Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh held a meeting in Muscat, Oman today.

They met on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed various issues of Nepal-UAE relations along with labour, tourism and economic development and the needed cooperation for climate change risk mitigation.

On the occasion, Minister Rana thanked the government of UAE for providing employment to Nepal's labour force, Minister Rana's personal secretariat said.

Likewise, the State Minister of the UAE appreciated the immense contribution of Nepalis in socio-economic development of the UAE Likewise, they held talks on deepening cooperation on tourism, economic development and trade as well as the future possibilities for investments.

Minister Rana's secretariat shared that Minister Rana proposed to State Minister Sayegh to begin direct flights from Dubai to Pokhara International Airport.

In response, the state minister has promised to begin technical study and advance the plans for direct flights.

Likewise, she extended an invitation to the UAE for the participation in the Sagarmatha Sambaad to be held in Kathmandu from 16 to 18 May by stating that the ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ is to discuss pressing issues of regional and global importance including the climate change.