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More visitors via Hatta crossing

DUBAI — Hatta crossing on the Dubai-Oman border has seen a significant rise in the number of visitors to the UAE in the first quarter of the year.

Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department, said that the department is very keen to provide all the facilities possible in line with the UAE’s international position and the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“As many as 428,367 visitors have passed through Hatta crossing border in and out of the emirate in the first three months of the year as compared to 411,030 in 2010 —17,337 more visitors— and against 363,776 over the same period in 2009.” Further in his four-hour tour at the Hatta entry point, Major-General Marri said that Hatta crossing border saw 1,644,118 passengers in 2010 against 1,455,104 in 2009.

“The department provides all the facilities needed for the individuals and tourist firms using the Hatta Crossing to boost up trade, tourist and social movement between the two neighbouring countries,” he said while honouring the 24 staffers there.

Lt-Col Khalifa Balquba, Assistant Director-General for Crossing Border Points Affairs, said several future plans are under way to improve the Hatta border. “Further services are to be introduced there to ease the procedures for travellers and inhabitants of the border area.” The department has earlier specified a separate facility for processing heavy trucks’ entry and exit as well as customs procedures. The move expedites the entry and exit procedures of private vehicles, particularly during holidays and weekends. The new premises have also helped facilitate procedures for empty trucks that used to wait as long as loaded trucks.

“The residency department in Dubai, as part of cooperation between the UAE and Oman, implemented a one-step e-border scheme at Hatta crossing in 2008 to connect the two countries via high security electronic network,” he said, adding “The new system has significantly decreased the normal 3-4 hours waiting time and paper work.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com