The United Arab Emirates and the United States of America share a longstanding friendship and a robust strategic partnership founded on shared interests and common values. The relationship continues to expand across the political, economic, security, and cultural spheres, with both countries working closely to promote regional security and stability, advance economic prosperity, and address global challenges. Their cooperation spans defense and security, trade, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, climate action, and the transition to clean energy, as well as healthcare, scientific research, education, and culture. The two countries also share a forward-looking vision centered on fostering innovation, advancing education, and promoting inclusion and gender equality, thereby creating greater opportunities for cultural and academic collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stronger people-to-people ties.
The UAE is a trusted and significant economic partner of the United States. Since 2009, it has remained the largest export market for U.S. goods in the Middle East. Bilateral trade reached approximately USD 39 billion in 2025, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the United States, particularly in the aviation, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors, while creating new opportunities for collaboration in advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.
Defense and security cooperation remains a cornerstone of the strategic partnership between the two countries. The United Arab Emirates is the United States' most capable and reliable military partner in the Arab world. UAE Armed Forces have served alongside U.S. forces in six international missions supporting counterterrorism, regional stability, and peacekeeping efforts. The two countries also maintain close cooperation in combating violent extremism, disrupting terrorist financing, and countering illicit financial flows, reinforcing regional and international peace, security, and stability.
Over more than five decades, UAE–U.S. economic relations have evolved in step with global economic shifts and emerging opportunities. Today, the partnership is increasingly focused on the industries shaping the future economy, particularly artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, space exploration, and the energy systems that support these technologies. The year 2025 marked a significant milestone in this partnership, driven by historic investment commitments, rapidly expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence, and continued growth in bilateral trade. The UAE's 10-year, USD 1.4 trillion investment framework is expected to strengthen economic, technological, and industrial cooperation while supporting local economies and creating jobs across all 50 U.S. states, with a particular focus on high-impact sectors such as semiconductors, energy, critical minerals, and aerospace.
Trade and investment relations continue to expand, reflecting the diversification of the UAE economy and the strength of its economic ties with the United States. The UAE remains the largest single export market for U.S. goods in the Middle East, with U.S. exports to the UAE reaching USD 31.4 billion in 2024, marking the 17th consecutive year the UAE has held this position. The UAE maintains commercial ties with all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 1,500 American companies operate in the UAE, including Boeing, IBM, Microsoft, and Google. Bilateral economic engagement is further strengthened through the UAE–U.S.
Economic Policy Dialogue, established in 2012 as an annual platform for advancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation, as well as through the U.S.-UAE Business Council, which was established in 2007 to promote commercial partnerships and private-sector collaboration.
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Sport has become another important pillar of bilateral relations, serving as a powerful platform for strengthening ties between the peoples of the two countries. Since 2021, the UAE and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have maintained a strategic partnership, beginning with Abu Dhabi's hosting of the first NBA preseason games ever held in the country. In 2024, Emirates became the NBA's Official Global Airline Partner and the inaugural title partner of the Emirates NBA Cup. Earlier, in 2019, Abu Dhabi hosted the Special Olympics World Games, the first edition ever held in the Middle East, bringing together more than 7,500 athletes from over 190 countries.
Sporting cooperation also continues to expand through the partnership between Etihad Airways and New York City Football Club (NYCFC), including the development of Etihad Park, which will become New York City's first purpose-built soccer stadium when it opens in Queens in 2027. The Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in New York, in collaboration with New York City Football Club and the City of New York, also organizes the Annual New York Consulates Cup, which will hold its fifth edition in 2026.
Proceeds from the tournament support NYCFC's community programs. In addition, the UAE Embassy in Washington has funded the construction of 12 community soccer fields in underserved neighborhoods across several American cities and supports charitable sporting initiatives, including the Zayed Charity Run in Miami, which raises funds for kidney disease research, and the Turkey Trot charity run in Los Angeles.
The UAE's longstanding commitment to humanitarian and charitable work in the United States reflects the enduring legacy and vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This commitment is particularly evident in the healthcare sector. In 2009, a landmark UAE grant led to the establishment of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. A subsequent commitment in 2024 further expanded this partnership, which has since resulted in more than 82 U.S. patents. The UAE has also established strategic partnerships with Johns Hopkins Medicine and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to advance healthcare, particularly in stroke treatment and cancer care. Beyond healthcare, the UAE has provided humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as the Joplin tornado, and delivered emergency food assistance to vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the field of environmental conservation and the protection of natural heritage, the UAE has developed significant partnerships with leading American institutions. In 2016, researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute collaborated with the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi to reintroduce the Scimitar-horned Oryx into its natural habitat in the Republic of Chad after the species had become extinct in the wild in the mid-1980s. The initiative is widely recognized as one of the most ambitious wildlife reintroduction programs ever undertaken.
This interactive page provides Emirati travelers with personalized travel guidance and essential entry requirements based on their selected destination. Through a user-friendly map interface, travelers can quickly access important information, understand destination-specific regulations and requirements, and prepare confidently for their international journey.
- View destination-specific visa and entry requirements.
- Access the latest travel guidance and important alerts.
- Review passport, health, and required documentation requirements.
- Prepare for international travel using reliable and relevant guidance.
US Visas for UAE Nationals:
To obtain an entry visa to the United States of America, UAE nationals must apply directly through the official government websites of the U.S. Department of State to avoid any unsecure or fraudulent websites. You can access the official approved links in both Arabic and English via the link below :
https://ae.usembassy.gov/visas/
This interactive page provides non-UAE citizens with clear and accessible information about visa requirements for entering the United Arab Emirates. Users can search for their country or nationality and quickly determine whether they are eligible for visa-free entry or are required to obtain a visa before travelling, helping them plan their visit and complete the necessary arrangements in advance.
- Search for visa information by country or nationality.
- Check whether entry to the UAE is visa-free or requires a visa.
- View country-specific visa eligibility information.
- Prepare the required travel and visa arrangements before departure.
Visa Requirements for United Nations - Laissez-passer
1. Please send all visa requests to (nycon@mofa.gov.ae)
2. All application forms must be typed
3. All attachments must be scanned (Not taken by phone) in JPEG format, each measured in kilobytes.
4. Crop the photo around the head and the passport edges, then resize them between a minimum of 600 x 600 pixels and a maximum of 1200 x 1200 pixels
5. The electronic visa is a single-entry visa valid for 60 days from the date of issue and allows a stay of 30 days from the date of entry (there is no visa sticker).
6. All visa applications require prior approval from the UAE authorities, so the process will take approximately 3 working days.
U.S. citizens are not required to apply for a visa before traveling to the UAE. A visa will be issued upon entry, allowing a maximum stay of 90 days non-renewable, whether continuously or intermittently, within 180 days calculated from the date of first entry.
Please observe the following before departure: -
1. A fine of 50 AED will be imposed for each day exceeding the 90 days allowed for staying in the country.
2. You must have a valid passport that will last at least six months beyond your expected arrival date in the UAE.
3. You must have a round-trip airline ticket or confirmed ticket to another destination.
Visa Requirements for Non-US Citizens
A visa is only available upon arrival if you are from one of the exempted nationalities listed HERE and hold the appropriate passport type.
Please make sure you have the following before your departure:
Non-US Citizens (regular passport only)
If you are not one of the exempted nationalities listed Here, please observe the following:
1. The UAE does not accept any travel documents.
2. The Consulate does not issue visit, work, tourist, or transit visas for ordinary/tourist passports.
3. Visit Visa is processed inside UAE through your sponsor (host). Make sure to receive a copy of the visa before departure.
4. Tourist Visa is processed by visa agents or hotels in the UAE. Ensure you receive a copy before traveling.
5. Transit Visa (96 hours) is issued by the airlines (Fly Emirates or Etihad Airways). Contact the airline to check for eligibility and make sure to receive a copy of the visa before traveling.
Indian Citizens:
Indian citizens with U.S. visas, green cards, UK residence permits, or EU residence permits can obtain an entry visa upon arrival in the UAE, valid for 14 days, for a fee of AED 100.
They may apply for a one-time extension of their stay for an additional 14 days for AED 250.
All documents must be valid for at least six months from the expected time of arrival to the UAE.
Contact the airline to confirm that you meet its visa-on-arrival requirements for a smooth departure.
Non-American diplomatic, official, special, and service passports.
If you are not one of the exempted nationalities mentioned above, please submit the following items through your Embassy:
1. A fully completed scanned application form with an attached photo. (Use your Embassy or Consulate address and phone number of your contact as a sponsor)
2. One clear, color photograph with a white background (see photo examples ).
3. A scanned color copy of the signed passport (should not expire within six (6) months from the expected date of arrival to UAE).
4. Copy of the cover page of the passport from outside.
5. Cover Letter from your embassy that includes information about the trip, the traveler, length of stay, and the expected departure date.
Notes:
1. All application forms must be typed.
2. The applicant must be physically present in the United States throughout the visa application process.
3. All attachments must be scanned (not taken by phone) in JPEG format, each measured in kilobytes.
4. Crop the photo around the head and the passport edges, then resize them to a larger size (e.g., 740 x 1024 pixels).
5. The electronic visa is a single-entry visa valid for 60 days from the date of issue and allows a stay of 30 days from the date of entry (there is no visa sticker).
6. All visa applications require prior approval from the UAE authorities, so the process will take approximately 3 working days.
