Pokhara-Dubai Direct Flights: UAE Ambassador Meets Tourism Leaders to Push for Regular Service
Related guide: Annapurna Region Treks — Complete Guide (Pokhara is the gateway city for all Annapurna treks)
Pokhara, August 25, 2026 — Tourism and business leaders from Pokhara have held high-level discussions with UAE Ambassador to Nepal Abdullah bin Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Al Shamsi on ways to establish regular commercial flights between Pokhara and Dubai, according to a report by Online Khabar published on August 25, 2026. The meeting, which brought together some of the most influential figures in Gandaki Province’s tourism and trade sectors, represents the most serious push yet to give Pokhara its first scheduled international air connection.
If realized, regular Pokhara-Dubai flights would mark a transformative milestone for a city that has long served as Nepal’s second-most-popular tourist destination but has lacked the international air connectivity that Kathmandu enjoys. The discussions come at a time when Pokhara’s new international airport — operational since January 2023 — is still seeking its first regular scheduled international service.
Table of Contents
- What Happened: The August 25 Meeting
- Who Attended: Key Tourism and Business Figures
- Why Pokhara-Dubai Flights Matter
- Pokhara International Airport: The Current Situation
- The Police Clearance Certificate Issue
- What Travelers Should Know
- Challenges Ahead
- Comparison: Pokhara vs Kathmandu Airport Connectivity
- Key Takeaways
- FAQ: Pokhara-Dubai Flights
What Happened: The August 25 Meeting
On August 25, 2026, a delegation of Pokhara’s tourism and business leaders met with UAE Ambassador Abdullah bin Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Al Shamsi to discuss making regular flights between Pokhara and Dubai a reality. The participants described the potential launch of direct Pokhara-Dubai service as a historic achievement that would connect the lakeside city to one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
According to the Online Khabar report, the business leaders told the ambassador that connecting Pokhara to Dubai would be significant for the city’s tourism sector and sought his support in making the flights successful. They emphasized that regular flights to Dubai would integrate Pokhara into a wider international network, benefiting not just the city but all of Gandaki Province and Nepal’s tourism economy more broadly.
The ambassador assured the delegation that he would provide possible support and coordination on the matter, though no specific timeline or airline commitment was announced. The discussions are at a diplomatic and advocacy stage — no flight schedules, launch dates, or carrier agreements have been confirmed as of this publication.
Who Attended: Key Tourism and Business Figures
The meeting brought together a cross-section of Pokhara’s tourism and business establishment, signaling broad-based private-sector support for the initiative. Attendees included:
- Pomnarayan Shrestha — Former president, Pokhara Tourism Council; former president, NATTA (Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents) Gandaki Province
- Basudev Tripathi — Former board member, Nepal Tourism Board
- Laxman Subedi — President, Hotel Association Pokhara
- Hari Sharma Gaire — President, Hotel Association Gandaki Province
- Gokarna Karki — President, Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Bijay Paudel — Executive member, NATTA Gandaki Province
- Bharat Jung Pandey — Central president, NATTA
The breadth of representation — from hoteliers to travel agents to the chamber of commerce — underscores that this is not a single-industry push but a coordinated regional economic strategy. Pokhara’s business community sees international air connectivity as essential to the city’s future growth.
Why Pokhara-Dubai Flights Matter
Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna trekking region, one of the world’s most popular trekking destinations. For decades, international travelers heading to Pokhara have had to fly into Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and then either take a 25-minute domestic flight or endure a 6-to-8-hour road journey along the Prithvi Highway to reach the lakeside city. Direct international flights from Pokhara would eliminate this bottleneck entirely.
Dubai, as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs served by Emirates and flydubai, offers connections to virtually every major city in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America. A Pokhara-Dubai route would effectively give the lakeside city a one-stop connection to the entire global travel network — without requiring travelers to transit through Kathmandu.
The potential benefits extend beyond convenience:
- For trekkers: Faster access to the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Poon Hill, and other treks that begin from Pokhara. Travelers could potentially fly directly to Pokhara and start their trek the same day.
- For the local economy: More international visitors mean higher occupancy for Pokhara’s hotels, restaurants, and adventure operators, spreading tourism revenue beyond Kathmandu.
- For Nepal’s tourism diversification: Reducing Kathmandu’s monopoly on international arrivals eases congestion at TIA and distributes tourism’s economic benefits more evenly across the country.
- For Nepali outbound travelers: The meeting also highlighted the potential for Nepali tourists and business travelers to access Dubai and beyond more conveniently.
For a comprehensive guide to the region, see our Pokhara Travel Guide 2026: Lakes, Viewpoints & Gateway to Annapurna.
Pokhara International Airport: The Current Situation
Pokhara International Airport (IATA: PHH, ICAO: VNPR), located at Chhinedanda about 3 km east of the old domestic airport, officially began operations on January 1, 2023. It is Nepal’s third international airport, built at a cost of approximately US$216 million with financing from China’s Export-Import Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
However, according to Wikipedia, as of 2026, the airport primarily handles domestic flights along with some chartered international flights, but has no regular scheduled international services — despite being designed and built as an international facility. This gap between infrastructure and actual international connectivity has been a source of frustration for Pokhara’s tourism industry.
Several factors have contributed to the delay in launching scheduled international flights from Pokhara:
- Airspace and route agreements: Nepal needs bilateral air service agreements with destination countries before scheduled international flights can operate. Negotiations with India and other countries have progressed slowly.
- Airline interest: No carrier has yet committed to regular scheduled international service from Pokhara. Chartered flights have operated intermittently, but these are not sufficient to sustain a tourism economy.
- Operational considerations: The airport’s runway, navigation aids, and weather patterns (particularly during monsoon) must meet the standards required for regular international operations.
- Market demand: Airlines need confidence that enough passengers will use the route to make it commercially viable. The August 25 meeting was partly aimed at demonstrating that demand exists.
For travelers planning their journey to Nepal, our guide on How to Get to Nepal 2026: Flights, Airports & Overland Border Crossings covers all current entry routes in detail.
The Police Clearance Certificate Issue
During the meeting, the business leaders also raised a specific bureaucratic barrier: the requirement for Nepali tourists traveling to Dubai on tourist visas to obtain a police clearance certificate. They urged the ambassador to remove this requirement for tourists, while acknowledging that it may need to remain in place for Nepali workers traveling to Dubai for employment.
The police clearance requirement adds time, cost, and friction to the travel process for Nepali tourists. If waived for tourist visa holders, it would make spontaneous and short-notice travel to Dubai significantly easier — an important consideration if Pokhara-Dubai flights are to attract outbound Nepali travelers as well as inbound tourists.
The ambassador indicated he would look into the matter, though no commitment was made. This issue reflects the broader pattern of bureaucratic and diplomatic hurdles that must be cleared before regular flights can become a reality.
What Travelers Should Know
As of August 25, 2026, the Pokhara-Dubai flight discussions are at an advocacy and diplomatic stage. No airline has announced a launch date, flight schedule, or ticket pricing. Travelers should consider the following:
- Status: Confirmed discussions have taken place between tourism leaders and the UAE ambassador. No flights have been announced.
- Current routing: To reach Pokhara from international destinations, travelers must still fly into Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport, IATA: KTM) and connect via domestic flight or road. See our guide on Buddha Air’s domestic flight network for current domestic options.
- Timeline uncertainty: Even if the diplomatic groundwork is laid, airline route launches typically take 6–18 months from announcement to first flight. Travelers should not plan around Pokhara-Dubai flights for trips in 2026.
- Monitoring: This story will be updated as new information emerges. Check with airlines and the Nepal Tourism Board for official announcements.
Challenges Ahead
While the August 25 meeting represents significant progress, several challenges remain before regular Pokhara-Dubai flights can launch:
Bilateral Air Service Agreement
Nepal and the UAE need a formal air service agreement (ASA) or an amendment to an existing one that specifically includes Pokhara as a designated point of entry/departure. Without this legal framework, no scheduled airline can operate the route.
Airline Commitment
Even with diplomatic support, an airline — whether Emirates, flydubai, a Nepali carrier, or a third-party operator — must decide the route is commercially viable. This requires market research, route profitability analysis, and aircraft allocation. Pokhara’s runway (approximately 2,500 m) can accommodate narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, but not wide-body long-haul jets, which limits the range and capacity of potential services.
Infrastructure Readiness
Pokhara International Airport’s instrument landing system, immigration facilities, and customs operations must be fully certified for regular international use. While the airport has handled chartered international flights, scaling to scheduled service requires additional operational certification.
Seasonal Demand Fluctuations
Nepal’s tourism is highly seasonal, with peak seasons in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Airlines need year-round demand to justify a route, and Pokhara’s monsoon season (June–August) sees significantly lower tourist arrivals. Route planners will need to account for this variability.
Comparison: Pokhara vs Kathmandu Airport Connectivity
| Feature | Tribhuvan Int’l Airport (KTM) | Pokhara Int’l Airport (PHH) |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | 1955 (international operations) | January 1, 2023 |
| IATA Code | KTM | PHH |
| Regular International Flights | Yes — 30+ international airlines | No scheduled international service as of 2026 |
| Runway Length | ~3,050 m | ~2,500 m |
| Aircraft Types | Wide-body (A330, B777, B787) | Narrow-body (A320, B737) + STOL |
| Domestic Connections | Extensive (all Nepal destinations) | Major domestic routes (Jomsom from old airport) |
| Customs & Immigration | Full international capability | Certified for chartered international; not yet scheduled |
| Distance to Annapurna Trek Start | ~200 km (6–8 hr by road) | ~30–60 min by road to trailheads |
This comparison illustrates why Pokhara’s tourism industry is so eager for international connectivity: the city is dramatically closer to the Annapurna trailheads, and direct international flights would shave an entire travel day off most trekking itineraries.
Key Takeaways
- Status: Discussed, not confirmed. Tourism leaders met the UAE ambassador on August 25, 2026, to advocate for regular Pokhara-Dubai flights. No flights have been announced or scheduled.
- Broad private-sector support. Hotel associations, travel agent associations, the chamber of commerce, and former NTB board members all participated — indicating a unified regional push.
- Pokhara International Airport is ready infrastructure-wise but lacks the bilateral agreements and airline commitments needed for scheduled international service.
- Dubai connection would be transformative — linking Pokhara to one of the world’s largest aviation hubs with global reach.
- Police clearance certificate for Nepali tourists was raised as a specific barrier the ambassador may help address.
- Travelers should not plan around this route for 2026. Continue using Kathmandu as the international entry point and connecting to Pokhara domestically.
FAQ: Pokhara-Dubai Flights
Are there direct flights from Pokhara to Dubai?
As of August 2026, there are no regular scheduled direct flights between Pokhara and Dubai. Tourism and business leaders from Pokhara met with the UAE Ambassador to Nepal on August 25, 2026, to discuss establishing such a route, but no airline has announced service and no launch date has been set.
When will Pokhara-Dubai flights start?
No timeline has been announced. The discussions are at a diplomatic and advocacy stage. Even if agreements are reached quickly, airline route launches typically take 6–18 months from announcement to first flight. Travelers should not expect Pokhara-Dubai service in 2026.
Can I fly internationally from Pokhara International Airport?
Pokhara International Airport (PHH) has handled some chartered international flights since opening in January 2023, but it has no regular scheduled international services as of 2026. All regular international flights to Nepal arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu.
How do I get to Pokhara from abroad right now?
Fly into Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), then take a 25-minute domestic flight to Pokhara or travel by road (6–8 hours via the Prithvi Highway). Domestic airlines like Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines operate regular flights on the Kathmandu-Pokhara route.
Why does Pokhara need international flights?
Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna trekking region and one of Nepal’s top tourist destinations. Direct international connectivity would reduce travel time for international visitors, boost the local tourism economy, and reduce congestion at Kathmandu’s airport.
What was the police clearance certificate issue discussed?
Currently, Nepali tourists traveling to Dubai on tourist visas must obtain a police clearance certificate — an additional bureaucratic step. The Pokhara delegation asked the UAE ambassador to waive this requirement for tourists (while keeping it for workers), which would make travel easier if direct flights launch.
Source: Online Khabar, August 25, 2026. Airport background facts cross-referenced with Wikipedia’s article on Pokhara International Airport. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
Featured image: Pokhara International Airport view by SvenWausH, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
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