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Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates
Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Abu Dhabi
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."
In September 2025, the latest month published, the post in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) issued 1,068 nonimmigrant visas, down 74% on September 2024 (4,124).
The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 736, 68.9% of the post's issuances, C1/D (combined transit and crewmember visa) with 126, 11.8% of the post's issuances and A2 (other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family) with 105, 9.8% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Abu Dhabi ranks 86th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 61st of 184.
On the immigrant side the post issued 448 immigrant visas in September 2025, led by IR5 (236) and DV (75); 613 in September 2024.
The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.
The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 6 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, 6 months for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 6 months for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is shorter than the 17.5 months listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025). The average wait actually experienced by B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month was under ½ month.
Appointment wait times
under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.
B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month had waited an average of under ½ month from fee payment to interview, per the Department's table; it publishes this average only where the next appointment is more than three months away. Crew and transit (C, D, C1/D): 6 months.
The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.
Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months
VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes
Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.
Compared with United Arab Emirates and the world, September 2025
| Sep 2025 | Abu Dhabi | All 2 posts in United Arab Emirates | All posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonimmigrant visas issued | 1,068 | 6,222 | 823,557 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | -74% | — | -11% |
| Immigrant visas issued | 448 | 448 | 45,966 |
| Visitors share | 69.4% | — | 82.5% |
| Students and exchange visitors share | 3.5% | — | 2.9% |
| Temporary workers share | 0.5% | — | 9.4% |
| Diplomatic, official and international organisation share | 13.7% | — | 2.1% |
| Transit and crew share | 12.7% | — | 2.9% |
| Other nonimmigrant classes share | 0.3% | — | 0.2% |
| B1/B2 next appointment | 6 months | — | median 1 month |
| F, M, J next appointment | 6 months | — | median under ½ month |
All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of United Arab Emirates, which is on the United Arab Emirates nationality page.
Visa classes issued, September 2025
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share | Rank among posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1/B2 | Temporary visitor for business and pleasure | 736 | 68.9% | 86 of 211 |
| C1/D | Combined transit and crewmember visa | 126 | 11.8% | 35 of 171 |
| A2 | Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family | 105 | 9.8% | 17 of 169 |
| F1 | Student in an academic or language training program | 28 | 2.6% | 61 of 184 |
| A3 | Attendant, servant, or personal employee of A1 or A2, or immediate family | 14 | 1.3% | 2 of 19 |
| G2 | Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family | 12 | 1.1% | 86 of 157 |
| A1 | Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family | 10 | 0.9% | 11 of 128 |
| D | Crewmember (sea or air) | 10 | 0.9% | 7 of 24 |
| B1 | Temporary visitor for business | 5 | 0.5% | 67 of 128 |
| G1 | Principal resident representative of recognized foreign government to international organization, staff, or immediate family | 5 | 0.5% | 9 of 57 |
| I | Representative of foreign information media, spouse and children | 4 | 0.4% | 61 of 119 |
| F2 | Spouse or child of F1 | 3 | 0.3% | 52 of 104 |
| K1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | 3 | 0.3% | 56 of 96 |
| M1 | Vocational student and other nonacademic student | 3 | 0.3% | 36 of 91 |
| J1 | Exchange visitor | 2 | 0.2% | 174 of 194 |
| H1B | Temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse | 1 | 0.1% | 146 of 163 |
| J2 | Spouse or child of exchange visitor | 1 | 0.1% | 105 of 124 |
Immigrant visa classes
| Class | Description (State Department) | Issued | Share | Rank among posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR5 | Parent of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age | 236 | 52.7% | 12 of 109 |
| DV | Diversity immigrant (DV1, DV2, DV3) | 75 | 16.7% | 21 of 96 |
| IR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | 70 | 15.6% | 24 of 115 |
| SQ3 | Child of SQ1 | 13 | 2.9% | 5 of 18 |
| F4 | Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citizen at least 21 years of age, spouse and child (F41, F42, F43) | 11 | 2.5% | 34 of 73 |
| IR2 | Child of U.S. citizen | 9 | 2% | 48 of 103 |
| T5 | Employment creation (EB-5) in targeted rural or high unemployment area, spouse and child (T51-T53) | 8 | 1.8% | 1 of 1 |
| SQ1 | Certain Iraqis or Afghans employed by or on behalf of the U.S. Government | 6 | 1.3% | 7 of 20 |
| F3 | Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33) | 4 | 0.9% | 42 of 65 |
| SQ2 | Spouse of SQ1 | 4 | 0.9% | 5 of 17 |
| F2A | Family second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (F21, F22, F23, C21-C23, B21-B23) | 3 | 0.7% | 44 of 73 |
| I5 | Investor pilot program (regional center) in targeted area, spouse and child (I51-I53) | 3 | 0.7% | 11 of 18 |
| F1 | Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S. citizen, and child (F11, F12, B11, B12) | 2 | 0.4% | 57 of 82 |
| FX | Family second preference, exempt from country limitations: spouse or child of lawful permanent resident (FX1, FX2, FX3, CX1-CX3, BX1-BX3) | 2 | 0.4% | 53 of 84 |
| CR1 | Spouse of U.S. citizen (conditional status) | 1 | 0.2% | 79 of 99 |
| F2B | Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter of lawful permanent resident, and child (F24, F25, C24, C25, B24, B25) | 1 | 0.2% | 45 of 58 |
Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.
Seasonality
Wait-time history
Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q
Month by month
| Month | Nonimmigrant | Immigrant | vs same month prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 1,068 | 448 | -74% |
| Aug 2025 | 1,183 | 428 | -71% |
| Jul 2025 | 1,934 | 370 | -42% |
| Jun 2025 | 1,914 | 222 | -41% |
| May 2025 | 3,326 | 292 | -31% |
| Apr 2025 | 3,692 | 280 | +22% |
| Mar 2025 | 3,082 | 228 | -22% |
| Feb 2025 | 3,271 | 366 | -12% |
| Jan 2025 | 3,879 | 349 | -9% |
| Dec 2024 | 2,523 | 269 | +55% |
| Nov 2024 | 3,508 | 356 | -26% |
| Oct 2024 | 4,262 | 503 | +10% |
| Sep 2024 | 4,124 | 613 | +3% |
| Aug 2024 | 4,079 | 360 | +13% |
| Jul 2024 | 3,336 | 278 | -14% |
| Jun 2024 | 3,236 | 317 | +7% |
| May 2024 | 4,836 | 256 | +6% |
| Apr 2024 | 3,033 | 124 | -2% |
| Mar 2024 | 3,966 | 221 | -7% |
| Feb 2024 | 3,700 | 300 | -1% |
| Jan 2024 | 4,245 | 165 | -1% |
| Dec 2023 | 1,624 | 116 | -42% |
| Nov 2023 | 4,712 | 277 | +25% |
| Oct 2023 | 3,870 | 456 | +21% |
One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.
Other U.S. posts in United Arab Emirates
- Dubai: 5,154 nonimmigrant visas in Sep 2025
Questions and answers
How many visas did the U.S. post in Abu Dhabi issue last month?
1,068 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables, and 448 immigrant visas. In September 2024 the post issued 4,124 nonimmigrant visas.
What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Abu Dhabi?
The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 6 months away (2 to 6 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.
What is the wait for a student visa interview in Abu Dhabi?
The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as 6 months away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.
Which visa classes does Abu Dhabi issue most?
In September 2025: B1/B2 (736, 68.9%), C1/D (126, 11.8%), A2 (105, 9.8%), F1 (28, 2.6%) and A3 (14, 1.3%). 17 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.
Is visa volume at Abu Dhabi rising or falling?
September 2025: 1,068 nonimmigrant visas, down 74% on September 2024 (4,124). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.
How many visas does Abu Dhabi issue in a year?
The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.
What does the issuance count for Abu Dhabi not tell you?
It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 1 Oct 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.