Events:
Limited flight options to the U.S. via Europe and Asia ending soon. For detailed information on flight options from the UAE to the United States, click here.
Emirates and Etihad airlines are flying a limited number of flights on to destinations including London, Frankfurt, Paris, Manila, and Seoul. Emirates reports outbound flights to Paris will cease operating on April 12. Flights to London and Frankfurt are scheduled to cease on April 19. Etihad-facilitated flights are scheduled until April 18.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate have no plans to arrange repatriation flights to the U.S. Passengers traveling to the U.S. must show their onward ticket to the U.S. in order to board aircraft in the UAE. You do not need a letter from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the UAE or a letter from authorities of the country you will transit to make your reservation. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate cannot assist with contacting airlines, arranging onward travel, or negotiating the use of funds from any pre-existing itineraries. If booking tickets by phone, state clearly that you are transiting and that your destination is the United States.
Passport Processing. Passport processing centers in the U.S. hav limited passport operations due to COVID-19. If you previously applied for a passport or citizenship service, expect significant delays. U.S. citizens with expired passports who wish to depart the UAE or families with newborn U.S. citizens without passports should contact AbuDhabiACS@state.gov or DubaiACS@state.gov to apply for an emergency passport. If all requirements are met, emergency passports can be issued within 48 hours. We will schedule normal passport appointments when the passport processing centers reopen. Please email AbuDhabiACS@state.gov or DubaiACS@state.gov for an appointment.
Covid-19 Testing Centers. The UAE government has opened around 14 drive-thru Covid-19 testing centers across the UAE. Please call the UAE Department of Health at 8001717 (for Abu Dhabi residents) or the Dubai Health Authority (for Dubai and other emirates residents) at 800342 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Visit the UAE Ministry of Health website for additional information on COVID-19 in the UAE.
UAE Sterilization Drive Abu Dhabi announced the sterilization drive in the capital from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Residents are requested to stay home during this period but may leave their homes to buy groceries or medicine without the need of a movement permit.
The sterilization program in Dubai curtails all but essential and vital movements within the emirate 24-hours a day through at least April 18. The Dubai metro will remain closed until further notice. Individuals in Dubai are required to request for permission each time they leave their homes, including for essential purposes such as buying food and medicines or getting tested for COVID-19. An application for a permit must be filled out at https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/home before each trip. For additional inquiries, you may call the hotline at 800PERMIT (800737648). Per the Dubai sterilization program, anyone leaving home must wear a mask and gloves and ensure they keep a safe distance from others.
Please note a temporary change to email messaging was made for the health and safety of all Americans unexpectedly kept abroad during the COVID-19 crisis. Until further notice, it is not possible for STEP registrants to opt out of receiving messages at this time. Using the “Unsubscribe” option on STEP will not prevent you from receiving the Health Alert or other safety related messages.
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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