UAE travellers welcome new US border control in Abu Dhabi

The facility in Abu Dhabi is the first in the Middle East and joined by about 20 others, including in Canada, the Caribbean and Ireland.

Powered by automated translation

ABU DHABI // Residents have welcomed the new US border post at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which could cut their waiting time upon arrival in the US by up to two hours.

“It’s probably the best idea ever because it’s so much easier,” said Tamara Ghazi, a Canadian who travels to the US once a year to pursue her studies.

She said immigration traffic in the US was overwhelming.

“It usually takes two hours to get out of the airport in the US because there are too many people arriving at the same time,” she said. “I’d love to see it set up in Dubai, too.”

The facility in Abu Dhabi is the first in the Middle East – there are about 20 others in places such as Canada, the Caribbean and Ireland.

It allows travellers to the US to go through screening, immigration, customs and agricultural checks before boarding their flight in Abu Dhabi.

Safwan Al Amin, an Iraqi who travels to the US four or five times a year, said the idea was good, as long as passengers did not end up paying for it through higher ticket prices.

“I have not had any problems at customs so far, I just fill out the form and go through,” he said. “If you have had a couple of bad experiences, I can see why it’s a good idea because you don’t want to go through that after a 15-hour flight.

“It’s great as long as airlines are not the ones that pay for it because that would mean passengers pay for it.”

Experts say there are a host of benefits to the service.

“The system will strengthen American security at home because immigration, customs and clearance will be checked in Abu Dhabi before passengers ever get on an airplane,” said Danny Sebright, the president of the US-UAE Business Council.

“Given the importance of the UAE as the largest export market for American goods in the Middle East, the importance of a pre-clearance facility such as this will only continue to support the growth of American and Emirati business partnerships in the future.”

The facility also ensures heightened security for the US government and law-enforcement officials, as issues are dealt with outside the US by American officials – much like a small airport embassy.

“The start of pre-clearance operations in Abu Dhabi is an important milestone in the US relationship with the UAE,” said a US embassy spokesman. “It will reduce wait times at key airports in the US by allowing travellers from Abu Dhabi to enter the US as domestic passengers.”

The service is available to all travellers out of Abu Dhabi, not only those flying with Etihad Airways. However, Etihad is the only airline that flies direct to the US from the airport at this time.

Experts predict US airlines will eventually add extra flights out of Abu Dhabi.

cmalek@thenational.ae