Nepalis have been impacted by rising tensions in the Gulf following the start of attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. One Nepali has already lost his life due to the war. As the conflict drags on, the families of 1.7 million Nepalis living in the Gulf are facing growing anxiety.

A small house in Borlang, Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality-7 of Gorkha, is currently plunged into mourning. The family has been overwhelmed by grief following the death of 29-year-old Diwas Shrestha in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on March 1 – the second day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Working as a security guard at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, he was struck by missile fragments launched by Iran. In retaliation for the attacks by the U.S. and Israel, Iran had fired missiles targeting American military bases in Gulf countries. One such missile landed at the airport where Diwas was stationed.

Just moments before the attack, Diwas had spoken with his family. His uncle, Ramesh Shrestha, shared that Diwas had called to reassure his terrified parents, telling them, “Nothing will happen here, I am in a safe place, don’t worry.”

Diwas, who had claimed he was safe, returned in a coffin. His death has spread terror not only through one family but across the homes of 1,729,000 Nepalis toiling in the Gulf. After studying engineering in Nepal and seeking a brighter future, he had migrated four years ago, most recently returning to the UAE after celebrating Dashain in 2024.

Following the death of a fellow Nepali in the war, others in the Gulf find themselves repeatedly having to reassure their families of their safety, says Som Bahadur (name changed) from Gauriganj, Jhapa. Having driven a taxi in Jebel Ali, UAE, for 10 years, he explains that his daily routine now involves more time spent convincing his wife back home that he is safe than actually behind the wheel.

“Videos showing the Burj Khalifa in ruins were posted on social media, but in reality, nothing has happened here,” Som Bahadur says. His experience illustrates how fake information and old war footage spread online have terrified families in Nepal. He adds, “My wife calls me in a panic. I tell her the situation here is normal. But others in the village tell her the situation is horrific and she doesn’t believe a word I say.”

Sun Bahadur (name changed) from Dupcheshwor, Nuwakot, who is currently in Kuwait, finds himself in a similar situation to Som Bahadur. Having driven a taxi in Kuwait’s Farwaniya City for 10 years, the heat of the desert and the struggles of foreign employment are not new to him but the current circumstances feel far more different and terrifying. While driving through the streets of Kuwait, his eyes are constantly fixed on the sky, wondering if a drone might fall at any moment.

“The atmosphere is much more frightening than before. Sirens go off in the city from time to time. My heart trembles when they blare during the night and early morning, scaring me out of my wits,” Sun Bahadur said during a telephone conversation with NIMJN, his words echoing the shared anxiety of millions of Nepalis in the Gulf.

As the fallout of the rising tensions between Iran and Israel begins to splash across other Gulf nations, the mental stress among laborers has reached a breaking point. Sun Bahadur says, “Rumors spread that a drone fell near where I stay. Watching the news makes my skin crawl. Even though I have not seen it with my own eyes, the terror has not left me.”

Having traveled from the land of Lord Buddha to the Gulf carrying a message of peace, Nepalis now stand amidst missiles and drones, praying for their own safety. “Our only prayer is that everything returns to normal soon. May God protect everyone,” Sun Bahadur prayed at the end of our conversation.

Sujata Lamichhane, who is in Dubai, has a slightly different experience. She says that although the roar of missiles can be heard in the Gulf skies, there isn’t that much danger for Nepalis on the ground. According to her, the situation where she lives is not as horrific as what is being heard in Nepal. She says, “Occasionally, the sound of bombs exploding can be heard but objects coming this way are disposed of in mid-air.”

Vanishing jobs and an uncertain future

The Gulf nations where Nepalis work – the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – are not directly involved in the war. However, these countries host U.S. military bases and Iran has been targeting those very bases with missile strikes.

The direct impact of these attacks is visible more in the disruption of daily life and employment than in physical damage. According to Som Bahadur, with government and private offices closed, movement on the streets is almost non-existent. “Since people aren’t stepping out of their homes, the taxi business has come to a complete standstill,” he says.

On one hand, there is the worry of lost income due to lack of work. On the other, there is no certainty as to how long this ambiguity will last. For workers like Som Bahadur, who carries the responsibility of a wife and two children in Jhapa and elderly parents in Kathmandu, the question of whether to return home or stay put has become an uphill battle.

Sandesh (name changed) from Rautahat is going through a similar period of uncertainty in Qatar. Currently working at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Sandesh no longer has regular work. “It’s fine for a few days but if the situation drags on, how can I make a living just sitting here?” asked Sandesh, who reached out via Facebook.

Saudi Transit: A blow to those returning home

Due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, more than 82,100 Nepali citizens have registered their details to return home.

According to Lok Bahadur Chhetri, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these workers, who submitted their information through the ministry’s online registration system, are eager to return either because their visas have expired or out of fear of the war. He noted that among them, around 6,000 individuals reported feeling unsafe, though he added that the number of such complaints has been decreasing.

While various methods have been used to send transit workers to their destinations, the government has not been able to carry out rescue operations for those in distress as effectively as expected. Hari Krishna Neupane, a member of the Shramik Sanjal, an organization working for migrant laborers, says, “Although preparations are underway to make alternative arrangements for those with expired visas, the sick or those facing family emergencies in Nepal, it is still not enough.”

For those wishing to return to Nepal from Qatar and Bahrain, the government has facilitated visa processes and other logistics to allow them to reach Saudi Arabia by land and then fly back to Nepal from there.

However, the ‘Saudi Transit’ alternative has become more of a burden than a relief for workers. As soon as the government announced the route via Saudi Arabia, Nepalis in the Gulf labeled it robbery in the name of rescue. According to embassy information, returning to Nepal from Kuwait alone would cost approximately 400 Kuwaiti Dinars (around 175,000 Nepali Rupees).

Bikas Bhattarai, reaching out via telephone from Kuwait, vented his anger. “How can we return to Nepal by paying 400 KD when we don’t even have money for food?” According to the workers, ticket prices that normally cost 20,000-30,000 rupees have now crossed 100,000. On top of that, Sun Bahadur adds that Saudi visa fees, transportation costs and the hassle of crossing borders have added further mental distress to the workers.

Kul Prasad Karki, advisor to the Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee, believes such decisions are made by embassies to dodge their responsibilities. “How can a worker earning a monthly salary of 70-80 KD afford to pay 400 KD to come to Nepal?” he asks, adding, “This process would drain six to ten months of a worker’s earnings.”

Those abroad cannot return and those at home cannot leave

The direct impact of the war and escalating tensions is now clearly visible in Nepal’s foreign employment sector. With flights disrupted and security risks rising, approximately 20,000 Nepali workers who had completed all formalities and received their visas remain stranded in Nepal, unable to fly out.

According to Rajendra Bhandari, former president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, hundreds of Nepalis are losing foreign job opportunities every day due to the crisis in the Middle East.

In normal times, around 350,000 Nepali workers would head to Gulf countries annually. Data from the Department of Foreign Employment shows that roughly 25,000 people were flying out monthly – about 800 to 900 daily. However, over the past 20 days, between 18,000 and 20,000 people have been stuck despite having visas in hand.

“The war looks set to drag on, and due to security concerns, we are currently unable to send workers,” Rajendra says. Although employer companies have not yet made formal decisions to cancel contracts or return workers, the youth stranded in Nepal are facing a heavy financial burden.

Official warnings and notifications

As tensions rise in the Gulf countries, the risk of rumors and misleading information has also increased. The UAE government has issued a clear warning against spreading unverified information, photos or videos on social media, stating that doing so will lead to strict legal action.

Spokesperson Lok Bahadur stated that seven Nepalis were arrested for ignoring the UAE government’s request and posting photos and videos on social media. The UAE has specifically prohibited posting footage of missiles falling during the war, explosions, fires or destroyed buildings and structures.

The Nepali Embassy in the UAE has issued ‘Advisory-2’, appealing to the Nepali community to remain calm and responsible. Not only the UAE, but Nepali embassies in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Kuwait have also requested citizens to maintain high security alertness and trust only official information.

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