The Emir of Qatar Sheikh bin Hamad Al Thani, whose Nepal visit was postponed in November, is scheduled to arrive on April 24 for a two-day visit. The official announcement of the visit will be made later, foreign ministry officials said.

This is the first high-level visit from the Gulf country to Nepal in a long time. Qatar, which has deep pockets among the nations hosting hundreds of thousands of Nepali youths as workers, is also looking to invest in big projects in Nepal. However, it is not yet sure whether some breakthrough agreements will be signed during the visit.

Both sides, having finalised the dates, are working on potential agendas to be signed during the visit, a senior foreign ministry official said.

The Emir of Qatar will land in Kathmandu after completing his tour of Vietnam and the Philippines. His earlier Nepal visit schedule of November 6 and 7 was postponed due to emerging tensions in the Middle East, followed by the clash between Israel and Hamas militants. The foreign ministry has received confirmation of the April 24-25 visit.

Qatar is considered a prime labour destination for Nepalis. Two former presidents—Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari—paid state visits to Qatar, in response to a series of high-level visits from the emirate. This is the highest-level visit from Qatar after the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977.

Officials told the Post that at least nine agreements will be signed during the visit focussed on development cooperation between Nepal and Qatar. An amended labour agreement, a memorandum of understanding for imparting training to Nepali diplomats, an agreement in education, cultural cooperation between Nepal and Qatar, cooperation between Nepali and Qatari youths and their sporting activities, protocol related to publication and information, cooperation between the office of the attorney generals of Nepal and Qatar are on the cards. Nepal is also seeking assistance from the Qatar Fund for Development with regard to sending Nepalis as domestic and other workers to the country.

Qatar is a resourceful nation that can easily build a Nijgadh-like airport or a big hydropower project such as Budhi Gandaki, a government secretary said. “They are also keen to develop a sports stadium in Nepal, provide financial and technical assistance to the Tribhuvan University, establish a labour hospital in Nepal, and train Nepali migrant workers. It all depends on how we negotiate.”

A big Qatari advance team will arrive in Kathmandu to lay the ground for the visit. Around 100 officials from various ministries and security agencies will arrive in preparation for the visit, another Nepali official said. A Qatari minister, deputy foreign minister, the secretary general of the Qatari foreign ministry, secretary to the Emir, the director of the Asian Affairs Division, the director of the protocol division, journalists and security personnel will accompany the Emir during his Nepal visit.

Another official privy to the visit said Nepal is going to gift two elephant calves to the Qatari Emir. “They are looking for a Red Panda and a rhinoceros. The request is being considered."

Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, refused to confirm additional details regarding the visit.