Flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, is set to expand its network in Africa with the announcement of flights to Djibouti from September 1.

The new service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

“Djibouti is an important trading destination with established commercial links with Dubai, most notably through DP World, which operates the Port of Djibouti,' said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive officer of flydubai.

“There are very few direct flights from Djibouti to Dubai, so we anticipate strong demand for the flydubai service from both the business and leisure markets.”

With a population of just half a million people, Djibouti is roughly half the size of Abu Dhabi, with a land mass of 23,000 sq km encompassing desert, highlands and plateaus. Djibouti is a republic which was formed in 1977, when the country gained independence from France. The national languages are Arabic and French.

Bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, Djibouti has a long history as a trading port and is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden.

Although it is not well known as a tourist destination, Djibouti has much to offer the leisure traveller. Scuba enthusiasts can explore the pristine marine life, with trips to remote offshore islands and reefs. Deep sea fishing is popular, with catches regularly including swordfish and marlin.

Land based adventures include an off-road excursion to Lake Assal, the world’s third largest salt water lake and Africa’s lowest point at 150 metres below sea level, or a picnic by Lake Abbe, one of the region’s largest flamingo colonies.

“Our ties with the UAE and Dubai are incredibly important as our country becomes a gateway to Africa in the same way that Dubai is regarded as the entry point to its own region,” added Ali Hassan Bahdon, the Minister of Equipment and Transport for Djibouti.-TradeArabia News Service