NRB Report: Labour Migration to Saudi Arabia and Qatar Declines, Japan and Oman Surge

According to Nepal Rastra Bank’s latest macroeconomic data (Table 26), Nepal’s labour migration landscape is undergoing a gradual but clear transformation. In the first two months of FY 2025/26, the total number of Nepalis leaving for foreign employment (institutional and individual) reached 90,198, marking a strong 17.9 percent rise compared with the same period a year earlier. Yet, while total outflow increased, the composition of destination countries shifted noticeably.

Gulf Decline

Traditional labour hubs Saudi Arabia and Qatar saw contractions. Deployments to Saudi Arabia fell 15.7 percent to 11,923 workers, down from 14,146 last year. Qatar posted a smaller 3.1 percent decline, receiving 8,340 Nepaliscompared with 8,607 a year earlier. This dip stems from tightened recruitment processes, slower project activity, and growing competition from migrant workers of other Asian nations.

East Asia and Oman Surge

Conversely, newer destinations expanded. Japan recorded a robust 42.1 percent surge, absorbing 3,779 Nepalis under the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programs. Oman jumped 55.2 percent, with 1,001 workerscompared with 645 in FY 2024/25. These reflect Nepal’s strategic diversification efforts, leveraging government-to-government labour pacts and demand for semi-skilled and skilled manpower.

Other Movements

The UAE remained the top destination, attracting 37,381 workers (41.4 percent share). Countries such as Cyprus (+14.8 %), Turkey (+117 %), and Israel (+183 %) also gained momentum, signaling widening job opportunities beyond the Gulf.