Events:
Dubai extends 24/7 lockdown for another week. The 24/7 sterilization program is extended to April 25. Dubai residents and visitors may apply for a movement permit once every three days to buy groceries or visit pharmacies, and once every five days for cash withdrawal. To request a permit, visit https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/home.
Visas and Residency Extensions. The UAE confirmed that residency visas, entry permits and Emirates IDs expiring after March 1, 2020 will have the validity automatically extended until the end of 2020.
Additional U.S.-Bound Flights : Limited Etihad flights from the UAE non-stop to the U.S. are available. U.S. citizens and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents intending to return to the United States, especially tourists and other non-UAE residents, are strongly encouraged to take advantage of current flight options available from Etihad . Contact the airlines directly to make your reservation. Etihad flight options to U.S. below:
- April 22 – EY 101 to NYC
- April 24 – EY 151 to Chicago
- April 29 – EY 101 to NYC
The U.S. government has no plans to organize repatriation flights from the UAE to the United States. Emirates and Etihad airlines continue to operate a limited number of flights. Emirates flights from Dubai to London and Frankfurt are scheduled to cease on April 26 and April 29 respectively. Please check with the airlines about flights to other destinations. For additional information and FAQs on flight options from the UAE to the United States, click here . Passengers traveling to the U.S. via a transit stop must show their onward ticket to the U.S. in order to board aircraft in the UAE.
Passport Processing. Passport processing centers in the United States are currently closed. U.S. citizens, including those with newborn children without passports, who have travel plans within two weeks, should contact AbuDhabiACS@state.gov or DubaiACS@state.gov for an appointment to apply for an emergency passport. Emergency passports are valid for one year.
Notarizing documents. Routine American Citizen Services, including notary services, have been suspended. If you need documents notarized, some U.S. jurisdictions allow for remote notarization. Individuals needing to notarize documents for use in the United States may wish to explore the possibility of remote notarization. They may also wish to consult with a local attorney to ensure that remote notarization is permitted under UAE law.
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.
- 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 travel.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 (for Dubai 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
U.S. Consulate General Dubai
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed and Al Seef Streets
+971 4 309 4000
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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