More than half million 'swipe through' Dubai Intl Airport

Resdients using Emirates ID at the airports are on the rise since the Smart Gates were rolled out on July 3, 2016.

Dubai - A total of 550,857 swiped their Emirates ID just to finalise their immigration formalities since Smart Gates were rolled out in 2016.

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By Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 15 Jan 2017, 8:30 PM

Thousands of travellers have used the smart way to travel to and from Dubai airports since July last year. A total of 550,857 swiped their Emirates ID just to finalise their immigration formalities since Smart Gates were rolled out on July 3, 2016. The service helped save time of travellers and accelerate the formalities of entry and exit with an average 10-15 seconds per traveller.

Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs- Dubai (GDRFA), said the department installed 20 automated self-service kiosks across the Dubai airports, government departments and shopping malls.

Maj-Gen Al Marri said Dubai has clocked 51.97 million travellers last year via its air, land and sea ports.

The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency department (DNRD) processed a total of 15.744 million transactions for entry visa, residence visa and issuance of UAE passports to Emiratis.

The number of transactions processed by the Dubai International Airport centre, which operates round the clock, went up as the centre issued last year 9,533 UAE passports for Emirati nationals, and 25,858 new residence visas. A new visa centre opened at Latifa Hospital in August, 2016, processed 1,778 transactions.
Eye scan catches 33,000 violators

A bunch of inspection campaigns carried out by the Violators Follow-up Section managed to catch 33,283 offenders through the eye scan detecting system.

How to use the smart gate

> If you're a UAE resident, you'll be able speed through passport control at Dubai Airports within minutes

> Just scan and go!

> It's free to use and no registration is required for Emirates ID cardholders

> The system can be used by all Emirates ID cardholders aged 18 and above. Families travelling with children below the age of 18 should head to the manned counter next to the Smart Gates, to complete the immigration process.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 15 Jan 2017, 8:30 PM

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