In preparation for the resumption of flights to Nigeria on October 1, 2024, following a two-year hiatus, Emirates announced the commencement of ticket sales for Nigerian travelers. Concurrently, the visa application portal for Nigerian citizens seeking to visit the United Arab Emirates has been reactivated.

In May of this year, Emirates announced its plans to reinstate services to Nigeria, offering daily flights between Lagos and Dubai.

This decision comes after the airline halted operations due to difficulties in repatriating over $85 million in ticket sales from Nigeria. Additionally, the UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigerian citizens, which restricted travel between the two nations.

The Nigerian federal government has resumed discussions with UAE officials and Emirates to address these financial concerns.

With less than a month until flights resume, Emirates has made tickets available for Nigerian passengers, with fares starting at $665.30 (N1,059,969.41) and first-class tickets priced at $8,852.

Travelers wishing to fly between Lagos and Dubai or vice versa from October 1, 2024, can now make reservations through the airline's website.

Sources have confirmed that the visa application portal is now operational, with Emirates notifying its Nigerian travel partners of this update.

A message seen by our correspondent stated, "We are pleased to announce that the Dubai Visa Processing Centre (DVPC) has reopened and is now accepting visa applications for those traveling to Dubai."

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that a 60-day tourist visa is priced at N218,450, excluding any verification fees.

Furthermore, individuals stranded in the UAE seeking to return home have been granted amnesty starting September 1.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has announced a two-month visa amnesty, providing a vital opportunity for those residing illegally in the UAE to regularize their status without incurring fines or penalties.

This amnesty is all-encompassing, applying to various visa types, including tourist visas, expired residency visas, and even cases where individuals lack any official documentation.

The UAE government emphasized that the program’s inclusivity allows a broad spectrum of individuals to benefit, whether they have overstayed their visas or have never possessed proper documentation.

Many Nigerians in the UAE are anticipated to utilize the amnesty to either regularize their status or leave the country, as reported by Daily Trust.

A Nigerian resident In the UAE shared with our correspondent, “Those of us currently here, including those who have overstayed, can take advantage of the amnesty to return home.

“For those of us present now, we can obtain a visa through the amnesty, with all associated charges and fees waived. It is possible that by next week, individuals in Nigeria wishing to travel to the UAE will be able to apply for visas, but for now, the amnesty is specifically for those already in the UAE.”

It Is worth noting that the federal government previously announced the lifting of the UAE’s visa ban on Nigerians.

Following this announcement by Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, a fraudulent website emerged, claiming that applicants needed to pay a verification fee of N640,000 and provide proof of $10,000 in their bank accounts. Some individuals who hurried to make payments through this site later discovered it was a scam and not associated with the UAE, which denied these requirements.

Olumide Ohunayo, an aviation analyst and Director of Research at Zenith Travels, stated that although the visa application process has resumed, the UAE authorities continue to impose restrictions on certain applicants. He noted that the government has the option to intervene in order to broaden the visa offerings or to respond by limiting Nigerian visas for specific UAE applicants.