Tag: UAE

Civil Marriage: Non-Muslim couple tie the knot for the first time in UAE

Ishaku Yohanna

The United Arab Emirate, UAE, has issued its first civil marriage license for a non-Muslim couple as the Gulf country seeks to keep its edge over regional competitors.  The UAE, where foreigners make up 90 percent of the approximately 10-million population, has been amending its laws to present itself as a modernising force in a largely conservative region.  The Canadian couple were the first to marry under a new law on the personal status of non-Muslims in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.  The move is seen to contribute to the consolidation of…

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Covid-19: UAE bans Nigerian passengers, others over Omicron variant

Aminu Imam

The United Arab Emirates, (UAE), has suspended travellers from Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia from entering the country. The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority and the General Civil Aviation Authority, (GCAA), who announced the decision yesterday, said the suspension is with effect from today, Saturday. The development has created chaos for both in-bound and out-bound passengers, including Nigerians wishing to come home for the Yuletide. According to reports, some passengers have arranged last-minute flight changes to other European, African and US carriers. The new travel rule…

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UAE bars all airlines from bringing Nigerians into its country

Aminu Imam

As the diplomatic row between the United Arab Emirates, (UAE), and Nigeria deepens, the UAE yesterday has barred all airlines from conveying Nigerian passengers to the country. Among these airlines are Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Air and Etihad. It was reported yesterday that many Nigerian passengers who boarded Ethiopian Airlines heading for Dubai were sent off the plane. This happened hours after the restrictions imposed on Emirates by the Federal Government took effect. The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), had withdrawn the winter…

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UAE reduces work week, shifts to Sat/Sun Western-style weekend

Aminu Imam

The United Arab Emirates, (UAE), is slashing its official working week to four-and-a-half days and moving its weekend to Saturday and Sunday, in a major shift aimed at improving competitiveness, officials stated yesterday. The “national working week” is mandatory for government bodies from January, 1 and is a departure from the regional norm of a full day-off on Friday for Muslim prayers. While becoming the only Gulf country not to have a Friday-Saturday weekend, the resource-rich and ambitious UAE now comes into line with the non-Arab world. Under the new…

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Dubai EXPO 2020: “Nigeria remains the best investment destination” – President Buhari declares

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigeria remains the most viable and attractive investment destination in Africa, adding that the country is on the path of becoming the continent’s leading industrial and trading nation. Addressing a Trade and Investment Forum at Dubai Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirate, (UAE), organised by Nigerian Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), yesterday, the President said Nigeria is reaping from the efforts his administration has made to consciously improve the…

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Just In! President Buhari departs Abuja today to attend EXPO 2020 in Dubai, UAE

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari departs Abuja today, Wednesday to attend EXPO 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). EXPO 2020 Dubai, with the theme: “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, creates the environment for Nigeria to join over 190 countries to forge true and meaningful partnerships “to build a better future for everyone”. A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina explained that the Expo will provide another opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to highlight significant strides in the economy in the…

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9mobile reacts, as its director is ‘fingered’ in UAE terrorism financiers list

Aminu Imam

The management of the Nigerian mobile telecommunications company, 9mobile, has reacted to media reports that one of its directors is on the United Arab Emirates, (UAE), list of terrorist financiers, clarifying that the person whose name appears on the list is not its director. The telecoms firm, in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday, said one Abdurrahman Ado Musa, who is on that list is not a director of the company. According to the company, the ‘Abdulrrahman Ado Musa’ named on the UAE list was not the same as Abdulrahman Ado,…

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UAE puts 6 Nigerians with ties to Boko Haram on terrorist list

Aminu Imam

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, (UAE), on Monday named six Nigerians with ties to insurgent group Boko Haram as terrorist financiers. The UAE Cabinet issued Resolution No 83 of 2021, designating a total of 38 individuals and 15 entities on its approved list of persons and organisations supporting Boko Haram and other terrorist cause. Nigerians on the UAE’s terrorism list were Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad. The six persons have been previously tried and sentenced…

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Nigeria excluded as UAE approves 70 countries for Visa-on-Arrival

Aminu Imam

Nigeria has been excluded from a list of countries whose citizens are eligible to obtain visa-on-arrival in the United Arab Emirates,(UAE). Etihad Airways, yesterday, released a list of countries whose travellers landing at Abu Dhabi airport can receive visas from its immigration desks. Countries such as the U.S., China, Maldives, France, and Russia made the top of the list. African countries like Seychelles and Mauritius were equally included in the list while Nigeria and South Africa were excluded. It also stated that visitors who had been in Nigeria or South…

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Nigeria excluded as UAE approves 70 countries for Visa-On-Arrival

Aminu Imam

Nigeria has been excluded from a list of countries whose citizens are eligible to obtain visa-on-arrival in the United Arab Emirates, (UAE). Etihad Airways, on Wednesday, released a list of countries whose travellers landing at Abu Dhabi airport can receive visas from its immigration desks. Countries such as the U.S., China, Maldives, France, and Russia made the top of the list. African countries like Seychelles and Mauritius were equally included in the list while Nigeria and South Africa were excluded. It also stated that visitors who had been in Nigeria…

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