UAE residents holding US visitor visa appointments had a difficult few days in July 2026. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai cancelled all consular appointments from 13 to 15 July because of the regional security situation. Routine visa services were suspended, and both missions confirmed they were operating with emergency consular assistance only.
If your B1/B2 interview fell in that window, or if your date has moved since, here is what actually matters.
What the US missions in the UAE announced
The statement was short. In the embassy’s own words, the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and US Consulate General in Dubai cancelled consular appointments from 13 to 15 July due to the regional security situation. Applicants with bookings in that period were told not to travel to either building, and the missions said affected applicants would be contacted directly to reschedule.
Both posts were reported to be on ordered departure status, with non emergency US government personnel relocated outside the UAE. That matters because consular capacity depends on staffing. Fewer officers on the ground means fewer interview slots, and the effect tends to last well beyond the days a building is closed.
What to do if your appointment was cancelled
The single most useful thing is to stay reachable and stay patient in the right order.
- Check the email address on your visa profile, including the spam folder. Rescheduling notices go to the address on file, not to an agent.
- Log in to your applicant dashboard and confirm the appointment status rather than relying on a screenshot taken earlier.
- Do not pay the visa application fee again. Your existing fee receipt remains tied to your profile and is what lets you rebook.
- If a new date appears that you can make, take it. Holding out for a more convenient slot is how applicants lose months.
- Keep your DS-160 confirmation number safe. If you have to submit a new DS-160 for any reason, the barcode number on your appointment record has to match it.
Why appointment dates in Abu Dhabi and Dubai move
Disruption of this kind is not new for UAE applicants. Consular sections in the Emirates have paused or reduced services before, including a two week suspension during a system changeover and standard closures for public holidays. Each pause pushes existing bookings back and compresses the calendar for everyone behind them.
The State Department publishes appointment wait figures on its global visa wait times page. Visitor visa waits at Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been quoted in months rather than weeks. Those figures describe how far out the next available interview sits, not how long a decision takes, and they move as capacity changes. Checking the official page before making any travel commitment is a better habit than relying on what a friend experienced last year.
Book before you commit to travel
The practical lesson from July is that no US visa appointment in the UAE should be treated as fixed. Flights, hotels and event tickets bought around an interview date carry real risk, because the date can move for reasons entirely outside the applicant’s control. Apply as early as your plans allow, and treat the visa in your passport as the moment to book travel, not the interview slot.
This also applies to anyone planning around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The US Embassy has made clear there is no special event visa category, and that ticket holders can still be refused. Standard B1/B2 rules apply to everyone.
Preparation is the part you control
You cannot control regional events, staffing or the calendar. You can control whether your file is complete and consistent on the day. A DS-160 that matches your passport and travel history, clear evidence of ties to the UAE such as employment and residency status, and a straightforward account of your trip purpose all help you use a hard won interview slot well.
FastUSTravel packages start at AED 3,500 + VAT per person and include the USD 185 US government MRV fee. We prepare and support the application. The decision on any visitor visa rests solely with the US consular officer, and nobody can promise you an approval.
Frequently asked questions
My Dubai interview was cancelled in July. Do I pay the visa fee again?
No. Your existing visa application fee receipt stays linked to your profile and is used to rebook. Paying a second time is unnecessary and does not create a new slot.
Will the consulate contact me with a new date, or should I rebook myself?
The missions said affected applicants would be contacted directly to reschedule. It is still worth logging in to your dashboard regularly, since released slots can be booked before a notice reaches you.
Are visa services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai running normally now?
Status can change quickly during a regional security situation. Check the US Embassy UAE website and your applicant dashboard for the current position before travelling to either location.
Sources
Gulf News, US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Consulate suspend consular services amid regional security crisis. US Department of State, Global Visa Wait Times. Gulf News, US visa pause: embassy in UAE clarifies visa rules for FIFA World Cup 2026 travellers. Gulf News, UAE travellers alert: major change to US visa appointment system.
