Shipping from Dubai to NepalShipping from Dubai to Nepal, by air and sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, arranges shipping from Dubai to Nepal for businesses. Nepal is landlocked, so we ship sea freight from Jebel Ali to Kolkata or Visakhapatnam in India, with rail transit to the Birgunj dry port, and fly air cargo from DXB to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. We check the Indian transit papers and Nepal customs documents before your cargo leaves.
Business cargo only. Airlift Logistics ships commercial goods for importers, exporters, traders and manufacturers, with a commercial invoice and a registered consignee. We do not handle personal boxes, household effects or door-to-door parcels.
Dubai to Nepal at a glance
Nepal has no coast. Containers land in India and travel by rail under transit to Birgunj; urgent cargo flies to Kathmandu.
- Flight time
- About 4.5 h DXB to Kathmandu
- Sea
- Via an Indian port plus rail
- Customs
- Department of Customs, Nepal
- VAT
- 13% on imports
Airports and seaports in Nepal we ship to
Transit through India follows the India-Nepal transit arrangements, with cargo sealed until it reaches Nepal.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | KTM | Kathmandu, Nepal's main international airport | |
| Seaports (India) | INCCU · INHAL | Main Indian ports for Nepal transit | |
| Seaport (India) | INVTZ | Alternative Indian port for Nepal cargo | |
| Dry port | Sirsiya ICD | Rail-linked dry port on the Nepal-India border |
Air, sea to Nepal
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB to KTM | Same or next day, plus clearance | Phones, parts, urgent goods | |
| Sea and rail | Jebel Ali to Kolkata or Visakhapatnam, rail to Birgunj | Several weeks door to door | Containers of stock and machinery |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to Nepal
- flydubai
Transit times depend on port, rail and border conditions; we confirm them when booking. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Customs in Nepal: what the importer needs
Nepali importers clear goods with Nepal's Department of Customs, often at Birgunj; transit through India uses transit documents.
| Item | In Nepal |
|---|---|
| Customs authority | Department of Customs, Nepal |
| Declaration | Customs declaration on ASYCUDA World |
| Importer registration | PAN or VAT registration with the Inland Revenue Department |
| Duty and tax | Duty by tariff, plus 13% VAT and other charges |
| Trade agreement | No UAE-Nepal trade agreement in force that we can confirm |
Indian customs handles the transit leg; Nepal customs clears the goods at entry.
Approvals to check before booking
Transit through India adds paperwork, so plan documents carefully.
- 01
Cargo moves under transit documents and seals through India.
- 02
Many containers clear at the Birgunj dry port.
- 03
Medicines
Medicines need Department of Drug Administration approval.
- 04
Food and plants
Food and agricultural goods need quarantine checks.
- 05
Matching documents
Transit and import papers must match the invoice.
- 06
Standards
Some products need Nepal standards approval.
Documents for shipping to Nepal
Send these with your booking. Transit documents are prepared for the Indian port.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, parties and HS codes |
| Packing list | Pieces, weights and marks for inspection |
| Transport contract and cargo release | |
| Exit clearance from the UAE, filed by us | |
| For movement through India | |
| Certificate of origin | Supports the origin declared |
Restricted or banned in Nepal
- Medicines without approval
- Counterfeit goods
- Weapons without a permit
- Narcotics
- Goods banned for transit through India
Some goods allowed in Nepal may be restricted for transit through India; check first.
What UAE businesses ship to Nepal
Many Nepali businesses source goods in Dubai, shipped by air or through Indian ports.
- 01
Electronics
Phones and IT, mostly by air.
- 02
Machinery and parts
Equipment by sea and rail.
- 03
Consumer goods
Trading stock in containers.
Dubai to Nepal shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneThey land at an Indian port and travel by rail. Containers sail from Jebel Ali to Kolkata, Haldia or Visakhapatnam, then move under transit to the Birgunj dry port on the border. Customs clears them in Nepal. Allow several weeks door to door for this route.
- Air to Kathmandu is faster.
- Transit papers are essential.
No, transit cargo does not pay Indian duty. It moves through India under transit documents and customs seals, and is cleared only when it enters Nepal. Some goods may be restricted for transit through India, so check the product before shipping.
- Seals must stay intact.
- Documents must match exactly.
Nepal charges 13% VAT on most imports. It is collected by the Department of Customs on the value plus duty, at Birgunj, Kathmandu airport or another entry point. Duty depends on the tariff code. The importer needs PAN or VAT registration to clear goods.
- The agent calculates the total.
- Keep invoices consistent.
Yes, for phones, parts and urgent goods. flydubai flies between Dubai and Kathmandu, and cargo usually arrives within a day or two. Air avoids the long transit through India. For heavy machinery or large volumes, sea freight with rail transit is usually cheaper.
- Book early in peak seasons.
- Clearance is at Tribhuvan airport.