Like many other Nepalese brothers and sisters, I also have my own story of how I came to the UAE to find a job and a better life.
It all started in September 2003, when I landed in Dubai for the first time. I was young, only 19 years old, and I came with big dreams, lots of hopes, and a heart full of responsibility.
My Life Before UAE
I was born into a middle-class family in Nepal. My father passed away when I was 12. After that, my mother raised me and my brother alone. She was a strong woman who never let us feel the absence of our father. She worked hard and gave us everything we needed.
After finishing high school, which used to be called Intermediate Arts (IA), I joined another collegee for Bachelor Degree. My dream was to complete a Master’s degree and become a teacher. I even dreamed of opening my own college to help educate others.
But the situation in Nepal at that time was not good. There were frequent strikes, college closures, and lots of political problems. I got frustrated. At the same time, I got married young and had to take on family responsibilities. It was not right to depend on my mother anymore.
So, like many Nepalese youths, I decided to go abroad for work. I went to Kathmandu, submitted my passport to a manpower agency, and waited.
Since I was under 20, Malaysia was not an option. But the agency said there was a good job in the UAE—a sales position in a mall with a salary of AED 1500. I agreed. I borrowed NPR 90,000 from my grandfather and paid the agency.
The Shocking Start
On the day of my flight, I reached the airport road with 35 other Nepali brothers. We were all excited but nervous too. For many of us, this was the first time leaving Nepal.
But at the airport, we got a big shock.
The agency handed us our passports and visas—and the job offer letter now showed AED 450 salary, not 1500! Some people backed out immediately, but I had taken a loan and had no choice. I decided to move forward.
We flew with Pakistan Airlines via Karachi to Dubai. After immigration, we were taken to our company accommodation.
Difficult Days in UAE
My life in UAE did not start well. I was sent to different jobs daily—packing newspapers, cleaning schools, and more. It was very hard. I had never done this kind of work before. I thought about giving up, but I remembered my loan and my family.
After 3 months, something changed. One day, the supervisor took me to some banks for interviews. The company used to send workers to other businesses. I was selected as an Office Assistant, mostly because of my English skills.
Though my salary was still AED 500 with overtime, I was happy because the environment, surroundings, and respect I was offered were way more than the salary.
Learning Every Day and Earning More
At that time, calling home was expensive. A AED 30 calling card only lasted 5 minutes. So I started going to cyber cafés and learned to send emails and make calls using Yahoo Messenger.
Soon, I got curious—how do websites work? I bought a book on HTML and finished it in 1-2 months. While others were going out, I stayed back and learned.
With this new skill, I started earning around AED 3500 per month by doing different tasks:
Making photo videos with music (very popular among Nepali friends),
Cleaning flats, washing cars,
Walking from Karama to Deira to catch the company bus and save money.
I also paid back my loan, saved money, and even bought land in Nepal.
Getting a Real Break
My contract was for 3 years. I told the bank I was planning to go back to Nepal. But they didn’t want to lose me. They offered to increase my salary.
I told them I would stay only if I got a direct job under bank visa.
One morning, I received a call from the bank HR team. They asked me to come and sign the offer letter. I was so happy—I cannot express that feeling. My new salary was AED 3700, and my new position was Processing Assistant at Emirates NBD Bank.
From there, my real career began.
I was promoted several times:
First to Admin Support Coordinator
Then Department Administrator
And now I’m working as Manager of the Support Unit
Never Stop Learning
Even after getting a stable job, I never stopped learning. I improved my skills in:
Web Design & Development
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Digital Marketing
Paid Ads and Social Media
I used my skills to create profitable businesses and help others grow too. Today, I can proudly say that I have real experience in all areas of digital marketing—and I can teach anyone who is ready to learn.
Helping Our Nepali Community
I also wanted to help our people in UAE. That’s why, with friends like Ramesh Khadka, Trilochan Koirala, Laxman Khanal, and Umakanta Pande, we started the first online Nepali radio in UAE—Prabasi Online.
We worked day and night to cover:
News,
Events, and
Stories of Nepalese people in the UAE.
That same platform is now known as Nepalese in UAE, where you are reading this post today.
A Final Message for You
Dear brothers and sisters,
If you are struggling today, please don’t lose hope. I came to the UAE with a salary of AED 450 and now I’m a manager, an entrepreneur, and someone who helps others succeed.
I didn’t come from a rich background. I just had determination, a learning mindset, and a never-give-up attitude.
You can also succeed.
Keep learning, stay honest, and believe in yourself. You may not see results right away—but one day, you will look back and feel proud of how far you have come.
