Nepali community thrives in Qatar despite modern challenges, says NRNA President

DOHA: The Nepali community in Qatar has undergone a remarkable transformation from its humble beginnings as manual laborers to becoming a diverse, pro...

DOHA: The Nepali community in Qatar has undergone a remarkable transformation from its humble beginnings as manual laborers to becoming a diverse, professionally accomplished diaspora of over 367,000 people, according to Krishna Panthi, President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Qatar.

In a recent interview with The Peninsula, Panthi traced the community's journey from 1990, when Nepalis first arrived legally in Qatar, primarily as construction workers, drivers, and farm laborers. Today, the community represents Qatar's second-largest expatriate population after India, with more than 5,000 businessmen and businesswomen, along with numerous doctors, engineers, and other professionals calling the country home.

"When people say Nepali, they used to think only construction worker, but now it's completely different," explained Panthi, who has been working in the Gulf region since 2004 and serves as NRNA president while maintaining his role as a project manager.

The community's growth was particularly notable during the 2022 FIFA World Cup period, when numbers swelled to approximately 450,000.

The establishment of the Nepal Business Association in 2012-2014, now comprising around 500 members registered with Qatar Financial Centre, marked a turning point in the community's economic integration.