US Consulate General Dubai moves to new premises

In early August, the US Consulate General in Dubai will move from its longtime home at the World Trade Center to a magnificent new facility in Bur Dubai adjacent to the Dubai Creek and the Consulates of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Consulate said in an emailed press release.

The new Consulate General is located on land generously donated to the United States by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.

In preparation for the move, visa interviews in Dubai will be suspended from July 31 to August 4. In addition, routine services for American citizens will be suspended from August 2 to August 4. American citizens in need of routine services during this period can make arrangements at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi. All services will resume on Sunday, August 7 at the new Consulate General in Dubai. Emergency services for American citizens will not be affected by the move.

Douglas C. Greene, the Charge d’Affaires, a.i. of the US Mission to the UAE, said, “This state-of-the-art building on Dubai Creek is symbolic of the importance of our dynamic bilateral partnership,” adding “It is fitting that we are moving into the new Consulate General as we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the US-UAE diplomatic relationship.”

The new facility represents a significant commitment by the United States to its presence in Dubai and will allow the Consulate General to increase the efficiency and accessibility of its services to the public, according to the Consulate’s release.

The Consulate General also represents a commitment to preserving and protecting the environment. The complex has been built using the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles and incorporates environment-friendly features in its water, environmental, and lighting systems.

The compound is the second purpose-built American diplomatic facility in the UAE; the first, the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, opened in 2004.