Dubai: The US Consulate General in Dubai will move from its long-time home at the World Trade Centre to a magnificent new facility in Bur Dubai, adjacent to Dubai Creek.
The new Consulate has been built on land donated to the US by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Interviews and other services for US visas and routine consular services for American citizens will be suspended from August 2 to August 4. All services will resume on Sunday, August 7 at the new building. Emergency services for American citizens will not be affected by the move.
American citizens seeking consular services during this period can make arrangements at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
40th anniversary
Jennifer Rasamimanana, Charge d'Affaires of the US Mission to the UAE, said: "We are moving into the new premises as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the US-UAE diplomatic relationship as the US was the first country to recognise the UAE 40 years ago.
"We have here around 40,000 Americans residing in the UAE while we have around 1,000 companies operating here."
The new facility will allow the Consulate General to increase the efficiency and accessibility of its services to the public. It receives around 50,000 visa application a year for people from 125 different nationalities, mainly Iran.
The Consulate also represents a commitment to preserving and protecting the environment.
The complex has been built using the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design principles and incorporates environmentally 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.
