Tinotenda Hove – A Zimbabwean delegation is in the United Arab Emirates working to secure nonstop air links between the Gulf state and Zimbabwe, with a focus on connecting Dubai directly to Victoria Falls.

The talks form part of Zimbabwe’s strategy to capture more of the millions of travelers who pass through Dubai’s aviation hub each year.

On Monday, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the UAE, Isaac Moyo, and Engineer Joy Makumbe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, met with Etihad Airways officials. The Zimbabwe Embassy posted on X that “Ambassador Isaac Moyo led the Zimbabwe delegation’s engagement with Etihad Airways as the plan to introduce a direct flight between Abu Dhabi and Harare gathers momentum.”

Etihad, one of the UAE’s two national carriers alongside Emirates, is based in Khalifa City near Zayed International Airport. Launched in November 2003, it is now the country’s second-largest airline. As of July 2025, Etihad runs over 1,000 flights weekly to more than 120 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America using a fleet of 107 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

The current push follows a February meeting between Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi and Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in the UAE. Rwodzi noted Emirates’ role in raising Zimbabwe’s profile in global tourism, a sector that helped the country earn the title of “World’s Number One Must-Visit Destination” from Forbes in 2025.

Discussions then centered on improving air access, particularly a direct Dubai–Victoria Falls route. Officials highlighted Victoria Falls International Airport’s ability to handle wide-body aircraft including the A380, its designation as a KAZA regional hub, and the advantages of the KAZA UniVisa.

The February meeting concluded with an agreement to send a technical team to assess the airport’s capacity. If the assessment is positive, a deal could be signed by mid-2026.

What angle do you want to take next – the economic impact for Victoria Falls, or how this fits into Zimbabwe’s broader tourism recovery plan?