Dubai’s Emirates airline has announced plans to resume flight operations to Nigeria on October 1, marking the end of a nearly two-year suspension of services.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had halted visa issuance to Nigerians in 2022 after Emirates suspended its flights over the inability to repatriate funds from Nigeria.
In a statement released on Thursday, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, expressed excitement over the airline’s return to the Nigerian market.
“We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route, and we look forward to welcoming passengers back on board,” Kazim said.
According to a Reuters report, the resumed service will cover the Lagos-Dubai route, which has historically been popular among Nigerian travellers. Emirates said the move will reconnect passengers to over 140 global destinations through Dubai.
The resumption also extends to cargo operations, a development expected to boost trade and logistics between the two nations.
This breakthrough follows a September 2024 meeting in Abu Dhabi between President Bola Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which both leaders discussed lifting the visa ban and expanding bilateral investment opportunities.
With the restoration of Emirates flights, air travel between Nigeria and the UAE is set to improve passenger convenience, revive tourism, and strengthen economic ties.
