Top 5 Destinations for Nepali Migrant Workers in 2025 – UAE, Qatar, Saudi, Kuwait, Malaysia

The latest figures from the Department of Foreign Employment show that UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Malaysia continue to dominate as the Top 5 destinations for Nepali migrant workers in the first month of 2025/26. Together, these countries absorbed the majority of Nepal’s migrant workforce, underlining the Gulf’s continued role as the backbone of Nepal’s foreign employment sector.

• UAE led the list with 17,779 new workers, capturing a 40% share of total new entries. The country remains the single largest hub for Nepali labor, particularly in construction, logistics, and hospitality.

• Qatar followed with 4,411 workers (9.9%), buoyed by steady demand in infrastructure and services.

• Saudi Arabia came third with 5,900 workers (13.3%), although its numbers dropped by 14.5% compared to last year, reflecting stricter labor policies.

• Kuwait absorbed 2,627 workers (5.9%), showing a modest decline.

• Malaysia, despite a collapse in new entries last year, rebounded strongly with 3,110 new workers (7.0%), marking one of the fastest recoveries in demand.

Experts note that while the Gulf remains central, new opportunities in Japan, Cyprus, and European destinations are gradually diversifying the migration map. Still, the heavy concentration in the Gulf exposes Nepal to policy risks and economic fluctuations in just a handful of countries.