Us Customs In Dubai Airport: A Traveler's Guide

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. This means that passengers travelling to the US from Abu Dhabi undergo customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections before boarding their flights, allowing them to skip these procedures upon arrival in the US. While there are plans to open a similar facility at Dubai International Airport, it is not yet operational.

US preclearance at Abu Dhabi International Airport

US-bound passengers can take advantage of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. This is the only CBP Preclearance facility in the Middle East.

With CBP Preclearance, US-bound travellers can complete all immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections at the Abu Dhabi airport before departure, bypassing further inspections upon arrival in the US. This allows travellers to proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination in the US, saving time and offering a seamless travel experience.

The CBP Preclearance facility is available for all Etihad Airways flights to the US. To use the facility, passengers must check in at Terminal A at least four hours before their flight. They should then proceed to the CBP Preclearance facility, located at the end of Pier C in Terminal A, two hours before their flight. The facility closes one hour before the flight.

Passengers transferring in Abu Dhabi to a US-bound flight should proceed to Gate F two hours before departure and board the inter-terminal shuttle to the CBP facility. Gate F closes 75 minutes before departure.

Travellers can expedite their US entry process by downloading the free CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app before their flight from Abu Dhabi. The app allows eligible travellers to submit their customs declaration form and biometric information before speaking with a CBP officer.

Benefits of preclearance

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility in Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi, allows travellers to clear U.S. immigration and customs inspections before boarding. This means that once travellers land in the U.S., they can simply pick up their bags and go. This is the only CBP Preclearance facility in the Middle East, and it is the fastest and simplest way to travel to the U.S.

No Security or Waiting Upon U.S. Arrival

Preclearance allows travellers to skip CBP and TSA inspection lines upon arrival in the U.S. and proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination. This is especially beneficial for those with an onward connection upon arrival in the U.S., as there is no risk of border delays causing them to miss their connecting flight.

Easier Domestic Connections

Preclearance allows travellers to accept tighter connection windows at U.S. airports and makes them less likely to miss a domestic connection.

Cost Savings

Preclearance provides access to less expensive U.S. domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at U.S. airports.

Increase in U.S. Market Access

Preclearance enables new routes to desirable U.S. destinations that meet growing traveller demand. It also allows for new direct routes to over 160 U.S. airports regardless of whether they have a CBP port of entry.

Enhance Security

Preclearance bolsters the safety and security of all travellers while facilitating efficient trade and travel. It also enhances collaboration and coordination between the U.S. and host governments through daily interaction with local law enforcement partners and other government authorities.

Terminal of the Future

Preclearance brings innovative technologies like facial recognition biometrics that expedite passenger processing and help meet the demand of rising passenger volume to the U.S.

While preclearance offers many benefits, it is important to note that it requires significant resources and modifications from the host airport. Additionally, travellers must arrive at the airport several hours in advance to complete the preclearance process.

Preclearance in Dubai complicated by multiple airlines

Dubai Airport does not have US Customs pre-clearance, but Abu Dhabi Airport does. This means that passengers travelling to the US from Abu Dhabi can undergo all immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections at Zayed International Airport before they leave the UAE. When they arrive in the US, they are treated as domestic passengers, saving time on connecting flights.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has 15 preclearance locations worldwide, including Abu Dhabi International Airport. The preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi is the only one in the Middle East. It allows passengers to clear US immigration and customs inspections before boarding their flight. Passengers can also use the CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app to speed up the process.

However, the implementation of US Customs pre-clearance in Abu Dhabi has been controversial. Some travellers have reported long wait times and a lack of amenities after clearing customs. There have also been concerns about the impact of pre-clearance on connecting flights, as Dubai Airport has multiple terminals and concourses, making it challenging to consolidate all US-bound flights in one place.

Dubai Airport has considered adding a US Customs pre-clearance facility, but the open concourse design and short connection times have made it challenging to implement. The US ambassador to the UAE has expressed interest in expanding pre-clearance to Dubai, but it is unclear if and when this will happen.

Preclearance facilities in other countries

Preclearance facilities are present at 15 airports worldwide, in 6 different countries. These facilities allow travellers to perform immigration and customs checks at a foreign airport before boarding a flight to the US. Here is a list of the countries with preclearance facilities, along with the cities where these facilities are located:

• Ireland: Dublin and Shannon
• Aruba: Oranjestad
• Bahamas: Freeport and Nassau
• Bermuda: Hamilton
• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi
• Canada: Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg

In addition to the above, pre-inspection facilities are also available at the Prince Rupert Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Terminal in British Columbia, which is the only marine preclearance location in the world.

The preclearance program offers several benefits, including streamlining border procedures for flights entering the US, reducing congestion at ports of entry, and facilitating travel to US airports that may not have the necessary facilities to handle international travellers.

Preclearance process and requirements

The preclearance process allows travellers to bypass Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the US. This means travellers can proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination.

The preclearance process is available at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, which is the only CBP facility in the Middle East. The process is available for select flights to the US. Check-in for US flights opens six hours prior to departure at Terminal A and closes two hours before flight departure. After clearing immigration, travellers need to head to Gate F from two hours before flight departure and take a bus from Gate F to the CBP facility. Gate F closes 75 minutes before departure.

If you are transferring in Abu Dhabi, proceed to Gate F from two hours before flight departure and board the inter-terminal shuttle to the CBP facility.

If you are a US or Canadian resident, or travelling under the Visa Waiver Program, you can use an Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosk. Here, you can submit your customs declaration form and biometric information before speaking with a CBP officer.

If you are not a US citizen or legal resident, you need to head to the CBP facility, where your biometric and fingerprint data will be processed, along with other preclearance requirements after check-in or arrival at the airport.

All travellers to the US, regardless of their visa type, must complete a CBP Customs Declaration Form at the airport on the day of departure. One completed declaration form per family must be handed to the US airport customs official. Forms are available at check-in, on board, or in the Immigration Hall at Zayed International Airport.

If you are travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must apply for travel authorisation from the US Department of Homeland Security at least 72 hours before you travel. You will also need to add Advance Passenger Information (API) to your booking at least one hour before your flight. You must have a machine-readable passport and hold a confirmed return or onward ticket to leave the US within 90 days.

Frequently asked questions