March 31, 2020
Location: Throughout the United Arab Emirates
The U.S. Mission to the UAE is sending a daily update to ensure all U.S. citizens in the UAE have the latest information about COVID-19 and local conditions.
Event: Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced on March 30 that due to intensified sterilization procedures, only residents of the al-Ras area in Dubai will be permitted to enter al-Ras for a two-week period beginning March 31. The UAE government confirmed that teams from the Dubai Health Authority will provideessential supplies to the residents of al-Ras.
The UAE Cabinet announced on March 30 that residency visas and Emirates IDs thatexpired on or after March 1 will receive an automatic three-month extension.
The UAE government on March 28 opened a mobile COVID-19 testing facility at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. Appointments must be booked in advance by calling the UAE Department of Health at 8001717. The UAE government plans to deploy additional mobile testing facilities throughout the UAE. Visit the UAE Ministry of Health website for additional information on COVID-19 in the UAE.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention on March 28 extended the UAE initiative to disinfect public facilities, including roads, until April 5. From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, public transport will be shut down and movement restricted. The UAE government has requested that individuals wishing to move outside their homes during these hours register for movement permits at https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/home or through the Abu Dhabi Police’s website at https://www.adpolice.gov.ae/en/pages/home.aspx. Failure to register movements could result in fines.
Fines may also be assessed for failing tofollow social distancing protocols, for driving with more than three people in a car, and for organizing or attending social gatherings, meetings, or public celebrations.
Public spaces, shopping malls, and most retail stores are closed. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations remain open. Visit the UAE Ministry of Health COVID-19 website for updated information.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority suspended all inbound, outbound, and transit passenger flights for two weeks, subject to extension, effective March 25.
Effective March 29, U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi and U.S. Consulate General Dubai went to minimal staffing. Consular Sections will continue to provide the following emergency services to U.S. citizens: renewing expired passports or passports expiring within 6 months; processing applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad; and processing Consular Reports of Death Abroad. U.S. citizens may request an emergency appointment through email by contacting the Embassy at AbuDhabiACS@state.gov or the Consulate at DubaiACS@state.gov.
Actions to Take:
- Enroll in the STEP program at https://step.state.gov/ to receive alerts and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
- Encourage other U.S. citizens to enroll in the STEP
- Confirm the validity of your travel documents, including passports and visas.
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date COVID-19 information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations .
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in the UAE.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
- Check with your airlines regarding information about your travel plans or restrictions
Assistance:
U.S. citizens looking for options to return to the U.S. can email American Citizen Services at abudhabiacs@state.gov (for Abu Dhabi) or dubaiacs@state.gov (forDubai and other emirates) or call the U.S. Department of State Repatriation Task Force at 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada or +1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4
+971 2 414 2200
AbuDhabiACS@state.gov
https://ae.usembassy.gov
U.S. Consulate General Dubai
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed and Al Seef Streets
+971 4 309 4000
DubaiACS@state.gov
https://ae.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/dubai/
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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