As of April, Jamaicans and visitors to Jamaica looking to travel to Dubai will now have easier access to flights, according to officials in the island’s Ministry of Tourism.
A tweet from Jamaican Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism Delano Seiveright said that starting in April, Emirates Airlines will partner with German airline Condor to offer a code-share route from Dubai to Montego Bay via Frankfurt, making travel between the United Arab Emirates and Jamaica easier.
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said that the new development is a milestone for Jamaica’s tourism industry.
“This is one of the great accomplishments of my tenure as minister,” Bartlett stated. “We began discussions with Emirates before COVID, and now we are finally seeing it come to fruition.”
According to Bartlett, this move strategically positions Jamaica as a hub for Middle Eastern tourism into the wider Caribbean. “This will achieve a number of objectives, including reinforcing Montego Bay’s role as a hub,” he said. “It aligns with the multi-destination tourism strategy we’ve been championing and firmly places Jamaica at the center of a new wave of travel connectivity.”
The announcement comes amid Jamaica’s broader efforts to expand its global tourism footprint beyond its traditional markets in North America and Europe. With Emirates now onboard, Bartlett said the island will strengthen its links to emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, and beyond, creating new opportunities for investment and cultural exchange.
“Jamaica will now position itself as a leading destination in the region for multiple markets around the world,” he declared.
Minister Seiveright said that the long-term objective is to secure non-stop flights between Dubai and Jamaica.
“We’ve been having discussions with Emirates since 2022, encouraging them to consider nonstop service between Dubai and Jamaica,” Seiveright said. “They are very keen on doing so. We still have some ways to go, but we’re very happy to now have a direct flight. This will make it much more seamless for Jamaicans and visitors to travel between the two destinations, and we’re excited about that.”
As Jamaica continues to expand its tourism reach, this new service marks a critical milestone in strengthening the country’s position as a premier global destination.
