Nepali workers in Qatar have asked Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank, to lower the charges for sending money home and to simplify the process. They raised the requests at a discussion in Doha on Saturday 24 October.
NRB Deputy Governor Dirgha Bahadur Rawal said the suggestions would be considered as part of efforts to promote formal remittance channels.
What happened in Doha
The Embassy of Nepal in Doha and NRB organised the discussion, titled “Remittances, Hundi and Financial Inclusion”. Hundi is an informal money-transfer arrangement outside the licensed banking and remittance system. Ministry of Finance Joint Secretary Dev Raj Joshi, Acting Ambassador Kumar Rai, Nepali community organisations, banks and financial institutions took part.
Joshi spoke about the link between foreign employment, remittances and Nepal’s economy, according to the embassy. Rai urged Nepalis to send money through formal and secure channels.
What a transfer really costs
A remittance has two costs. The transfer fee is what the provider openly charges. The exchange-rate margin is the gap between the rate it gives you and a market reference rate. The World Bank counts both in its total cost. A provider can advertise a low fee and still give fewer Nepali rupees for each Qatari riyal.
The World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide database surveyed the Qatar-to-Nepal route from 21 to 28 August 2025 for a transfer of QAR 730. The charge fees differs on the services. City Exchange Company charged a fee of QAR 20 and a total cost of QAR 22.92. Four others charged QAR 23, with totals between QAR 25.77 and QAR 26.72. Western Union’s internet channel charged a QAR 20 fee but had a total cost of QAR 47.81.
Why formal channels matter
Remittances are a major source of foreign currency for Nepal and help households pay for food, housing, education, health care and loan repayments.
Officials at the Doha meeting urged Nepalis to use formal channels instead of informal ones. Formal transfers leave a traceable record and generally offer a route for complaints. Unauthorised arrangements such as hundi can expose users to fraud and loss of money, though the risk depends on the arrangement.
Will NRB act
NRB’s response shows that workers’ concerns will be considered. It is not a commitment to lower fees. Possible steps include clearer disclosure of total transfer cost, easier access to licensed services and more openness about exchange rates.
Background
NRB’s Foreign Exchange Management Department is the official starting point for remittance rules and licensed entities. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals set a target of cutting the cost of sending remittances to under 3% by 2030. In the 2025 survey, the cheapest service on the Qatar route was at 3.14%, just above that mark.
