Clearing customs, changing a little money, finding a local SIM card: the steps of the first twenty minutes at AIBD often set the tone for the rest of the day. Here is how to string them together without wasting time, or falling into the classic traps of the Arrivals terminal.
Immigration and customs: what to expect
After disembarking, head for passport control. How busy it is depends mainly on the arrival time: late-afternoon and evening flights, when several long-haul flights follow one another within minutes, create the longest queues. Keep your entry form (paper or digital depending on the airline) and your proof of accommodation within reach, as officers may ask for them.
As for luggage, the reclaim belt is just after passport control. A customs check, usually quick for an ordinary traveller with nothing to declare, comes before the exit into the public hall.
Changing money: where and how much
Several exchange offices are set up in the Arrivals hall, before the exit to the public area. The rate there is fair without being the best in the country: enough for your first expenses (taxi, water, tip), but avoid changing a large sum there.
- ▸ATMs are present in the terminal, but not always stocked during off-peak hours: plan a cash backup.
- ▸The local currency is the CFA franc (FCFA): keep small notes for the first purchases, as large notes are sometimes hard to get change for.
- ▸For better rates on a larger amount, the exchange offices in central Dakar are generally more advantageous than those at the airport.
Buying a SIM card on arrival
Several operators (Orange, Free, Expresso) have a counter in the Arrivals hall. It is the simplest option for leaving connected straight away: prepaid data plan, activation on the spot within a few minutes, ID required for registration.
- Choose your operatorOrange Sénégal has the widest coverage across the whole country, a useful criterion if your trip goes beyond the Dakar-Saly axis.
- Show your passportRegistering a prepaid SIM card is compulsory in Senegal and requires an ID document.
- Check the activated planAsk for confirmation of the data volume and its period of validity before leaving the counter.
- Test the connectionA quick test on the spot avoids nasty surprises once you are on your way to your accommodation.
The traps to avoid right from the exit
The Arrivals hall at AIBD remains broadly safe, but a few reflexes head off the most common annoyances.
- ▸Ignore the informal touts offering a taxi or accommodation even before the official exit: favour official taxis or a driver booked in advance.
- ▸Negotiate and get the price of a taxi confirmed BEFORE getting in, never during the journey.
- ▸Never leave your luggage unattended, even for a few seconds, in the Arrivals hall.
- ▸Keep a copy (paper or photo) of your passport separate from the original during the first few days.
To avoid improvised negotiation after a long flight, booking a transfer with a driver in advance remains the most stress-free solution: your name displayed at the exit, a fare already set, no solicitation to deal with.
Frequently asked questions
Several exchange offices are located in the Arrivals hall before the exit. The rate is fine for small amounts; for a larger sum, the offices in central Dakar are often more advantageous.
Yes, several operators have a counter in the Arrivals hall, with activation on the spot on presentation of your passport.
Yes, but they are not always stocked during off-peak hours: keep a little cash in reserve for your first expenses.
Ignore the informal offers before the official exit and favour an official taxi or a driver booked in advance, whose fare is set before you arrive.
In short
Customs, currency exchange, SIM card: these three steps are settled in under half an hour if you know where to go. Keep your documents accessible, change just what you need on the spot, and be wary of informal solicitations as you leave the terminal.
Want to skip straight to the next step?
Book your driver before departure: they wait for you by name at the exit, with no negotiation and no queue.
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