By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Ahead of the resumption of its flights on October 1, 2024, after a two-year hiatus, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier, Emirates Airline has opened ticket bookings for its Nigerian passengers.
This is even as visa application portal of UAE has also opened for Nigerians visiting the Emirates.
Prompt News reports that Emirates offices in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have become a beehive of activities as customers are coming to make enquiries over the resumption of flights between Nigeria and UAE by Emirates.
A staff at Abuja office confirmed the resumption of Emirates flight operations in less than one month from now just as the airline has opened online booking for Nigerian passengers with the cheapest fare of $665.30 (N1,059,969.41) and $8,852 for first class.
This means that any passenger who wants to travel from Lagos to Dubai or Dubai to Lagos from October 1, 2024, can book on the airline’s website.
Sources told our correspondent that the visa application portal had also been opened, with Emirates communicating the development to its Nigerian travel partners.
“We are excited to inform you that the Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC) has reopened and they are now accepting visa applications for passengers travelling to Dubai,” a message sighted by our correspondent read.
Checks by our correspondent indicated that a 60-day tourist visa costs N218,450 without any verification fee.
In addition, those stranded in the UAE who want to return home have also been granted amnesty with effect from September 1.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) announced the two-month visa amnesty.
The period offers a crucial opportunity for individuals staying illegally in the UAE to rectify their status without facing fines or penalties.
Emirates had in May, this year announced it would resume services to Nigeria from October 1, operating a daily service between Lagos and Dubai, two years after the airline suspended flights to Nigeria over inability to repatriate funds from its ticket sales in Nigeria as it was owed over $85m.
Authorities in the UAE also followed with a visa ban on Nigerians, thereby halting movement between Nigeria and the UAE.
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