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 Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 12:37pm On Aug 22, 2021 |
This is the breakdown of estimated expenses as at today then you can judge from what your uncle is telling you; 3 months tourist visa: 184,000 Flight Ticket : 374,000 Covid test: 76,000 Passport stamping in Cotonou: 20,000 Hotel bill in Cotonou for 3 days: 21,000 Transport from your state to Cotonou and within Cotonou during period of stay: 20,000 Yellow card: 6500 Miscellaneous expenses : 50,000 Total: ₦731,500. Note: You alone will know the amount of bta you can carry along as your travelling allowance on the day you are travelling to Dubai. And when calculating your bta to avoid stranding in Dubai after fees weeks of your arrival, this will be your estimated bta; 2 month's rent - 55k *2 - 110,000 2 month's feeding- 45k*2 - 90,000 Agent fee incase you don't land yourself a job within the first one month or two months of your stay- 100,000 Total Bta: 300,000. You can see that I based the bta you are expected to come along with on a two month calculation reason been that if you eventually get a job within your first month of entering Dubai you can feed easily for the second month with your bta before you are paid your salary and you can conveniently pay your accommodation if your company is not giving you accommodation. As for the amount budgeted for agent fee in the bta, I don't know your smartness or hustling spirit, if you are tech savvy you can land yourself a job without the help of an agent before your visa expire, so I don't really support the area you paying any agent to get a job when you arrive. And lastly never you if you must pay an agent money at all for a job pay any money ahead, make sure you are given the job first and you see an offer letter before parting with your hard earned money. If you pay any agent any money when you have not seen a job and you are been scammed OYO will be your second name. That is my 5 cent to you for now. 9 Likes |
| Travel › Re: Have They Lifted UAE Ban To Nigeria? by Derende(m): 5:01pm On Aug 14, 2021 |
Lol....dem don still use hand shift the goal post go August 20. Abeg forget travelling from Nigeria to Dubai this year and focus on neighbouring countries to follow 2 Likes |
| Travel › After Banning Nigerians, UAE Signs Visa-free Agreement With Ghana by Derende(op): 8:21pm On Aug 08, 2021 |
The United Arab Emirates has entered into a visa-free agreement with the Ghanaian government, following an approval by the parliament of the West African nation on Thursday. This comes a month after the Nigeria passport was ranked worse than ever under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime by London-based global citizenship and residency advisory firm, Henley and Partners. Peoples Gazette learnt the agreement between governments of Ghana and the UAE was signed on Thursday, August 5, 2021, following the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding by both parties. The Gazette learnt the MOU is restricted to holders of diplomatic and other official passports whose background and conduct are in line with the public and state security apparatus. Ghanaian news medium, Graphic Online, reports that the agreement approved was on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements in respect of diplomatic, service/special, and ordinary passport holders. The news outlet stated that the agreement was executed on November 18, 2019, to waive the visa requirements for holders of both countries’ passports before entry any of the territories, where they are only allowed to stay for a maximum of ninety days. Bryan Acheampong, Chairman of Ghana’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, noted that Ghana has had fruitful co-operation with the UAE and is willing to deepen the relationship with Ghanaian citizens and officials of the United Arab Emirates. “The agreement, which constitutes a comprehensive framework on visa regimes for both countries accordingly made provisions to cover the diplomatic, service, and ordinary passports for nationals of both countries,” Graphic Online credited Mr Acheampong to have said. Explaining further, Mr Acheampong said; “the Agreement did not impose obligations on the two parties to admit people who are considered to be of questionable character into their territories, neither did it impose any financial obligation on the two parties while neither country will obtain direct financial gains from their implementation.” Nigeria does not have any visa-free arrangement with the UAE despite a high volume of Nigerian travellers to the Arabian desert. In July, Nigeria’s passport performed worst than that of the 2020 ranking. Henley and Partners’ new passport index report ranked Nigeria’s passport 101 out of 199 countries, dropping six places from its 2020, with the country’s passport holders having access to just 46 countries visa-free, The Gazette reported. The Gazette in July, reported that authorities of the UAE prohibited their nationals from visiting Nigeria and some other countries as the country firms up its control of exposure to the raging variant of the Coronavirus. Source: https://gazettengr.com/after-banning-nigerians-uae-signs-visa-free-agreement-with-ghana/ 2 Likes |
| TV/Movies › Re: "Gordon Na Highway"- Epic Reactions Trail BBNaija Party (screenshots) by Derende(m): 8:09am On Aug 08, 2021 |
I just couldn't stop laughing it was hell of a night when reading what Twitter users were saying about the show |
| TV/Movies › Re: BBNaija Saturday Night Party Thread by Derende(m): 8:06pm On Aug 07, 2021*. Modified: 9:23pm On Aug 07, 2021 |
I have already got fuel for my generator, can't wait for the show to kick off. 4 Likes 2 Shares
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| Celebrities › Re: #BBnaija Pepper Dem Vs Shine Ya Eye: Epic Moments From Saturday Night Party by Derende(m): 3:38pm On Aug 07, 2021 |
Last bbnaija had more vibe and glamour than this current one though it is still early to predict the show because this past few days have started bringing in some fun moment that one can relish upon from our Igbo kwenu house mate. |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 3:17pm On Jul 29, 2021 |
I just pointed out that if I was availed with all the info I had about Dubai before coming here I would have used the money for something else because it is not really worth the vibe. I don't regret coming here. As I said in the beginning of this thread Dubai is a just a step for me to get to my future destination. wizdomnzube: 2 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 11:25am On Jul 26, 2021 |
Thanks alot for your input and may God richly bless you. If Nigerians and Africans in the UAE can imbibe this culture of reaching out to other Africans in need of jobs I believe UAE will be a bit sane for us to live in . Thanks again boss. israelinvests: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 6:48pm On Jul 25, 2021 |
The major problem in UAE is accommodation. House rent in UAE actually depends on the person giving you a bedspace, but you can get a bedspace for a down bed partition in Dubai with the range of 600 to 550 dirhams depends on the neatness and number of people in the room. Why for the up bed you can get a bedspace from the range of 400 to 450 dirhams. But in areas like Abu hail and Al Quoz you can get a down bed from 400 to 450 dirhams and up bed for 300 to 350 dirhams due to the fact that this is a bit of industrial areas. But the nice thing about this is that if you are able to get yourself a job with accommodation you won't have much issues with bed space, though jobs that comes with accommodation tends to be a bit lower compared to those that comes without accommodation. As for transportation it depends on how you move around and your social life as a person because if you are working you won't be really spending money on transport because most companies provide buses at various locations for their workers around various points, why for those that don't provide you can be strolling from your apartment to your work place or you get a bicycle that can aid you to work. Generally transportation tend to be very expensive when you newly enter Dubai and you are currently searching for job, during my job search I really spent alot on transport using metro cos I avoided taxi like a plague. Feeding is not that expensive in Dubai I must say. With 400 dirhams you can eat well for for a month before you paid salary if you are the type that can be cooking, but if you eat most time outside you will spend more on feeding. As for the salary aspect I will use myself as an example, where I work at the moment am currently paid 1700 dirhams monthly as a car cleaner at Abu hail but company don't provide transportation or accommodation. From the 1,700 salary I pay accommodation for 400 dirhams, feeding - 400 dirham, send money to my people at home monthly 400 and at the end of the day I am left with just 500 dirhams for instance. In this instance I have not bought clothes, perfume or even shoes or cash for small flexing once in a while because am saving about 400 dirhams monthly to process my personal permit after my contract with the company expires. So from this little analysis you will be able to deduce that Dubai is not really easy for the first two years of your contract, but after two years if you are focused and know what brought you here you will be able to do something good for yourself . But if you are the extravagant type that love spending and buying nice things with this type of my salary monthly you can be in Dubai for your first two years without saving nothing. solopia: 4 Likes 2 Shares |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:23am On Jul 18, 2021 |
Thanks alot. It is good to be honest when it comes to issues about life, it doesn't mean I was deceived about the prospects in UAE before my coming here means that I will start deceiving my fellow Nigerians that are about coming here. The problems lots of Nigerians encounter in this country is mostly from our fellow Nigerians in the UAE. They dupe and mislead their brothers in all aspects from visa procurement, charge you money to pick you at the airport, collect money for jobs irrespective of how demeaning the job is , inflate money for accommodation all in the guise of helping you . I met a man of about the age range of 45 to 48 years last week in a friend place who a Nigerian Agent procured a three months visa for at the rate of 950,000 naira, after a lot of threat from some Nigerians here, the agent finally enrolled the man on a Sira course, but the man is already on a two week overstay due to issues I don't really know. When you are in UAE avoid most of your brothers called Nigerians, you can get job yourself here just that it might be below your expectations but you need to start from somewhere. Actually if I knew or got this information I had now before embarking on this trip I would have invested this money into something viable or apply to a UK University for my master's . The reason lot of people are stuck here is the fact that they don't have anything to go back to at home, only those that weigh their options and go back are those that still have one or two things to go back to . babakb: 2 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:01am On Jul 18, 2021 |
Cleaning job, professional carwash jobs, factory job, grocery pickers, bakery, salesperson, cargoes loaders, security. Salary ranges from 900 to 1800 dirhams monthly. Sonofgrace213: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 8:58am On Jul 18, 2021 |
Lol....those 8k jobs you see on their job site are jobs for professionals and to get such jobs you must have stayed in the UAE for years and also acquired lot of professional certification. By God grace you might be lucky to get something a bit close. Hightser: 2 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 8:54am On Jul 18, 2021 |
As a starter without use experience you will likely get factory jobs, carwash , cleaning, deep cleaning, chef, security ( if you have Sira), delivery boys for food vendors, cargoes helpers, mason and other low menial jobs for peanut. And the salaries for this job is not more than 800 dirhams to 1700 dirhams monthly. Most of the nice paying jobs that are still a bit presentable are given out to Phillipines,Indians and other Asian nationalities due to the fact that this set of nationalities have good records and always complete their contracts with companies they work for. A Phillipinos can work for a company for seven years without leaving, but a Nigerian can get in to a company today and after six months or less than a year he will cancel his contract or abscond with his permit processed by his company and move to another one. So this companies are really scared of Nigerians. Another issue of recent now is that some company will be willing to do your permit and will also be deducting 400 dirhams monthly from your salary towards the payment of your permit processed for you, some will charge you half of the payment, others will charge you full payment for it. The only way to still get company that can pay you well from 2000 dirhams and above is when you have your own personal permit, because some good companies like Amazon and Carrefour employ people who have their personal permit and a personal permit cost about 9000 dirhams to process. That is it about Dubai, am not here to sweet tongue the country, am here to tell everybody the way it is and let people have a mental picture of what they will likely face when they arrive here. Keep the questions coming in and I will try and answer lot of them to the best of my knowledge at least today is my off day at work. Sonofgrace213: 6 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:37pm On Jul 17, 2021 |
I have been in Dubai now for over two months now and I must say it has not really been easy living here coupled with the very hot weather here. Am also sorry for not updating you folks regularly on my sojourn since I arrived, it was all due to getting settled down and adapting to my new job back here and I must say it has not been an easy two months in this middle East country,but unlike other people I welcome questions and I will find time during my spare time to answer all your questions and tell you all the way it is here in the UAE. There are lot of things I feel intending travellers coming from Nigeria to Dubai need to know before venturing into the country. You have to be fully prepared when coming in to this country called Dubai because immediately you land here and after some couple of days you will discover that it is not really the way you were sweet tongue about the place that it really is. Getting a job here is not that difficult as people will say here as far you are focused and keep applying through the popular job site here, the only problem you will encounter with job is that most jobs you will get here are majorly labourer job that you will need to work 12 hours with just an hour break. And their pay package here ranges from 900 dirhams to 1700 dirhams for starters, and I must say that to even get a job that will pay you 1500 dirhams and above is very difficult this period at the moment. Dubai is a very nice country, but one need lot of patience and focus to be able to pull through in this country. I will be answering any questions that needs answers as I continue this thread. 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 4:51pm On Jul 17, 2021 |
Good evening everyone It is been a while I last updated this thread in respect of my current sojourn in the UAE. In some couple of hours I will be updating this thread with info regarding my stay in the city of Dubai and challenges I have encountered during the process. oluayebenz: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: How Much Would It Cost To Travel To Dubai? by Derende(m): 3:36am On Jul 09, 2021 |
Coming to Dubai is not the way it used to be, alot of recent happenings are currently slowing down things. For instance as at now no work permit for Nigerians who are on tourist visa except you have enough cash to be going for visa change every three months pending when the work permit issue is reviewed by the Dubai government. As for jobs you will definetely get a job in Dubai if you really know what you came here to do though the pay might not be much and you will be ready to work for a minimum of 10 hours or 12 hours max . And always know that in Dubai salaries are not paid on time, some companies pay you on the 10 to 15th of the following month except you are working with a very good reputable company. Transguard accepts Nigerians for now but I don't know about now due to the current issues affecting Nigerians here in UAE. The problem with Transguard is that they don't pay well unlike other organisations. As for the current breakdown of the amount you need to come to Dubai in search of job I will give you a breakdown; Visa( 3 months) 1100 dirhams with exchange rate @ 138.5 from naira to dirham - 152,350 Travel to cotonou- 15,000 Hotel bill in Cotonou for 3 days - 21000 Flight ticket( to/fro) - 390,000 Covid test- 78000 Passport back stamping at seme- 20,000 Bta will comprise of the following; Accommodation for the first two months in Dubai: 100,000 Feeding: 50,000 One month unlimited bus card: 45000( 350 dirhams) SIM card: 8000 Printing of CV: 10,000 Sira certificate ( optional) - 249,300 (1800dirhams) Miscellaneous expenses: 150,000 Total: 1,388,650. This amount will take you to Dubai comfortably without you encountering much stress when you arrive. 1 Like 1 Share |
| Travel › COVID-19: UAE Lifts Ban On Travels Between Dubai And Nigeria by Derende(op): 7:06pm On Jun 19, 2021 |
The United Arab Emirates, UAE, yesterday finally lifted the ban on travels between Dubai and Nigeria after a protracted disagreement between the two countries on Covid-19 protocols.https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/06/covid-19-uae-finally-lift-ban-on-travels-between-dubai-nigeria/?amp=1 5 Likes 1 Share
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| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 11:53pm On May 14, 2021 |
Thanks alot for the advice. I have learnt my mistake and I expect lot of people to learn from it even if you are in a similar situation as mine tomorrow. Always learn to research and do your stuff yourself. chebus: 2 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 10:11pm On May 14, 2021 |
I will always remember this words BornToSucced: 4 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 10:06pm On May 14, 2021 |
The hotel receipt aspect is because of we that had issues then with the wrong stamping at the Idiroko border post, because when the Benin immigration official at the airport or the airline you are boarding their flight sees that particular stamp you are in for a long thing except you part with money But for those that have the right stamp at the seme border you got no problem with hotel receipt. And secondly it is a matter of grace you might be ask to prove if you really went through the mandatory 14 days isolation by presenting a hotel receipt to back it up, you might also not be asked. The main problem is at the Cotonou airport not when you get to Dubai. zolajpower: |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:55pm On May 14, 2021 |
Thanks so much for the advice. I will always represent Nigeria dutifully BornToSucced: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:50pm On May 14, 2021 |
Amen. My only trust is in God and he has been guiding me for the past four days now. There are successful Nigerians here who have made names for themselves and I will be among those Nigerians in no distant time and my only vow to God is to keep helping Nigerians to keep knowing the truth about the Dubai visa that has made alot of people spend over 400k for just visa. Our people need to be informed Dailymice: 7 Likes 1 Share |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:39pm On May 14, 2021 |
I thank you alot for the prayers and words of encouragement. Your words has really inspired me and I have a word for those that don't believe in God ways of doing things that never call a man a failure until you see his end. seunlayi: 11 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:33pm On May 14, 2021 |
Thanks alot Ernesthugo: |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:15pm On May 14, 2021 |
Thank you. I appreciate your words of advice etiosa97: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:08pm On May 14, 2021 |
Lol...you street smart molbic: 5 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 8:36pm On May 14, 2021 |
I have read lot of comments here on this thread and I have some points to make; I know UAE is not a easy country, but am assured of the fact that I can't suffer in this country irrespective of the challenges I face. I have been around for about four days and am learning the system gradually. UAE is a system that you follow just the way a child goes through kindergarten and move to the University and graduate. If you follow the system you will enjoy the country, but if you feel there is dirhams on the street of Dubai for you to pick you will go home depressed and dejected. Am a very focused person with vision and determination and I know what am aiming for. I came to UAE to follow the system and make a name , it might not be easy now but in a couple of years there will be testimony to make. I will be registering for CNA in a couple of weeks to start the process alongside the job that I will be starting in a week time. As for those saying I can't make it here in Dubai, let me remind you one thing that you are not my God, only him knows my yesterday, today and tomorrow. What you believe is what happens to you, since I was born I don't believe in the word called failure, my only word is success. No matter how many times you fall be rest assured that you will definitely stand up. Dubai is not my final point , it is just a step to my final destination. As for the dude saying am a scam and there is no way visa can be processed for 150k, I pity you try and get informed and always research widely. I will advice you to visit travnook.com and see for yourself that a UAE visa is 125k to process. The owner of the site is an Ugandan not a Nigerian. And I can tell you that the problem with Nigeria is not the leaders but Nigerians because we don't trust ourselves again because everybody that post on nairaland is seen as a scam . If an Ugandan man can process a visa with less that 150k, my friends in Nigeria and Dubai were charging me 250-450 for a visa. Finally I will be closing the thread because the aim of the thread has been fulfilled. Those that need to learn from my experience at Cotonou should learn from it, that is the reason for the thread. Thanks again, good night and God bless. 112 Likes |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 10:34pm On May 13, 2021 |
Sorry everyone that I have not been able to update the thread for a while now . I fell seriously ill after about a day I arrived Dubai. But am recuperating now, I believe it was due to the stress I passed through my 30 days on Cotonou. My trip to Dubai from Cotonou airport was very smooth unlike if it was at the Nigeria airport where officials suck one dry. I never spent a single money at the airport as far as your documents are complete. The only people who had issues at the Cotonou airport where those who normally boarded the Turkish Airlines through fraudulent agents who issue them runz flight ticket and those that previously had the fake Idi roko stamp on their passport and rectify it by stamping the original one. If you are in this set I mentioned you will need somebody at the airport to board you to avoid issues of missing your flight. We arrived Dubai without issues on Tuesday morning and I must say our passport was not even checked to confirm the 14 days Benin stamp on our passport. They were just checking us in as if we were about connecting to another flight, infact I myself was very surprised. Immediately we were stamped in we proceeded to carry out another covid 19 test at the airport which didn't take up to three minutes and later proceeded to pick our luggage. I believe the reason the Dubai officials were very lenient with us that day might be due to the fact that they were almost rounding up their fast. So for those still coming to Dubai through the Cotonou route make sure you do the right thing to avoid issues that will result to you spending more money by learning from the mistakes I made. 76 Likes 5 Shares |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:40am On May 11, 2021 |
Finally I arrived Dubai this morning, and everything went smoothly without any hitches or hassles. I will be updating much later 174 Likes 4 Shares |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 9:39am On May 11, 2021 |
Lol....Na like so we see am o. Holycity: 1 Like |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 7:36am On May 10, 2021 |
Good day all, I will be updating this thread much later due to the fact that I will be airborne in a couple of hours from now. For a quick tips for those coming to Cotonou, this one is for you; Have a valid yellow fever vaccination card with you to avoid problems with the immigration officials at the Cotonou airport. ( It is not a flying requirements, but an entering requirement into Cotonou, so that you dont miss your flight by those strict Benin officials at the airport) Please and please again don't try coming into Cotonou through Idiroko border, follow through Seme border through badagry to avoid story that bleeds the heart For those coming through an agent, endeavour to make sure you see your confirmed flight ticket before doing a covid test ( E get why) When leaving your hotel to the airport make sure you collect receipt covering your 15 days stay from the hotel reception in case you are asked at the airport. And please use your head 132 Likes 11 Shares |
| Travel › Re: My 30 Days Sojourn Through Cotonou To Dubai by Derende(op): 3:15pm On May 09, 2021 |
Infact this was another gbege for me, because that was the same stamp on my passport that my agent stamped for me when I came in through Idiroko border. Infact I almost started behaving like a mad man at the airport, only God knew the way I got to my hotel from the Airport. I was later told that the only solution at the moment was to exit Cotonou through seme border post( which was the authorised border point recognised by the UAE government and the Benin Republic government) and re enter again with a fresh stamp and also do some documentations and attestations of stay for the previous day's I have spent in Cotonou. At the end of the day, I had no choice than going back to Seme border to restamp my passport with other Nigerians because lots of Nigerians where involve in the same idiroko border stamp issue. At the end of this episode I have spend another 158k for restamping, letter of residence attestations, a fresh covid Test ( they asked me at the covid centre to carry out a fresh test with another money due to the fact that the previous covid I did has expired for over three weeks) and other miscellaneous expenses. This was money I was holding before to sort part of my hotel bills all gone due to a very bad agent that frustrated me. During this process alot of Nigerians here who were in even a worst situation as mine have had their visa validity expired at Cotonou and making another application for a fresh visa just for the shame of going back home to Nigeria more dejected and frustrated. The situation was not a palatable one at all because since the incident at the Dubai airport , the Benin immigration officials were now refusing Nigerians to board as far you already have the fake Idi iroko stamp on your passport even after going to seme border to do a restamp. Lot of people missed their flights due to this current issues and a few lucky ones who were fast enough had to quickly reschedule their flight to carry out other attestations and documentation like Hotel bill receipts for the period they were in Benin to back up their passport restamp. To be continued.... 40 Likes 4 Shares |
