Short answer
Yes. Nepali passport holders must arrange a UAE tourist visa before flying — there is no visa on arrival. A 14-, 30- or 60-day e-visa costs roughly $75 to $160 and is issued in three to five working days. Indian nationals holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa do get 14 days on arrival.
This is the single most common misunderstanding we correct. The visa-on-arrival concession that Indian passport holders enjoy does not extend to Nepali passports, and people occasionally book flights on the assumption that it does. Every Nepali traveller needs the visa issued and in hand before check-in.
The e-visa is applied for through an airline, a hotel or a licensed tour operator rather than by the traveller directly, which is why almost every Dubai package quotes it as an inclusion. Processing is quick, but validity runs from the date of issue — typically 60 days — so applying too early wastes part of it.
Requirements are modest: a passport valid six months, a colour photograph on a white background, a confirmed return ticket and a hotel booking. Refusals are uncommon, but they do happen where the passport shows a previous UAE overstay or the traveller has no evident means of return.
| Route | Who it applies to | Cost | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-day tourist e-visa | Nepali and Indian passports | $75–$95 | 3–5 working days |
| 30-day tourist e-visa | Nepali and Indian passports | $90–$130 | 3–5 working days |
| 60-day tourist e-visa | Nepali and Indian passports | $140–$160 | 4–6 working days |
| Visa on arrival | Indian passports holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa — not available on a Nepali passport | AED 100 (~$25) | At the counter |
| 48-hour transit visa | Most nationalities, via the airline | Free | Through the airline |