Côte d’Ivoire’s Directorate General of Air Transport (DGTA) has completed a working mission to Dubai as part of government efforts to strengthen Abidjan’s competitiveness as a West African aviation hub.
The DGTA delegation visited Emirates from 18 to 24 July 2026, concluding an 18-month consultation and assessment process that began in January 2025 with consultations involving air transport users in Abidjan. This was followed by a national workshop on 9 April 2026 covering taxation, service quality and development of the aviation sector.
Led by DGTA Director General Ahmed Coulibaly, the delegation examined a range of aviation practices and infrastructure, including air operator certificate renewal, airline ticket taxation, air traffic control, automated terminal operations and aircraft maintenance facilities.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs said the delegation visited Dubai’s air traffic control centre, which manages around 500 flights a day, Emirates’ automated Terminal 3 and a maintenance centre comprising 12 hangars.
Ticket taxation was also examined. The ministry reported airline ticket taxes of about US$36 in Dubai compared with approximately US$100 in Côte d’Ivoire.
Several potential developments emerged from the discussions, including a feasibility study for a direct Abidjan-Dubai service.
The ministry also reported that a restriction on excess baggage for West African passengers had been lifted from 16 July 2026. Preparations are under way for a memorandum of understanding between Emirates and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Tourism, a process initiated during the Dubai Airshow in 2025.
The mission forms part of a broader aviation competitiveness programme intended to support Côte d’Ivoire’s planning for Abidjan as a West African hub. Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport handled 2,551,915 passengers in 2025, while Air Côte d’Ivoire has recorded two consecutive profitable financial years.
