VZCZCXRO1720
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0882/01 3561141
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211141Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8557
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0190
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0237
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0695
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RBDHDZA/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/USAFCENT SHAW AFB SC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000882 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA OVIP PREL MOPS QA
SUBJECT: CIVILIAN USE OF AL-UDEID AIR BASE IN QATAR 
 
¶1.  This message details policy on use of Al-Udeid Airbase in 
Qatar.  Embassy Doha asks that it be made available to all 
USG travelers considering travel to or through Al-Udeid 
Airbase. 
 
¶2.  Al-Udeid Airbase is a Qatari - not American ) military 
installation.  It is sovereign Qatari territory and its use 
by USG personnel is governed by two bilateral agreements - 
the U.S.-Qatar Defense Cooperation Agreement and a separate 
Al-Udeid Implementing Agreement.  Under these agreements, 
U.S. military personnel and DOD civilians with a Common 
Access Card (CAC) and official travel orders are permitted 
access to Al-Udeid.  Personnel with other types of CACs, such 
as those marked "Federal Affiliate," are not covered by this 
agreement.  Access to Al-Udeid by non-DoD USG civilians is at 
the discretion of the Government of Qatar. 
 
¶3.  Embassy Doha and CENTCOM frequently encounter difficult 
situations involving travelers arriving via milair at 
Al-Udeid Airbase (even for transit), or arriving in Doha 
expecting to depart via milair from Al-Udeid without advance 
coordination.  The GOQ generally considers these incidents 
violations of our bilateral agreements.  Cumulatively, they 
threaten to have a serious impact on our military operations 
in Qatar. 
 
------------------ 
ACCESS TO AL-UDEID 
------------------ 
 
¶4.  All non-DoD USG civilians who wish to access Al-Udeid 
Airbase for purposes of visiting military facilities there or 
boarding a milair flight must have explicit advance 
authorization from the Qatar Armed Forces. 
 
-- That authorization can normally be arranged by contacting 
the U.S. Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation at 
011-974-488-4299 or the USAFCENT Host Nation Coordination 
Cell at Al-Udeid at DSN 318-437-6107; commercial at 
011-974-436-2231; cell phone at 011-974-551-0815; fax at DSN 
318-437-6121; commercial fax at 011-974-432-7793; or e-mail 
at 379aew.hn@auab.afcent.af.mil. 
 
-- Personnel planning to transit Al-Udeid Airbase should 
contact the U.S. Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation at 
011-974-488-4299 for further information. 
 
-- Travelers must provide complete details of their itinerary 
and begin this coordination process at least 14 days in 
advance. 
 
-- IMPORTANT NOTE: the GOQ now requires a copy of the data 
page of travelers' passports in order to process these 
requests. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
ARRIVING OR DEPARTING AL-UDEID VIA MILAIR 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  Unlike Doha International Airport, where single-entry 
visas can be purchased on arrival, the GOQ does not regard 
Al-Udeid as an international port of embarkation/debarkation 
and all non-DoD civilians arriving at Al-Udeid must have a 
multiple-entry Qatari visa in advance.  Permission from the 
Qatar Armed Forces and Ministry of Interior is also required 
for immigration purposes. 
 
-- This requirement applies to ALL/ALL Non-DoD civilians. 
This includes members of Congress and their staff, civilians 
(including press) accompanying U.S. military delegations, and 
federal civilians transiting into and out of Iraq and 
Afghanistan. 
 
-- Personnel exiting from Al-Udeid using the single 
entry/exit "airport visa" obtained at Doha International 
Airport are not authorized to immigrate back through Al-Udeid 
(for example on the return leg of a milair trip to Iraq or 
Afghanistan). 
 
-- Please note that ALL/ALL travelers, even military 
personnel and DOD civilians traveling with a CAC and orders, 
are required to process through Qatari customs and 
immigration at Al-Udeid just as they would at the 
 
DOHA 00000882  002 OF 002 
 
 
international airport. 
 
--------------------------- 
DON'T ARRIVE WITHOUT A VISA 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Non-DoD civilians who arrive at Al-Udeid without a visa 
) or without advance approval from the GOQ to use Al-Udeid - 
are likely to be sent back on the next flight to their point 
of origin.  There is a widespread belief that non-DoD 
civilians who arrive at Al-Udeid and never leave the base do 
not need a visa.  While this has happened in the past, it is 
explicitly contrary to GOQ regulations and such cases are 
increasingly scrutinized by GOQ officials.  Typically, the 
only cases of "transit without visa" tolerated by the GOQ are 
brief refueling stops or transits of a few hours or less 
during which the travelers never leave Al-Udeid's DV lounge. 
 
¶7.  In some cases, travelers arriving at Al-Udeid who did not 
obtain visas in advance from a Qatari Embassy have been able 
to obtain visas on-line at the GOQ's on-line services website 
(www.gov.qa).  This system has not worked consistently, 
however, and travelers should not depart the U.S. without 
visas expecting to get an on-line visa upon arrival at 
Al-Udeid. 
 
¶8.  Personnel who, contrary to these guidelines, arrive at 
Al-Udeid without a visa and depart the base will be unable to 
either re-enter the base or depart from Doha International 
Airport.  In such cases, the traveler will be required to 
correct their immigration status directly with the Qatari 
Ministry of Interior, risking fines, passport confiscation, 
or even detention. 
 
¶9.  Even with a valid single- or multiple-entry visa, non-DOD 
personnel MUST obtain permission from Qatar Armed Forces AND 
Ministry of Interior to immigrate through Al-Udeid.  The 
Office of Military Cooperation Qatar requires seven-ten 
Qatari work days to ensure processing of the request. 
 
----------------- 
FOREIGN NATIONALS 
----------------- 
 
¶10.  Access to Al-Udeid and arrival via milair at Al-Udeid by 
foreign nationals (i.e. non-U.S. citizens) must be 
coordinated by the relevant foreign mission in Doha directly 
with the Qatar Armed Forces.  Only in extraordinary cases 
(e.g. senior officials of foreign governments) will the GOQ 
be responsive to requests by the U.S. Embassy to facilitate 
such travel. 
 
----------------------- 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
----------------------- 
 
¶11.  Active duty military and DoD civilian distinguished 
visitors and non-DoD civilians with additional questions 
should contact the U.S. Embassy's Office of Military 
Cooperation at 011-974-488-4299. 
 
¶12.  Active duty military personnel and DoD civilians with 
additional questions should contact the USAFCENT Host Nation 
Coordination Cell on Al Udeid at DSN 318-437-6107; by 
commercial at 011-974-436-2231; by cell phone at 
011-974-551-0815; by fax at DSN 318-437-6121 or commercial 
fax at 011-974-432-7793; or by e-mail at 
379aew.hn@auab.afcent.af.mil. 
Ratney