Nepal to open new Consulate General Office in Dubai

Consulate general offices in New York and Jeddah will be upgraded

Nepal in UAE
Caption: Nepal is set to open a new consulate office in Dubai, with additional offices in the US, to support its growing diaspora and improve consular services.
Source: Nepal\'s Embassy in UAE/Nepalese in UAE

DUBAI: Nepal’s government has approved the opening of three new consulate general offices in key global cities, including a new diplomatic mission in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The move, aimed at enhancing consular services, reflects Nepal's growing diplomatic footprint and its increasing focus on the needs of its expanding expatriate communities.

The decision comes after a cabinet approval earlier this week to establish these offices in Dubai, San Francisco (California), and Dallas (Texas). The government’s plan also includes upgrading the consulate general offices in New York and Jeddah, which will now be headed by joint secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as opposed to the previous undersecretary-led missions.

Nepal’s Consulate Office in Dubai

The UAE, home to one of the largest Nepali expatriate communities, will now host Nepal’s newest consulate general office in Dubai. The government of the UAE has already granted approval for the establishment of this diplomatic outpost, which is expected to significantly alleviate the workload at the Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

With a rapidly growing population of Nepali nationals in the UAE, the consulate office will play a crucial role in providing consular services such as passport renewals and document attestation, which are essential for Nepali migrants working in the region.

"The opening of this consulate office will reduce 60 percent of the workload at the Nepali Embassy in Abu Dhabi," explained Nepali Ambassador to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Chettri. According to Chettri, over 600,000 Nepali nationals are currently residing and working in the UAE, with an influx of approximately 20,000 Nepali workers arriving each month. As the UAE is a major destination for Nepali labour, with many employed in fields such as security, hospitality, construction, and sales, the consulate office in Dubai will ensure that this growing community has better access to essential services.

Nepal’s expansion in the US

In the United States, Nepal is set to open consulate offices in two major cities, San Francisco and Dallas. The new consulates will cater to the increasing demands of the Nepali diaspora, which is concentrated in these areas. For years, Nepali nationals in California and Texas have struggled with accessing consular services, often having to travel long distances to the existing consulate in New York or the embassy in Washington, DC, for services like passport renewals and legal attestations.

Approximately 100,000 Nepali nationals reside in California, with many living in Northern California. During a visit to New York last year, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with representatives of the Nepali communities in California, who had long called for the opening of a consulate office in San Francisco. The prime minister pledged to address the community's concerns, promising that a consulate office would soon be established in California. Likewise, a delegation from Texas also urged the government to open a consulate office in Dallas, citing the challenges faced by Nepalis in accessing consular services across 15 states.

Upgrades in New York and Jeddah

As part of its broader diplomatic expansion, Nepal is also upgrading its consulate general offices in New York and Jeddah. The consulates in both cities, which are currently led by undersecretaries, will now be headed by joint secretaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This shift is part of Nepal’s ongoing effort to strengthen its consular presence in critical locations and better serve its growing communities in the US and Saudi Arabia.

The move to elevate the status of these offices is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of consular services. In addition to the leadership changes, the Nepali government has approved new staff positions, including 107 permanent roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The expansion is expected to cost an estimated Rs850 million, a reflection of Nepal’s commitment to enhancing its global diplomatic presence.

In addition to the newly planned offices, Nepal currently maintains consulate general offices in Kolkata, Hong Kong, Lhasa, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and New York, among others.