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ePassport for locals soon

ABU DHABI — UAE nationals will be issued electronic passports beginning early next year, Minister of Interior Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced yesterday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the biennial Security and Safety Middle East (SSME) 2005 Exhibition and Conference that got underway in the capital, Lt-Gen. Shaikh Saif referred to various measures taken by the government to enhance the levels of safety and security in the country, including the introduction of iris tests to screen people at various points of entry.

The conference is of major interest not only to the UAE but the region and beyond, with the country fast becoming a cultural link and meeting place for various nationalities, he said, adding that it also provided an opportunity to interior ministers, security officials, academicians, experts and businessmen attending the event to hold in-depth discussions and share their experiences and expertise on various security-related issues.

The issues that would be discussed include combating violence and terrorism, he said, while going round the stalls soon after the inauguration in the presence of a large number of high-ranking dignitaries from abroad, members of the diplomatic corps, shaikhs, and officials from the police and the military cadres.

Shaikh Saif, who evinced keen interest in the numerous stalls he visited, was accompanied by the mayor of German city of Essen, Dr Wolfgang Reineger, who hailed the efforts of the UAE in organising an event of such magnitude, and to emerge as an important venue and international forum for the security industry.

Welcoming the guests, Brig.-Gen. Matar Salem Al Niadi, Director, Information Systems Directorate at the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Organising Committee, described the theme of the event as one that is of paramount importance.

In a short span of two years, SSME had already assumed the status of an international event, he said, referring to the participation of 243 exhibitors and 40 official delegations from 37 countries, indicating the expanding canvas compared to the first edition. The number of German companies participating in the event had doubled while those from the US, Italy, Korea and Taiwan had shown perceptible rise.

"It reflects the confidence reposed in the UAE by the business community as well, engaged in providing products and services in the industry," he remarked.