Emir of Qatar arriving

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Bin Hamad Al Thani, is arriving in Nepal on April 24 on a two-day official visit, sources said. 

 The government is expected to make an official announcement of the high-level visit soon. The Emir’s earlier visit, scheduled for November last year, was canceled due to an unfavorable situation in the Mideast. This is his first visit to Nepal. 

During the high official’s visit, Nepal plans to make a proposal for amending the labor agreement signed between the two countries 19 years ago. Qatar has reportedly responded positively to Nepal’s proposal, but it’s still unclear whether an updated agreement will be signed during the visit. About three lakh Nepali are working in Qatar, making the Gulf country one of the major destinations for Nepali migrant workers. The Emir came to power in 2013, following an announcement to this effect from his father, Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al Thani. Born on 3 June, 1980, the Emir pursued his higher education in the United Kingdom where he attended the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, graduating in 1998.