The expansion plans in Africa has been forwarded by Dubai-based low cost airline Flydubai, which will commence a new route to Djibouti next month.

From 1st September, the new service will operate three times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It is from Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 that Flydubai is operated.

The budget carrier said that a one-way price from Dubai will cost from AED650, including the taxes and one piece of hand luggage up to 10kg in weight. Passengers can pay extra to check-in baggage weighing up to 32kg, at an estimated AED40 for the first piece and AED100 for the second.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO elaborated: "Djibouti is an important trading destination with established commercial links with Dubai, most notably through DP World, which operates the Port of Djibouti."

He further said: "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."

Djibouti, surrounded by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, is not famous as a tourist spot. The country, which has a population of half a million people, is around half the size of Abu Dhabi. Its national languages are Arabic and French.

Ali Hassan Bahdon, the minister of equipment and transport said: "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."