Emirati travellers can soon glide through busy US airports as UAE joins Global Entry Programme

UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s official trip to the US has yielded another positive development. The UAE has been included in the Global Entry Programme after the Ministry of Interior and the US Department of Homeland Security signed a pact.

The move is going to offer Emirati travellers quicker and easier entry through busy US airports, letting them skip long queues. The process’ll be automated. But all participants in the programme must still have a valid US visa to enter the country.

The membership for UAE citizens is set to take effect next month. To qualify for the programme, all applicants need to create a Trusted Traveller Programs (TTP) account, pay a non-refundable application fee of $100 and schedule an application-vetting process.

UAE-US efforts to enhance security relations and travels

Once accepted, the Global Entry membership is going to last five years. UAE members are going to have their photo taken at select US airports at separate Global Entry lanes, in order to confirm their identity. They’ll briefly meet a customs and border patrol officer next.

Global Entry processing is available in more than 70 US and international airports. The UAE is one of the latest countries to join the programme – already available to US citizens, permanent residents of the US and citizens of 15 other countries such as India and Bahrain.

The move is part of joint UAE-US efforts to enhance security relations and facilitate trade and travels. The UAE President’s official trip has also brought considerable focus on business, climate change, technology, foreign policy and space exploration.