Coronavirus claims lives of 78 Non Resident Nepalis across the globe

Some 78 Non Resident Nepalis (NRNs) have lost their lives due to Covid-19 as yesterday evening, according to the NRN Association Health Committee.
Some 51 NRNs have succumbed to the infection in Britain alone, the largest number of Nepali deaths reported in a foreign land, the committee reported in a press note. “Likewise, some 15 NRNs have died in the USA, six in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one each in Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Sweden,” the press note reads, adding that the number of NRNs infected by Covid-19 has reached 5,472 across the world with more than 2,000 recovering from the deadly disease. “The NRNA has provided relief support to 35,000 NRNs, who were affected by the pandemic, in different countries.”
They were provided with food supplies and medical support including face mark, sanitizer and medicines, according to the press note. “The NRNA has also been providing counselling service through its 24-hour hotline service.”

UAE asks Nepal to lift restrictions on housemaids

Expressing interest to hire a large number of domestic help from Nepal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has formally urged Nepal to completely lift foreign employment restrictions currently in place for housemaids.
UAE has urged the Nepal government to permit domestic workers under different categories to be able to seek jobs in the Gulf country, at the the first meeting of bilateral labour-related joint working committee between the two countries that concluded here today. .
According to Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the UAE government has expressed interest to hire a large number of domestic help from Nepal.
The UAE government is keen to hire governesses, nurses, housekeepers, cooks, among others, according to joint secretary at the ministry Ram Prasad Ghimire, who led the Nepali delegation in the bilateral talks.
The government has banned women from seeking jobs as domestic help in the Gulf countries following the reports that they faced severe abuses there. ”The UAE government’s request to lift restrictions on Nepali women to work as domestic helpers in the Gulf will be discussed thoroughly during the next meeting before any decision is taken,” Ghimire said, adding that both governments have agreed to effectively implement and enforce bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour agreement signed on June 14.
Both the governments will set up a labour database, which will be linked between the UAE’s employment database and demand list, Nepal’s Embassy in UAE, Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), the foreign employment management information system (FEMIS) software at the labour ministry. It is expected to make the entire migration process of Nepali workers going to the UAE for employment more transparent.
The two-day meeting also finalised issues concerning effective enforcement of the MoU and fixing of the cost in regard with recruitment of workers, employment and their return, among others.

Nepal plans to sign ASA with Australia, Canada

Nepal and Australia are planning to sign an air service agreement (ASA) at the ongoing 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal of Canada, permitting domestic code sharing in Nepal and direct flights between the two countries.
Under the domestic code-share agreement, Australian carriers will be free to enter into code-share agreements with Nepali domestic carriers to any point in Nepal, according to Tourism Ministry. The cabinet – last Thursday – had approved the Tourism Ministry's proposal to sign the air service agreement with Australia. “The government is also planning to sign ASA with Canada.”
The Australian government has expressed willingness to permit seven weekly flights to key cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, according to the Tourism Ministry. “But the Australia has proposed providing unlimited flights to other destinations.”
Nepal will also allow seven weekly flights by Australian carriers to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the ministry informed, adding that Australian carriers will be permitted to operate another 28 weekly services to new airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.
Nepal is the third largest source of foreign students to Australia after China and India. Kathmandu is currently Sydney’s largest unserved market globally, with 93,000 people travelling between Nepal’s capital and Australia's largest city annually. But Nepalis are flying via somewhere else. Thus Nepal has been making efforts to sign an ASA with Australia for the last three years. The Tourism Ministry had requested the Australian government to allow 14 weekly flights with any type of aircraft. Sydney-Kathmandu is 5,253 nautical miles or 9,728 kilometres.
Nepal Airlines is also planning to fly to Australia after acquiring two long-range Airbus A330-200s as the current aircraft will not be able to fly non-stop to Australia. “But Nepal Airlines can fly to Australia through a third party code-share agreement,” the Ministry added. “The third party code share is rights granted through a bilateral agreement under which the code is shared between an airline of the bilateral partners and an airline from a country other than the bilateral partner.”
The preferred route between Nepal and Australia is through Guangzhou, China.
The direct flight will also help bring more Australian tourists to Nepal. Nepal received 38,429 Australian visitors last year, up from 33,371 in 2017, according to the data. “In 2014 before the earthquake, some 24,516 Australian tourists visited Nepal.”
Since 1963, Nepal has signed air service agreements with 39 countries, with Cambodia being the latest signatory. On Saturday, tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai and UAE Minister for Economy Bin Saeed Al Mansoori signed the revised ASA on behalf of their respective governments in Canada on the sidelines of the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly being held in Montreal.
Nepal and the UAE had signed the ASA in 1999 for the first time.
Likewise, the government is also in the process of negotiating with the Thai government to revise the old ASA, which was signed in 1971 to operate daily flights to Thailand. 

Nepal-UAE sign revised ASA

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a revised Air Service Agreement (ASA) in Canada today.
Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai and finance minister of UAE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori signed the agreemnent on the sidelines of the 40th session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly being held in Montreal, Canada.
Nepal and the UAE had signed the ASA in 1999 for the first time.
According to the Tourism Minister, Nepal is also planning to sign ASA with Canada and Australia. “The ASA with Canada and Australia will help Nepal attract more tourists from these countries.  

Nepal, UAE sign labour agreement

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed labour agreement. Labour Minister Gokarna Bista and Human Resource Minister of UAE Nasser Thani Al Hamli signed the agreement – during the centenary celebration of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) being held in Geneva in Switzerland – on behalf of their respective governments.
According to the new deal, the employers will have to bear all the expenses for selection and recruitment of workers as per the agreement. “The workers can look for alternative jobs, if they become unemployed due to weaknesses on the part of employers,” it reads, adding that there will be no discrimination against workers on wage, overtime, work environment and access to justice, apart from equal treatment for migrant workers coming from all the countries. “Workers will be able to keep all the documents of individual identity including passports.”
The UAE is the fourth preferred destination for Nepali workers. The two countries have felt the need to revise the agreement according to the changed context.

Nepal, UAE agree to seal revised labour deal

Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today agreed to sign a revised labour agreement that is expected to benefit as many as 360,000 Nepali migrant workers, who are currently working in the UAE. The both sides also agreed on a draft of revised labour agreement that guarantees zero investment jobs in the Gulf country for Nepali workers.
The two sides reached the consensus during a two-day second Bilateral Technical Meeting on the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nepal and the UAE on Recruitment, Employment and Repatriation of Workers that concluded today, in Kathmandu.
The deal was signed by joint-secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) Ram Prasad Ghimire and director of International Bilateral Relations under the Department of Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the UAE Abdullah al-Muaimi. According to the understanding, Nepali workers will not have to bear any financial burdens – whether cost or any fees – for jobs in the emirates.
The revised agreement that has put special stress on enforcement of wage protection system for Nepali workers will be tabled at the cabinet soon to approve it. "The MoU will be signed once the two governments approve the document,” Ghimire, who led the Nepali delegation, said, adding that once the new agreement is signed, it will officially replace the ‘MoU between the Government of Nepal and the Government of United Emirates in the Field of Manpower’ signed on July 3, 2007.
According to the proposed agreement, the Nepali workers will not pay any amount in cost or fees for jobs in the UAE. "The employer will be paying all the expenses on behalf of the worker,” the agreement reads, adding that employers will bear the cost of recruitment to the recruitment agencies, employment and residency of Nepali workers in the UAE. "The employers will bear all the costs related to recruitment, employment and the residency of Nepali worker in the UAE including but not limited to recruitment agency fees, air ticket costs, insurance fees, visa fees, medical examination fees and all other recruitment related costs and fees."
"The UAE government will ensure access to Labour Court for the worker without any cost until the case is resolved," it reads, adding that when the case is in the Court, the worker is entitled to apply for a temporary work permit in accordance with the relevant Laws of the UAE. "The terms and conditions of employment of the Nepali worker in the UAE shall be defined by an Employment Contract between the worker and the employer."
The Employment Contract will specify the basic employment conditions, and the rights and obligations of the employer and worker in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the UAE, it further reads. "The UAE government will ensure that the employment offer shall indicate the job specifications, required qualifications, types of jobs for which recruitment is proposed as well as the terms and conditions of employment offered including wages, non-wage benefits, accommodation and transportation when applicable, end-of-service entitlement, and any other details required by the government of the UAE. All these details must be reflected unaltered in the Employment Contract, Ghimire said, adding that the worker will be eligible to seek and obtain alternative employment when it is duly established that the employer has failed to meet contractual or legal obligations to the worker due to any reason including closure or winding up of business or if the worker is subjected to violation of any of his or her rights under UAE laws, without prejudice to the right of the worker to collect his or her dues from the employer and/or seek judicial redress. "In such events, the worker shall also have the right to return back to Nepal, if he or she so desires. In such case, the employer will bear all associated costs."
Most of the Nepali migrant workers currently are ordinary workers engaged in construction, hospitality, farming and security service sectors in the Gulf nation.
The UAE government has also agreed to ensure the safety, security and welfare of the Worker with due regard to the female worker. "The government of the UAE shall ensure that the worker is not subject to any form of unlawful treatment and is free to communicate with any third party," it reads, adding that the UAE will ensure extensive and close oversight over the application of the existing wage protection systems to monitor timely payment of wages and other benefits. "Besides, the UAE law has a provision of both work related insurance as well as medical insurance schemes that cover almost all the cases of accidents or injuries and sickness except personal negligence.
Nepal, as the chair of the Colombo Process – a common regional forum of labour source countries – has put priority on securing zero cost jobs for its workers as well as reviewing the existing labour agreements and signing new deals with other destination countries lately. Likewise, the UAE has been one of the most-preferred labour destinations among the Gulf countries for Nepali migrant workers for its better treatment, remuneration among other facilities. 

Nepali cricketers improve in ICC rankings

Riding on the success of the recent T20 series win against the UAE, Nepali cricketers have improved their rankings.
According to T20 ranking released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) today national team captain Paras Khadka, Sompal Kami and Basant Regmi have improved their positions.
Paras Khadka has climbed to the 90th position as batsman and 40th position as an all-rounder, whereas Sompal Kami has improved by 23 points to climb to 70th position among the bowlers while he stands in the 51st position as all-rounder. "Basanta Regmi also improved his position by 3 points to reach 71st in the ranking," according to the latest ICC T20 ranking that has Babar Azam of Pakistan on top of the ranking in batting, while Rashid Khan of Afghanistan tops the bowlers list and Glen Maxwell of Australia is the top all-rounder.

Government honours returnee migrant workers

The government has today honoured eight returnee migrant workers, who have stayed back in the country and operating their own enterprises. They were honoured for setting an example of entrepreneurship in the country. Most of the entrepreneurs, who were honoured are involved in the agriculture sector.
According to the Labour Ministry, the returnee migrants were felicitated for their dedication in the agriculture sector. They are also a source of inspiration for those who return from foreign jobs and want to start a business in Nepal, said labour minister Gokarna Bista, on the occasion.
Bista honoured owner of Aarava Nepal Modern Agriculture Company of Lamjung Sonam Lama, who was selected as the most excellent returnee migrant entrepreneur of the year. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000.
Lama had worked for two years in the UAE – before starting his own business in Nepal – apart from working for another two years in Israel. He has invested Rs 160 million in his firm in Sundarbazzar of Lamjung.
Bista on the occasion also honoured Devi Prasad Khatri of Baglung, Hari Luintel of Khotang, Khoj Raj Katuwal of Kathmandu, Ganesh Pun Magar of Parbat, Prem Prasad Lamichhane of Bardiya, Drona Prasad Nepuane of Rupandehi and Ramdepal Tharu of Bardiya, who are all returnee migrant workers and have started their own business after returning home.
"This felicitation of the returnee migrant workers is just a small step to promote entrepreneurship among those who return from foreign employment," Bista said, adding that the government is planning to introduce other measures also to encourage returnee migrant workers to start their own business back home. "It will also discourage the outflow of Nepali youth."
The ministry has asked the returnee migrant workers to apply for the award. The ministry has also set the criterion of use of local resources, amount of investment, tax compliance, employment creation, energy consumption, feasibility and whether their goods were exportable items, for the award.

Police arrests notorious gold smuggling racketeer Gore

Police arrested Chudamani Upreti alias Gore of Urlabari, the alleged mastermind behind the smuggling of 33.5 kg gold and related murder of a carrier Sanam Shakya.
The police – hosting a press meet at the Home Ministry today – made public the notorious gold don.
The member of a team investigating into the smuggling and subsequent murder of a mule Sanam Shakya confirmed the arrest of mastermind, against which International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) had also issued a diffusion notice a couple of days ago.
The case of the smuggling is currently underway at Morang District Court as the body of Shakya was recovered from Biratnagar.
Following an investigation opened in the wake of Shakya’s murder, Government Attorney’s Office of Morang on May 2 had filed cases against 63 persons at Morang District Court claiming that they had smuggled around 38 quintals of gold worth over Rs 17.018 billion over the years since 2015. But 32 of those charge-sheeted in connection with the smuggling and murder are still absconding.
Gore was at large ever since the death of Shakya, who had been electrocuted allegedly on Gorey’s instruction.
Though, the government formed probe team leader Ishwor Poudel – joint secretary at the Home Ministry – claimed to have arrested him at Gauri Ghat in Pashupati today morning, he is said to have been arrested from Silgudi and brought to Kathmandu. But some also claimed that he has surrendered due to threat to his life.
As much as 33.5 kg smuggled gold brought from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on January 21. Later, investigations had revealed that Gore was the mastermind of the smuggling and the precious yellow metal belonged to MK Agrawal, though no one has a clue, who he is.
The case took a nasty turn after SSP Bikashraj Khanal – the incharge of Makwanpur District Police Office – was arrested in connection with the case, the murder of alleged carrier of smuggled gold, and the disappearance of 33.5 kg precious yellow metal.
The 33.5 kg gold smuggled through the TIA had mysteriously disappeared from Kathmandu before reaching its intended destination.
The smuggling case drew much public attention following the murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged smuggler. Shakya’s was tortured to death in Urlabari on March 2 and his body was recovered from a vehicle (Ba 12 Cha 5963) in Biratnagar the following day. Police said electric shock was the cause of Shakya’s death.

Nepali workers stranded in UAE since two months

Some 22 Nepali workers are stranded in Ajman of UAE since two months. The workers reached UAE in visit visa paying huge money to the brokers in Nepal.
With the help of immigration officers at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), the brokers have succeeded to fly them UAE in visit visa. The brokers have charged them some Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000.
Directors of Pandor Incorporation Keshav Thapa, Ramesh Kunwar and Dinesh Lama Moktan tempted them of attractive jobs and remuneration in UAE, according to the victims.
A team of UAE-based various Nepal organisations reached Ajman yesterday to know the whereabouts of the victims. They have assured them to rescue at earliest and has requested Nepali embassy in UAE to take initiation for the liaison.
It is illegal to over-stay in UAE. However, the number of cases has increased in recent days due to the reluctant of the government. The organisations have accused government officials of the repeated incidents.

Nepal, UAE start air service agreement dialogue

Nepal and the UAE today started air service agreement (ASA) dialogue in the Valley.
An 18-member UAE delegation that is in Kathmandu on the invitation of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the ministry officials started the dialogue today, according to a source at the ministry.

They are going to increase the existing 28 flights a week between the two countries to 70 to meet the growing demand of air traffic.
The Middle East carriers in particular are facing an air seat crunch since the last two years due to rise in air traffic due to rising migrant Nepalis outflow to the Gulf countries.

Nepal had continued the temporary operating permit for international airlines connecting Kathmandu in 2013, allowing additional 14 flights a week to the respective countries facing seat crunch.

The UAE -based carriers were also allowed 42 weekly flights under the temporary operating permit (TOP) arrangement.

Currently, RAK Airways, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways are flying on the route. However, the Dubai-based Emirates Air has also shown interest to operate flights to Kathmandu.

The Middle East carriers account for 39 per cent of total inbound and outbound air traffic movement and handle 42 per cent of the total cargo movement.

There were 1.047 million inbound and outbound flyers from the Middle East carriers, of which the UAE carriers flew some 491,775 passengers, which is 18.22 per cent share, in 2011, according to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) data that revealed that they handled some 21.41 per cent of the cargo in and out of the country in 2011.

“Nepal also needs to review its fifth freedom right, as there are some countries that have already entered into the sixth, seventh and eighth freedom rights,” said the official. "The revised ASA may include aviation commercial operations, aviation security, and third party code sharing provisions."
On February 15, the Cabinet had directed the ministry to form a committee to start talks with the UAE to revise the ASA as it was long overdue and the UAE airlines flying to Kathmandu are planning to increase their flight frequency.
The two-day talks will pave the way for long due ASA revision between the two countries, he said, adding that Nepal had signed an ASA with UAE in 1999, which was revised in 2007. "But after 2007, the ministry's decision on December 16, 2010, allowing Air Arabia to operate six flights a week, had come into controversy due to parliamentary committee's direction to withdraw it on December 13, 2011, seeking a revision.
The committee had also prevented Air Arabia to fly on the Kathmandu-Kuala Lumpur route against the ASA due to protest from the employees of Nepal Airlines.
Currently, Nepal has ASAs with 36 countries – with a total of 5.7 million seats per annum to and fro – and 90 per cent of them have the fifth freedom right, which is the right to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country and from that country to a third country. It is also referred to as beyond rights, and allows an airline to carry revenue traffic between foreign nations as part of services connecting airline’s own country.

However, the operating airlines are unable to use even 40 percent of their capacity so far.

Cabinet nod for ASA revision with UAE, signing contract with China CMC for Pokhara regional airport

The caretaker government today gave green signal for the revision of air service agreement (ASA) with United Arab Emirates (UAE) and construction of Pokhara regional international airport.
The cabinet today evening decided to go ahead with the construction of Pokhara regional airport that was halted since last July due to 'corruption' controversy.
The lowest bidder for the regional airport China CAMC Engineering Co had quoted 85 per cent higher than the government estimated cost for the project leading to suspicion of huge corruption by Dr Baburam Bhattarai-led government. One of the local UCPN-Maoist local leader also went on record accepting the bribe for the airport too.

The much-controversial Pokhara regional international airport planned some three kilometers east of the existing airport has received green signal today after the Chinese company showed willingness to develop the project at the government-estimated cost, according to the ministry.

Among the three shortlisted Chinese companies, the China CAMC had quoted $305.13 million, while the government had estimated the project to cost between $166 and $170 million only.

Though, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is the executing agency of the project, caretaker Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has personally shown interest in awarding the project to the Chinese company without following the course of bidding process, according to a source at the ministry.
Earlier too, the project was halted after the intervention by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

The government plans to borrow around $145 million in soft loans from the Export-Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) to fund the project.

A detailed study of the airport project in 1989, conducted by the government in association with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), had proposed a 2,500m long and 50m wide runway, a terminal and a cargo building. The construction of the airport, expected to be completed in four years, was estimated to cost $39.6 million in 1989 has gone up to $170 million, now.

The CAAN unions opposed the project claiming it to be financially unviable project, whereas the locals protested demanding the regional international airport in Pokhara that has remained idle since 1975.

Likewise, the cabinet has also asked the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to form a committee for the talks with the UAE to revise the ASA as it had been long due because of parliamentary decision on December 13, 2011.

Nepal had signed an air service agreement with UAE in 1999, which was revised in 2007. Apart from the UAE, the ministry is also preparing to revise air service agreements with the UK, Saudi Arabia
and Pakistan and preparing to sign an ASA with Vietnam, Indonesia, US and Australia, apart from revision of fifth freedom right – right to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country and from that country to a third country – with some countries. Nepal has entered into ASAs with 36 countries.

Nepal offers huge opportunity: UAE Envoy to Nepal

Non-resident ambassador of the UAE to Nepal Mohamed Sultan Abdalla Al Owais, speaking at a programme here today, said that Nepal offers a lot of opportunity to investors.

"In the last four years of my tenure in New Delhi, UAE has doubled its trade volume with India," he said, adding that the UAE wants to replicate the same in Nepal too.

The New Delhi-based envoy said that a team of UAE businessmen will visit Nepal soon to explore business opportunities.

Though UAE is largely known as one of the key destinations for migrant workers, the trade volume between the two countries has also been increasing in recent years.

Nepal had exported merchandise worth Rs 326.300 million to UAE in fiscal year 2010-11, according to figures of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC).

UAE — the 29th largest trading partner of Nepal — had exported merchandise worth Rs 13.61 billion to Nepal in the fiscal year, the data revealed, adding that Nepal's trade deficit with UAE stood at Rs 13.28 billion in fiscal year 2010-11.

Likewise, Nepal's exports to UAE in 2012 stood at Rs 322.99 million, whereas it imported merchandise worth Rs 37.66 billion, according to the TEPC data. "On the basis of export volume, UAE is the 19th export destination of the country."

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the largest supplier of gold to Nepal.

Nepal imported some 87.6 per cent of gold from the UAE in fiscal year 2010-11, the TEPC data revealed, adding that the country had imported gold worth Rs 9.95 billion from the UAE, out of the total gold imports of Rs 11.35 billion.

Likewise, in fiscal year 2009-10, the country had imported 68.4 per cent — Rs 28.5 billion out of the total import of Rs 40 billion — gold from the UAE.

Besides gold, major imports from UAE include edible oil, beverage, fuel oil, petroleum bitumen, and polyethylene, whereas Nepal exports large cardamom, woollen shawls, scarves, and mufflers, among others to the UAE.

"There is a need to enhance trade relations in the interest of both the countries," the envoy said.

Nepal and the UAE entered into diplomatic relations in January 1977.

Likewise, the then Royal Nepal Airlines started its flight to Dubai in 1985 in transit to its European destinations. Currently, Etihad Airlines, RAK Airways, and Fly Dubai are some of the airlines of UAE catering to the needs of travellers, mostly migrant Nepalis to and from UAE, which is also one of the key sources of remittance inflow to the country.

Double Bar Graph

Nepal's trade with UAE

Year — Export — Import

2009 — Rs 498.81 million — Rs 23,622.32 million

2010 — Rs 170.82 million — Rs 14,170.58 million

2011 — Rs 444.14 million — Rs 24,526.82 million

2012 — Rs 322.99 million — Rs 37,664.00 million

(Source: Trade and Export Promotion Centre)

Joint tourism promotion between Ras al-Khaimah and Nepal to be beneficial

Ras al-Khaimah — one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the east side of the Persian Gulf, meaning 'Top of the Tent' — and Nepal can promote tourism jointly as they have lots to offer each other through more connectivity.

"RAK Airways has connected Kathmandu and Ras al-Khaimah with three weekly flights, currently," said chief executive of the airlines John Brayford.

"With the addition of a new aircraft, we are planning to add one more flight to Kathmandu making it a total of four flights a week soon," he said, adding that the airlines that aims at providing quality service is ready to package Nepal with other destinations with fantastic value for tourists.

RAK Airways — that takes care of passengers individually — will not only promote Ras al-Khaimah but also Nepal, he added.

"In coordination with RAK Airways, this month we have started new packages for inbound tourists to Ras al-Khaimah, in the first phase," said general manager of Blue Waves Travel and Tourism Alaeddin Zayed.

Next month, Blue Waves — a sister company of RAK Airways — is planning to prepare a package for Kathmandu targeting German and Russian expatriates based in Ras al-Khaimah, he added.

Nepal not only offers a world class golf experience similar to the Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras al-Khaimah but also a unique trekking experience, especially for the Germans and Russians, who are a majority among Ras al-Khaimah expatriates.

Germans are the fifth largest visitors to Nepal and the number of Russian tourists has also seen a continuous rise in recent years.

Like Nepal, Ras al-Khaimah offers guests world class service which is comparatively cheaper than in Dubai, which is 45 minutes drive from Ras al-Khaimah, according to Zayed. "But the company with complete service from helping with visa formalities to fun and city tours to desert safari is packaging Ras al-Khaimah with other destinations too."

"It is fast becoming a new destination on the tourist map," said corporate communications executive of RAK Airways Elizabeth Percy, adding that it is home to five-star hotels and beach resorts including Hilton, Rotana and Banyan Tree. Apart from Ice Land water park that offers leisure opportunity for both residents and visitors, there is Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club and the newly established Rak Sailing Academy that offers both sport opportunities and fun sailing.

"Joint tourism promotion between Ras al-Khaimah and Kathmandu would benefit both the countries as they complement each other," said Percy, who is planning some FAM trips for scribes in UAE to Nepal soon.