Saudi Route Becomes Expensive for Nepalis Returning from Kuwait and Qatar to Nepal

March 16, Kathmandu – The Nepalese government has announced arrangements allowing Nepalis stranded in Kuwait and Qatar to return home via Saudi Arabia.

Although Saudi Arabia’s air routes have reopened, Nepalis are arranged to travel from Kuwait and Qatar by road to Saudi Arabia and then fly back to Nepal.

The conflict between Israel-America and Iran has caused fear among Nepalese living in West Asia (Middle East). The Saudi route has been adopted for evacuation of those facing difficulties in Kuwait and Qatar.

Nepalese embassies in Kuwait and Qatar have facilitated the evacuation through Saudi tourist visas. Prior to that, online applications for Saudi visas were requested.

The Nepalese Embassy in Kuwait has stated that Nepalis holding Kuwaiti residency or civil IDs can travel by road to Saudi Arabia to return to Nepal, and online transit visa applications are being facilitated.

Upon obtaining the visa, Nepalis can enter Saudi Arabia by road and then fly to Nepal, the embassy said.

Similarly, the Nepalese Embassy in Qatar has announced that Nepalis can travel by road to Saudi Arabia and then fly to Nepal. Visa applications can be submitted online.

Appointments for tourist visas are to be booked through the Saudi visa center in Doha, Qatar. The visa fees must be paid at the same center.

However, these arrangements and notifications have angered Nepalis on the ground.

They have accused the Nepalese government of imposing exorbitant charges under the pretext of evacuation.

Nepalis working in Kuwait have accused the embassy of shirking their responsibility. According to the embassy, the cost from Kuwait to Nepal is approximately 400 Kuwaiti dinars (KWD). With difficulties in meeting basic needs like food and shelter, many have expressed their inability to afford this cost.

Devika Bhattarai, residing in Kuwait, said it is impossible to pay 400 KWD for traveling when struggling even for food and accommodation. Sirjan Karki accused that poor workers earning 20-30 thousand monthly salaries abroad cannot afford tickets costing 80-90 thousand and are being exploited in the name of evacuation.

“Those who worked hard to go abroad now need to spend 5-6 months’ earnings just to buy a ticket home – and this is called evacuation?” he wrote on social media. “Humanitarian treatment must change, or brokers will suffer losses, and it might be better for overseas Nepalese to die abroad.”

Similarly, Gyan Bahadur Tamang said while offering suggestions to fellow citizens is good, understanding the reality is essential. Though it seems easy to “get a Saudi visa, travel by road to Saudi Arabia, and then fly from the airport to Nepal,” many daily wage workers burdened by debt cannot realistically manage the visa fees, travel costs, border crossing hassles, and flight tickets.

According to him, most workers are suffering due to delayed salary payments.

“When problems arise abroad, it is the responsibility of the government and embassy to provide solutions that truly aid the affected and vulnerable — not present them with additional expenses and hassles,” he wrote.

He also questioned why there is no plan for embassy facilitation or relief and how poor workers can complete the process.

He urged authorities to take concrete steps after fully understanding the real situations of suffering Nepali workers, instead of merely issuing notices. He emphasized that solutions and genuine support, not just advisories, are needed for those abroad.

Nepalis in Qatar have also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. The embassy’s notice has been criticized for aggravating problems for those desperate to return during this complex situation.

The evacuation efforts for Gulf and Middle Eastern Nepali workers under the banner of repatriation have exposed an inability to provide assistance in airline and visa procedures for the general public.

Kulprasad Karki, Advisor to the Coordinating Committee of Nepali Nationals Abroad, said that embassies have distanced themselves from responsibility, resulting in these decisions. Workers are experiencing severe problems as they have to pay both travel agency and government fees from their low earnings.

“How can workers earning only 70–80 KWD monthly pay 400 KWD to return home?” he asked. “One person ends up spending 6 to 10 months’ wages just to return.”

He stressed the need for the government to actively call agencies for discussions and provide easier evacuation arrangements for Nepalis in need.

He added that previously, returning from Kuwait or Saudi Arabia cost only about 20,000 to 30,000 NPR. Now, a ticket alone costs over 100,000 NPR with visa processes adding another 100,000 NPR, totaling more than 200,000 NPR.

He identified the main issues as scarce flight tickets and their high prices, and said the Nepalese government must facilitate this.

“People are under mental stress, fearing job loss while their savings are depleting,” Karki said. “The government must take this matter seriously.”