Emirates
Dubai’s Emirates Airline is resuming scheduled passenger flights from today (Thursday May 21), and now these return flights will continue until June 30.
Currently, Dubai’s flagship carrier will operate flights to nine different destinations, including connections between UK and Australia.
As of today, passenger return flights include the below:
- London, UK
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Paris, France
- Milan, Italy
- Chicago, USA
- Toronto, Canada
- Sydney, Australia
- Melbourne, Australia
In light of further developments of COVID-19, destinations and regulations may be changed. You can keep updated by visiting Emirates’ essential travel page.
As for re-entry to the UAE, restrictions remain in place upon arrival in Dubai which includes a mandatory DHA test on arrival and a mandatory 14-day quarantine and a follow up test before release.
Emirates has advised travellers to arrive at check-in three hours ahead of departure to avoid any delays, and to bring their own face mask, hand gloves and abide by social distancing rules.
Along with this, passengers will need to bring their approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allowing them to return back to the UAE.
Etihad Airways has also announced increased flights to destinations around the world, including more frequent repatriation flights. Find out more here.
Etihad
Etihad Airways has started to increase the frequency of international flights from Abu Dhabi.
Flights to a number of destinations worldwide have been announced over the past few weeks to destinations including New York, London, Toronto, Tokyo and more.
Changes to flights and airspace have come about due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout May and June, Etihad will increase the frequency of flights to previously announced locations and will add new flights to locations including Milan, Paris and more.
A number of safety measure have also been introduced for passengers travelling with Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi in-flight and at the airport.
In addition, travellers must apply in advance for Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approval through the UAE Twajudi resident service.
When approved you will receive a unique ICA approval number by email which must be used when booking.
The latest schedule of flights for May and June from Abu Dhabi are below:
• Amsterdam on May 20, 22, 27, 29 and June 1, 3, 8, 10 and 15.
• Barcelona on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Belgrade on May 21.
• Brussels on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Dublin on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• Geneva on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• Frakfurt on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Jakarta on May 21 and 28 and June 4 and 11.
• Kuala Lumpur on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• London on May 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 30 and June 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15.
• Melbourne on May 20, 22, 27 and 28 and June and 11.
• Milan on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Paris on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Seoul on May 21, 23, 28 and 30 and June 4, 6, 11 and 13.
• Singapore on May 12 and June 2 and 9.
• Sydney on May 26 and June 2 and 9.
• Tokyo on May 25 and June 1 and 8.
• Toronto on May 21.
• Zurich on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
For more information about repatriation flights, click here.
Abu Dhabi airport has also recently announced new rules for arrivals in the city from destinations overseas.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Ecobank Group and Google Collaborate to Deliver Digital Solutions for SMEs
Ecobank Group, the pan-African Bank, in collaboration with Google is helping to equip African SMEs with the necessary digital skills to navigate the rapidly evolving business world. The aim is to assist African businesses remain relevant and fulfil their potential by embracing digital capabilities.
“Our objective is to be the partner of choice for SMEs, by meaningfully supporting their success and growth. It is therefore a natural step for us to work with Google to help improve the capabilities of our SMEs customers. We are focused on helping them thrive by adopting technology, which is becoming increasingly essential for survival of businesses today.” Added Josephine Anan-Ankomah.
Ecobank’s invaluable eBanking product suite is increasingly relevant in this era of lockdowns and physical distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this robust platform, Ecobank provides 24/7 access to customers, conveniently meeting the evolving cash management, payment and collection needs of businesses. It is essential that African SMEs take full advantage of the commercial opportunities having a digital presence provides. It will ensure comprehensive engagement between SMEs and their customers as well as potential new customers. Ecobank’s digital banking suite, coupled with its collaboration with Google, will empower SMEs to win.
The digital packages are expected to be available to Ecobank’s SMEs customers across sub-Saharan Africa in May 2020.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Loon and Vodacom Partner to Increase Rural Internet Access for Mozambicans
Loon and Vodacom partner to bring network access to previously uncovered populations via stratospheric internet balloons.
Alphabet’s Loon and Vodacom have signed a deal to use Loon’s balloon-powered internet solution to expand the Vodacom network in Mozambique. In terms of the agreement, Loon will help Vodacom provide service to un-served and under-served parts of the country with a network of floating cell phone towers that operate 20 kilometres above Earth.
Using the Loon solution, Vodacom will expand mobile network access to Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces, two regions that have proven hard to cover in the past due to the vast and logistically challenging geographical areas, together with low population density. The Loon solution will provide a 4G service that supports Data, Voice, SMS and USSD, which will also enable mobile financial services. The service will be available to any Vodacom subscriber with a standard 4G-VoLTE enabled handset and SIM card. Users will not need to do anything special to connect to the service; they will connect just as they would to a normal cell tower. In fact, it’s unlikely that a user will know that they are connected to the service provided by a high altitude balloon, except for the fact that they may have a signal in a location where it previously did not exist.
Loon and Vodacom have been working collaboratively with Mozambican communications and aviation regulators, including Autoridade Reguladora das Comunicações de Moçambique (ARECOM) and the Institute for Civil Aviation of Mozambique (IACM), to obtain the necessary approvals to enable service in Mozambique.
The companies are grateful to have received approvals to start importing and installing the required ground infrastructure for Loon’s balloons to operate in the stratosphere above the country, and for Loon to provide service over the Vodacom network.
Vodacom Mozambique Chief Technology Officer Pedro Rabacal says: “Vodacom Mozambique is excited and proud to be able to bring the latest technological innovation to some of the most remote areas of the country. In times such as these, it is more important than ever that we find ways to ensure that we expand our coverage and services and that our customers have access to critical hygiene and lifesaving information. This partnership with Loon offers a key solution that will significantly accelerate Vodacom’s 4G coverage to areas of Mozambique that have been challenging to service. Our aim is to expand and push to the edge of coverage so as to provide the same quality voice, data, sms and M-Pesa services to all Mozambicans”.
“This agreement symbolises yet another advance in the field of mobile communications technologies in the country and will allow greater connectivity for Mozambicans in any geography. With this action, we reaffirm our position as a company focused on innovation and, above all, on providing an increasingly better experience to our customers. We have ambitions to continue to grow with more modern and comprehensive solutions by improving the quality of our services and responding positively to the needs of Mozambicans.”
In the coming months, Loon and Vodacom will work together to continue installing terrestrial infrastructure, which will serve as the physical connection point for Loon’s balloons to Vodacom’s internet and core network. Loon will also begin flying balloons above Mozambique to learn the stratospheric wind patterns on which the balloons must navigate to remain above the service area. Network integration testing is ongoing in order to ensure that this innovative solution works as intended. Loon and Vodacom expect to begin providing service to users in the coming months.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Sanlam Seeks Local Partnerships in Tanzania
This article was first published by The Africa Report.
The South African insurer sees lots of potential in the market, but it needs bancassurance allies and better messaging to reach more customers.
Partnerships between insurers and banks can help to increase the penetration rate of insurance in Tanzania in 2020, says Geofray Masige, chief financial officer of Sanlam General Insurance Tanzania. Bancassurance “has the potential to be transformative,” Masige tells The Africa Report. The country’s main banks now all have a physical presence across Tanzania, which Masige sees as “a very significant improvement. The levels of service will be quite high.”
Tanzania’s insurance penetration rate is among the lowest in Africa, at 0.5% in December, according to GCR Ratings in Johannesburg. GCR sees a “moderately healthy” outlook for growth, with gross premiums predicted to increase at a compound annual rate of 4% over the next five years.
For foreign insurers, Masige says, there is “a lot of potential in this market. The future is open for those who come here with products.”
The biggest challenge, according to him, is to use “local means to reach local people in a language and with a message that they can understand.” Clear examples of this working are so far lacking, he says. In terms of life insurance, “something has to change in the way we put across the message.”
The challenge is to convert informal community arrangements into modern insurance services, he says. “We need the right partners.” Increasing access to the internet in rural areas will help to spread the message: “The level of understanding is still very low.”
Banking partnerships
The fact that banks in Tanzania are now allowed to use their branch networks for insurance distribution is “a positive move”, Masige says. There has been “lots of appetite from top-tier banks,” he adds. “We should be able to make progress.”
Tanzanian government attempts at industrialisation are also increasing the size of the potential market. Sanlam, which is seeking operational expansion into areas such as Arusha, is open to partnership proposals from banks.
In Tanzania, Sanlam’s bancassurance partners include the National Bank of Commerce. Across Africa, the firm has teamed up with banks such as Fidelity, Zenith and Stanbic, as well as with telecoms giant MTN to extend its reach. Such a strategy aims at giving Sanlam protection against a slowdown in its in South African home market.
According to François Jurd de Girancourt, head of the McKinsey Africa financial institutions practice, African insurance is expected to grow by 7%-8% in local currency terms in the coming five years. South Africa is likely to be an exception to that rule, owing to “subdued local economic conditions, coupled with the maturity of the South African market,” says Yvonne Mujuru, head of insurance ratings at GCR.
Sanlam bought the remaining shares in Moroccan insurance company Saham for $1.1bn in late 2018. Faster-growing markets such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania could help mitigate challenging growth prospects in South Africa.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Emirates and Etihad Resuming Flights
Emirates
Dubai’s Emirates Airline is resuming scheduled passenger flights from today (Thursday May 21), and now these return flights will continue until June 30.
Currently, Dubai’s flagship carrier will operate flights to nine different destinations, including connections between UK and Australia.
As of today, passenger return flights include the below:
In light of further developments of COVID-19, destinations and regulations may be changed. You can keep updated by visiting Emirates’ essential travel page.
As for re-entry to the UAE, restrictions remain in place upon arrival in Dubai which includes a mandatory DHA test on arrival and a mandatory 14-day quarantine and a follow up test before release.
Emirates has advised travellers to arrive at check-in three hours ahead of departure to avoid any delays, and to bring their own face mask, hand gloves and abide by social distancing rules.
Along with this, passengers will need to bring their approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allowing them to return back to the UAE.
Etihad Airways has also announced increased flights to destinations around the world, including more frequent repatriation flights. Find out more here.
Etihad
Etihad Airways has started to increase the frequency of international flights from Abu Dhabi.
Flights to a number of destinations worldwide have been announced over the past few weeks to destinations including New York, London, Toronto, Tokyo and more.
Changes to flights and airspace have come about due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout May and June, Etihad will increase the frequency of flights to previously announced locations and will add new flights to locations including Milan, Paris and more.
A number of safety measure have also been introduced for passengers travelling with Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi in-flight and at the airport.
In addition, travellers must apply in advance for Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approval through the UAE Twajudi resident service.
When approved you will receive a unique ICA approval number by email which must be used when booking.
The latest schedule of flights for May and June from Abu Dhabi are below:
• Amsterdam on May 20, 22, 27, 29 and June 1, 3, 8, 10 and 15.
• Barcelona on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Belgrade on May 21.
• Brussels on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Dublin on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• Geneva on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• Frakfurt on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Jakarta on May 21 and 28 and June 4 and 11.
• Kuala Lumpur on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13.
• London on May 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 30 and June 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15.
• Melbourne on May 20, 22, 27 and 28 and June and 11.
• Milan on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Paris on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
• Seoul on May 21, 23, 28 and 30 and June 4, 6, 11 and 13.
• Singapore on May 12 and June 2 and 9.
• Sydney on May 26 and June 2 and 9.
• Tokyo on May 25 and June 1 and 8.
• Toronto on May 21.
• Zurich on May 24 and 31 and June 7 and 14.
For more information about repatriation flights, click here.
Abu Dhabi airport has also recently announced new rules for arrivals in the city from destinations overseas.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].