PressAdda
Kathmandu — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has partially reopened visas for Nepalis following the GenZ protests on Bhadra 23–24. Initially, both visit and working visas were restricted, but now visas are being issued for select sectors.
According to Kuncha Dorje Dimdung, Secretary of the Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs’ Association, work visas for government and semi-government-linked companies are being partially approved, while previously pending visas are gradually being issued. Visa information for other sectors remains unclear, and even visit visas are only partially available.
Officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs say continuous discussions with UAE authorities are underway to make visa issuance smoother. On Tuesday, Nepali Ambassador to the UAE Tej Bahadur K.C. met with consular officials to discuss labor and consular challenges faced by Nepalis.
The UAE had tightened visas from Bhadra 30, affecting around 9,700 Nepalis in a month. Over 4,000 workers holding labor approvals (MOL) were unable to get visas, but issuance is now gradually resuming. Business groups criticized the visa halt, saying security concerns should not block workers and that diplomatic efforts have not been effective enough.
