Events:
Sterilization Program Hours Reduced During Ramadan. The nation-wide sterilization program will be in effect from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am during Ramadan, which began April 24.
Dubai movement restrictions partially lifted. The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced that beginning April 24 there will be a partial easing of restrictions on movement in Dubai. Individuals may leave their homes between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm without a permit.
Dubai Road and Transportation Authority announced that Dubai’s metro, public buses, and taxi services will resume starting Sunday April 26.
Limited flight options to the U.S. via Europe and Asia: Emirates and Etihad airlines continue to operate a limited number of flights. 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 Emirates and Etihad. Contact the airlines directly to make your reservation.
The U.S. government has no plans to organize repatriation flights from the UAE to the United States. 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.
Visa and Residency Extensions. The UAE confirmed that validity for residency visas, entry permits, and Emirates IDs expiring after March 1, 2020, will be automatically extended with no fees until the end of 2020. The extension applies to residency visa holders that are both in the UAE and outside of 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.
Actions to Take:
Enroll in STEP 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
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444