Dubai visa for Cameroonians: e-visa, sponsor, price and a one-week budget

Djo and Ebelle want to spend a week in Dubai. First question: is it even possible with a Cameroonian passport? A rumour says no. Here is what's really going on, followed by everything you need to get there.

Is Dubai banned for Cameroonians?

No. Lists of "banned countries" regularly circulate on social media, but no official announcement from the United Arab Emirates targets Cameroon. The Cameroonian consulate in Dubai also denied a rumour of visa suspensions in September 2025. The only suspensions confirmed in 2026 concern other countries, for health reasons.

Can you get a visa on arrival?

No. Cameroon is not one of the countries that get a visa at the airport. You need an e-visa, obtained before your flight.

The catch: you need a sponsor

You can't apply for a Dubai tourist visa on your own. The application goes through a sponsor based in the Emirates:

• a hotel or an approved travel agency (the most common route for a tourist visa);
• an airline, for certain tickets;
• a relative living in the Emirates, who can bring you over on a family visit visa (a different category, with its own conditions).

Documents, processing time and price

Documents: a passport valid for at least 6 months, a passport photo, a return ticket and health insurance.

Processing time: around 48 hours once your file is complete.

Price:

• official fees: from 200 dirhams (plus 5% VAT) for a 30-day visa;
• through an agency, all-inclusive: expect 57,000 to 84,000 FCFA depending on the agency and the length of stay.

The flight from Douala

This is the biggest expense: there is no direct flight between Douala and Dubai. The usual stopovers: Addis Ababa (Ethiopian), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Cairo (EgyptAir). According to Travora, a return ticket starts at around 330,000 FCFA.

Where to stay without going broke?

Dubai isn't just luxury palaces: a hostel bed starts at around 12,000 FCFA a night.

When to go?

From November to March. In summer, temperatures regularly go above 40 °C.

The budget: one week for two

With Travora's budget simulator: 7 days, two people, backpacker style, flights included:

Add the visa on top of that. As Ebelle says in the video: start saving… today.

Adjust the number of days, travellers and travel style in the simulator on Travora's United Arab Emirates guide.