Nigeria - UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank, Etihad Airways to Start Nigeria Operations Soon

The United Arab Emirates is moving to deepen its economic and transport ties with Nigeria, with the UAE ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al‑Shamsi, announcing that First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) will establish operations in Lagos and that Etihad Airways will begin direct flights to Abuja later this year. The envoy also said visa restrictions for Nigerian travellers have been significantly eased and that non‑oil trade between the two countries rose sharply, with a stated target of $8 billion by 2027.

"First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) plans to establish operations in Lagos," Salem Saeed Al‑Shamsi said, underscoring the UAE's intent to expand its financial footprint in Nigeria.

The announcement, reported by local outlets including Business Day and TheCable, signals potential shifts in banking competition and international connectivity. FAB is the largest bank in the UAE, and its entry into Lagos — Nigeria's commercial capital — could alter the landscape for corporate banking, trade finance and remittance flows. The ambassador also confirmed that Etihad Airways, one of the UAE's national carriers, will commence flights to Abuja later this year, a development that could ease travel for business, diplomatic and tourism exchanges between the two countries.

Key developments and figures

• Banking: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) plans to open operations in Lagos, introducing the UAE's largest lender to Nigeria's financial market.
• Aviation: Etihad Airways is scheduled to launch direct flights to Abuja later this year, according to the UAE ambassador.
• Visas: Visa restrictions for Nigerian travellers have been "significantly eased," with the ambassador noting there have been no rejections recorded recently.
• Trade: Non‑oil trade rose from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $5.0 billion in 2025, with a bilateral target of $8 billion by 2027.
• Security and agreements: The UAE reaffirmed security cooperation and highlighted the importance of implementing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to deepen ties.

Officials say the combination of a major UAE bank entering Lagos and a new direct air link to Abuja could reduce transaction frictions and lower the cost and stress of travel for business delegations and tourists. The easing of visa restrictions — described by the ambassador as having produced "no rejections recorded recently" — may further encourage Nigerian students, investors and leisure travellers to the UAE.

Beyond immediate commercial gains, the figures on non‑oil trade point to a broader strategic aim: diversifying economic relations away from oil. Trade growth from $4.3 billion to $5 billion in a year and a stated $8 billion objective by 2027 will depend on practical implementation of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement and continued cooperation on security, logistics and regulatory alignment.

As FAB prepares market entry and Etihad finalises schedules for Abuja services, attention will turn to regulatory approvals, licensing timelines and the operational details of the airline's route. For now, the announcements mark a clear signal of intent from the UAE to deepen commercial engagement with Africa's largest economy, with officials from both sides expected to focus on turning these commitments into concrete projects and investments.