Abu Dhabi Airports has inaugurated the new US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport (AUH).
The official ceremony was attended by Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, Martina Strong, US Ambassador to the UAE; Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, and Judson Murdock, CBP Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner.
This facility, the only one of its kind in the Middle East and Asia, underlines the prominence of Abu Dhabi as a global travel hub.
In collaboration with U.S. CBP, Etihad Airways and Etihad Airport Services, the facility allows all Etihad Airways flights to the United States to pre-clear US immigration in Abu Dhabi, arriving stateside as domestic passengers, avoiding queues and saving time.
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Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, commented: "We are proud of the collaborative efforts that have brought this state-of-the-art preclearance facility to fruition.
"Following a remarkable first year of operation for Zayed International Airport, this facility represents another significant step toward our vision of becoming a leading global aviation hub and exceeding passenger expectations."
All Etihad Airways flights to the United States now pre-clear US customs and immigration procedures in Abu Dhabi before departure. Etihad currently flies 35 times per week to four US gateways including Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington DC.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UAE, Martina Strong emphasised the significance of the event, saying: “Today we are celebrating the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport. This is another milestone in our strategic partnership and our expanding people-to-people ties."
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We are incredibly proud to offer our guests an unparalleled experience when flying to the United States from the Middle East, Europe, Indian subcontinent and Asia."
CBP Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner Judson Murdock, said: “US CBP Preclearance’s presence in Zayed International Airport connects the Middle East, Africa, Asia, to the United States."
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