Dubai Airport: Us Preclearance Available?

The US operates border preclearance facilities at 15 airports in six countries, including the UAE. However, the preclearance facility is only available at Abu Dhabi International Airport, not Dubai International Airport. This is because the design of Dubai International Airport makes it difficult to segregate pre-clearance passengers. In contrast, Abu Dhabi International Airport has a dedicated preclearance facility in Terminal A, at the end of Pier C.

The US pre-clearance facility at Abu Dhabi Airport

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi is the only one of its kind in the Middle East. The facility allows US-bound passengers to clear US immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections before boarding their flight. This means that upon arrival in the US, passengers will be treated as domestic arrivals, allowing faster processing at their arrival airport.

The CBP facility is located in Terminal A, at the end of Pier C. Check-in for US flights opens 6 hours prior to departure at Terminal A and closes 2 hours before flight departure. After clearing immigration, passengers need to head to Gate F from 2 hours before flight departure and take a bus from Gate F to the CBP facility. Gate F closes 75 minutes before departure.

The CBP Preclearance facility is available for all Etihad Airways flights to the US. However, passengers arriving from or who have been in Rwanda in the past 21 days will not be permitted to use the facility and will be booked on an alternative itinerary.

To speed up the entry process, Etihad Airways offers Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks, a free service that does not require pre-registration or membership. US, Canadian, and eligible Visa Waiver Program international travellers can use the APC kiosks to submit their customs declaration form and biometric information.

The US preclearance facility in Abu Dhabi improves the passenger experience by streamlining border procedures, reducing congestion at US ports of entry, and facilitating travel between the preclearance location and US airports that may not be equipped to handle international travellers.

The difficulty of implementing a pre-clearance facility at Dubai Airport

Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with an open-plan design that makes it difficult to achieve the necessary "segregation of travellers" required by the US government. This means that implementing a pre-clearance facility at the airport is challenging.

The US pre-clearance facility at an airport allows travellers to pass through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections before boarding their US-bound flights. This process is designed to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at US ports of entry, and facilitate travel to airports that may not have the necessary facilities to handle international travellers.

To implement a pre-clearance facility, a foreign airport must undergo significant remodelling or build a new facility to meet the US CBP's design guidelines. The airport must provide a suitable inspection facility, and ensure that US-bound passengers are kept in a separate waiting area with its own amenities and gates. Additionally, the airport must have significant US air traffic to justify the expense of implementing and maintaining the pre-clearance facility.

Dubai International Airport's open-plan design presents challenges in meeting the necessary segregation requirements, and the airport may need to consider structural changes to accommodate a pre-clearance facility. However, the airport handles a large volume of international travellers, and implementing pre-clearance could potentially reduce congestion and streamline the travel experience for passengers.

While Dubai International Airport explores the possibility of implementing a pre-clearance facility, the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai has already incorporated designs that meet US pre-clearance standards. This could be an alternative option for travellers looking to take advantage of the benefits of pre-clearance when travelling to the US from Dubai.

The benefits of US pre-clearance

US pre-clearance allows passengers to skip the often lengthy Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspection lines upon arrival in the US. They can then proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination. This is especially beneficial for those with an onward connection, as there is no risk of border delays causing them to miss their next flight.

Pre-clearance also makes it easier to accept tighter connection windows at US airports, reducing the likelihood of missing a domestic connection. It also gives access to less expensive US domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at US airports.

Pre-clearance enables airlines to establish new routes to desirable US destinations that meet growing traveller demand. It also allows new direct routes to 160+ US airports regardless of whether they have a CBP port of entry. This gives airlines a competitive advantage over other carriers flying to the US from the same origin country.

Pre-clearance also enhances security, bolstering the safety of all travellers while facilitating efficient trade and travel. It increases collaboration and coordination between the US and host governments through daily interaction with local law enforcement partners and other government authorities.

The process of clearing US immigration in Abu Dhabi

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi allows travellers to clear US immigration and customs inspections before boarding their flight. This is the only CBP facility in the Middle East.

Travellers can check in for US flights at Terminal A up to six hours before departure, and until two hours before departure. Two hours before the flight, passengers need to go to Gate F to take a shuttle bus to the CBP facility. Gate F closes 75 minutes before departure.

At the CBP facility, passengers' biometric and fingerprint data will be processed, along with other pre-clearance requirements. After clearing immigration, passengers can use the US CBP lounge.

Once passengers have completed the pre-clearance process, they can board their flight and arrive in the US as domestic passengers, bypassing immigration queues. Their baggage can also be checked through to their final destination in the US.

The pre-clearance process is available for the following flights:

• EY3 to New York
• EY131 to Washington (flight number will change to EY005 from 1 September 2024)

Travellers can use the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app before flying from Abu Dhabi to speed up the customs process. The app is free and available for US and Canadian citizens or Visa Waiver Program travellers with approved ESTA.

The availability of the CBP Mobile Passport Control app

The CBP Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is a free application that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is currently available for eligible travellers to use upon arrival at MPC-approved sites. The app is a voluntary program that can be used by US citizens, Canadian citizen visitors, lawful permanent residents, and Visa Waiver Program visitors.

The MPC app allows eligible travellers to submit their travel documents, photos, and customs declaration information through a secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device. The use of the MPC streamlines the traveller's entry process into the United States by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time.

To use the MPC app, travellers must first create a profile with their passport or LPR card information. Upon arrival at eligible Preclearance locations, users must select their mode of entry in the application as "Preclearance" before selecting their departing Preclearance Port of Entry. If a traveller is not using preclearance, they will select "US airport" as their mode of entry upon landing in the United States, followed by their arrival airport or seaport and terminal. Travellers will then take a self-photo and answer a series of CBP inspection-related questions. Once the traveller submits their transaction through the app, they will bring their physical passport to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the United States.

Cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity is required to send information through the MPC app, but travellers may complete their profiles without being connected to the internet. The MPC app provides a more efficient, secure in-person inspection process for both the CBP officer and the traveller, and shortens overall entry wait times.

Frequently asked questions