We hope you are as excited about your upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi as we are to welcome you to our campus community!
Shortly you will be emailed the final copy of your UAE Entry Permit, which you should print in color and carry with your original passport when you travel. If you have valid passports from two or more different countries, we advise you to bring all passports with you but you must enter the UAE with the passport (and nationality) noted on your Entry Permit.
We recommend that you review your airline(s) baggage policy before you pack — contact the airline(s) directly for the most up-to-date information.
Upon arrival at the airport in the UAE, you will be met by a representative of the airport welcoming services called “Golden Class”, who will assist you through the arrival process at the airport. Please look for their staff member holding a sign with your name on it as soon as you get off the plane. They should be waiting for you on the jetbridge or immediately as you enter the airport terminal. They will escort you through the airport, assist with the immigration process, customs and security screenings, and help you collect your luggage.
Once you exit the secured area of the airport and enter the arrivals lounge, please look for the Nirvana Travel coordinator who will escort you to the vehicle that will transport you to campus. Transportation to campus will be arranged only for August 27. You will be emailed with the shuttle timings to select one that best suits your arrival. If you arrive before or after August 27, you will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to campus.
Here is how the next steps in the visa process will work:
- NYUAD will deposit your original Entry Permit at your arrival airport terminal to notify the UAE authorities of your pending entry into the country.
- You will enter the UAE with the COLOR copy of your Entry Permit. When the immigration process at the airport is complete, you will be given your ORIGINAL Entry Permit. Please keep this document safe together with your original passport — you’ll need to bring these documents to orientation. IMPORTANT NOTE: At this point, you must remain in the UAE until the completion of the visa process (approx. four weeks). Of course, you will be here for the entire semester, so this should not be a problem.
- You will be contacted with information regarding the required medical test. This test is administered by the Abu Dhabi government on campus. NYUAD representatives will be available to assist you with this simple and safe procedure.
- After receiving the medical test results, the government will grant the Student Residence Visa. NYUAD representatives will take the students’ original passports to the government agency, have the Student Residence Visas stamped in the passports, and return the passports to the students. Later on in the semester, you will also receive an Emirates ID Card issued by the UAE government.
PLEASE DO NOT PLAN TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UAE BEFORE YOU KNOW FOR SURE WHEN YOU’LL RECEIVE YOUR RESIDENCE VISA. YOU CANNOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE VISA HAS BEEN PROCESSED AND STAMPED IN YOUR PASSPORT. THIS WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER YOUR ARRIVAL.
Check-In at Saadiyat Campus
The airport transfer will drop you off on campus and you will be directed to the Welcome Center. A staff member from the NYUAD Office of Residential Education or one of the Resident Assistants will help you check in and find your dorm room.
Mandatory Orientation on Site
The orientation program will begin on August 28 at 9 AM. Please meet us by the palm trees in the center of campus at 8:45 AM. We will meet you there and take you to the room where orientation will be held. Please be on time!
If you experience any difficulties during your travels to Abu Dhabi that you think you should report to us, please contact Momchil Dikov by email (md2729@nyu.edu) or on his mobile number +971 50 106 6892 .