annual percent change (%) | - | - | |
| General government gross debt% of GDP | - | - | |
| Income levelWorld Bank classification | - | - |
Foreign Trade
No data available for this section yet.
Political Overview
Leadership
Rt. Hon. Ram Chandra Paudel
Since March 2023
Rt. Hon. Balendra Shah
Since March 2026
Hon. Shisir Khanal
Since March 2026
Hon. Dr. Swarnim Wagle
Since March 2026
Hon. Deepak Kumar Sah
Since September 2026
Rt. Hon. Balendra Shah
Since March 2026
Political Summary
Political System
Federal Democratic Republic
The President (Head of State) is elected indirectly by an electoral college, and the Prime Minister (Head of Government) is appointed by the President. The Federal Parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
Ruling Party
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP): Centre (since 2026)
Main Opposition Force(s)
Nepali Congress (NC): Centre/Centre-leftCommunist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML): Left-wing
Next Presidential Election
Expected in 2028
Next Legislative Election
2031
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research
Membership in Key Organizations and Blocs
46Organizations
24Member
1Founding Member
4Partner, Observer or Participant
17Not a Member
No organisation matches.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Official websites of the respective organizations
Competitiveness Indexes
| Index | Year | Rank Out of | Nepal | UAE |
|---|
No index matches.
Bilateral Relations
Diplomatic Relations and Representation
Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations22 Jan 197749 years of relations
UAE Ambassador
H.E. Abdulla Saeed Al ShamsiUAE Ambassador to Nepal · ResidentForeign Ambassador
H.E. Tej Bahadur ChhetriAmbassador of Nepal to the UAE · ResidentLast Updated: June 2026Source: MoFA; Internal Research
Flights by UAE Carriers
Passenger Flights
October 2026 figures57Total Weekly Passenger Flights
EYEtihad Airways0
EKEmirates0
FZflydubai28
G9Air Arabia29
Cargo Flights
October 2026 figures0Total Weekly Cargo Flights
EYEtihad Cargo0
EKEmirates SkyCargo0
Last Updated: October 2026Source: GCAA
Consular Information
Tourists | Residents | Students | Golden Visa Holders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nepal Nationalsin the UAE | - | - | - | - |
UAE Citizensin Nepal | - | - | - | - |
Main Agreements and MoUs
| Agreement / MOU | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
CEPAComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement | - | - |
IPPAInvestment Protection and Promotion Agreement | - | - |
DTADouble Taxation Avoidance Agreement | - | - |
ASAAir Services Agreement | Signed | Signed on 19 Aug 1982.Revised ASA signed on 28 Sep 2019. |
Ratified— Signed and entered into force
Signed— Signed, but entry into force or ratification is pending
Not Signed— No signed agreement exists
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
UAE Foreign Assistance
| UAE Aid to Nepal | Total Amount |
|---|---|
| Amount (USD Mn) | - |
Bilateral Visits
Official Visits from the UAE
- H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al ZeyoudiMinister of Foreign TradeJul2026
- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al NahyanDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign AffairsApr2025
- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al NahyanMinister of Foreign Affairs and International CooperationMay2016
- H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al NahyanMinister of Foreign AffairsJun2009
Official Visits to the UAE
- H.E. KP Sharma OliPrime Minister of NepalAug2025
- H.E. Pushpa Kamal DahalPrime Minister of NepalDec2023
- H.E. Bidya Devi BhandariPresident of NepalNov2017
- H.E. Pushpa Kamal DahalPrime Minister of NepalJan2017
The officials’ titles shown reflect the positions held at the time of the visit.
Last Updated: July 2026Source: Internal Research
Trade
Non-Oil Bilateral Trade
-
Rank Among UAE's Trade Partners
-Non-oil trade partner of the UAE
-Source of UAE imports
-Destination for UAE exports
-Destination for UAE re‑exports
Key Trade Commodities
-
Foreign Direct Investment Flows
Jan 2021 – Sep 2026
FDI Inflows (Into the UAE)4.9USD Millions
FDI Outflows (UAE Abroad)-
Capex and jobs data include estimated values.
Last Updated: November 2026Source: fDi Markets
Major Companies and Investments
Major Nepali Companies in the UAE
Chaudhary GroupDiversified conglomerate, FMCG
Nepal AirlinesAviation
Major UAE Companies in Nepal
DP World-
Last Updated: April 2026Source: Internal Research
Business Support
Joint Business Council(s)-
Cooperation Opportunities
Priority level: HIGH / MEDIUM / EMERGING, based on overall attractiveness to the UAE.
Last Updated: September 2026Source: Internal Research