Flight Resumes Between Nigeria and the UAE

In response to the letter sent to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) by the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority dated 28th January 2022 with the heading, “Operations of flights -UAE/Nigeria V.V – COVID-19 Safety Decision Issue 24”, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in their reply dated 1st February 2022 with the heading, “RE: Operations of flights -UAE/Nigeria V.V – COVID-19 Safety Decision Issue 24”, stated that the Federal Government of Nigeria has given its approval for the Dubai-based Emirate Airline (EK) to resume operations between the two countries at its convenience.

The Nigerian-based Air Peace Airline has also submitted its request to resume flight operation between the two countries by the 1st day of March 2022.

Emirates is scheduled to resume flights from Nigeria on 5th February 2022. The airline will operate to and from Abuja and Lagos with daily flights, providing more choice, comfort and enhanced connectivity for travellers connecting to Dubai and over 120 destinations.

Emirates will operate to Abuja with EK 785 and 786. EK 785 will depart Dubai at 1100hrs, arriving in Abuja at 1540hrs. The return flight, EK 786, will take off from Abuja at 1900, arriving in Dubai at 0435hrs the next day.

Emirates flight EK 783 to Lagos will depart Dubai at 1030hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1540hrs. The return flight EK 784 will depart Lagos at 1810hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0415hrs the next day. All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs and via travel agents.

Other airlines that have commenced direct flights from Nigeria to the UAE are Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir, with specific modalities for airlifting Nigerian passengers.

For Ethiopian Airlines, the following conditions apply:

Layover at Addis Ababa to connect ET 602 the next day to Dubai (DXB);
A Negative PCR test 24-hours before departure (i.e. a day before departure);
A $50 denomination for RAPID TEST (to be paid on arrival in Addis Ababa); and
Transit via Lomé is prohibited.

For travellers on RwandAir, a 48-hours Negative COVID-19 PCR test result is required before departure, and no rapid test is required on transit, but instead, a PCR test on arrival.

COVID-19 UPDATE

Nigerians entering Dubai must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code for a test conducted at an approved facility within 48 hours of departure. Validity must be calculated from the time the sample was collected at the laboratory.

The certificate must be a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test issued by trusted and certified laboratories with a QR code linked to the original report for verification purposes.

Transit passengers from Lebanon and Turkey must have a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate as specified.

The following passengers are exempted from PCR Tests:

UAE Nationals, 1st-degree relative(s) and their domestic/house workers/helpers who will be required to undergo COVID 19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai;
Children under the age of 12; and
Passengers who have a moderate or severe disability.

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