Zayed International offers only US preclearance facility in Middle East and Asia
October 31, 2024
Two days ahead of its first anniversary celebrations for Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi Airports has marked a milestone with the transition of its new US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) facility at the air transport hub.
Abu Dhabi Airports CEO, Elena Sorlini explained the facility strengthens the airport’s ambition to be a leading travel hub, “offering passengers a distinctive travel experience that is unparalleled in our region.”
She also underlined her pride that the airport is the first and only airport in the Middle East and Asia to offer US Preclearance. “This is a unique offering that allows us to stand out in the region… and affirms our commitment to delivering world-class services and convenience to passengers,” she said.
Eliminating the need for lengthy queues upon arrival in the US, the facility enables passengers to complete all US immigration, customs and agriculture inspections before departing from Zayed Airport. Upon arrival in the US travellers can then bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration inspections and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination.
The facility at Zayed International features biometric technology to verify passenger identification. Facial comparison capture devices confirm passenger identities at dedicated CBP boarding gates, while corresponding agent display devices further enhance security and efficiency.
For Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, which has its home base at Zayed International, the ability to offer US Preclearance to passengers is a game changer. The airline’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves explained that travellers can now “bypass arrival queues and if connecting within the US, enjoy seamless transfers with minimal connection times through our partner airlines.” He also noted that the airline’s passengers “consistently tell us they value the efficiency and security that clearing customs before they arrive in the US affords them and this one of the many reasons they choose Etihad.”
Today CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists at 15 Preclearance locations in six countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abud Dhabi; Nassau in the Bahamas and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg in Canada.
In 2019, CBP personnel stationed abroad precleared 22 million travellers, representing more than 16% of all commercial air travellers to the US.
