e-Gate registration at Dubai Airport draws enthusiastic response from frequent travelers

The e-Gate launched by the Dubai Naturalization & Residency Department (DNRD) at the Dubai International Airport, in association with the Department of Civil Aviation, has drawn an enthusiastic response from frequent travelers. More than 2,500 people have completed the registration process for the Smart Card during the first month, since the service was introduced. People of 45 different nationalities have registered so far for the revolutionary electronically operated entry/exit system, with the vast majority being UAE nationals, followed by Indians, British Nationals and Lebanese.

The registration office, located near the Restaurants Area of the Departure Lounge at Dubai International Airport, is being visited by hundreds of frequent travelers including VIPs and businessmen everyday, to complete the formalities required to acquire the smart card that provides quick walk-through facility for inbound and outbound passengers. The registration office is open Saturday to Thursday from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.

"The e-Gate has been designed as a totally different concept to manage airport traffic and we are delighted by the response it has generated from UAE residents. We have been witnessing a steady increase in the number of people coming to the registration office though the concept is very new and not familiar to most travelers," said Colonel Saeed Matter Bin Belailah, Director, Dubai Naturalization and Residency Administration (DNRD). "We have made excellent arrangements to enable people to register and collect the smart card in less than 10 minutes. We expect the registration to pick up further momentum as more and more people realize the benefits that e-Gate offers to regular travelers."

"As the region's busiest airport, Dubai International Airport is gearing up to handle 30 million passengers per year by 2010. The e-Gate project is one of the measures the airport is taking to ensure quick movement of passengers through automated gates, in contrast to manned counters. Dubai Airport is the first in the Middle East and the third in the world to install such an advanced passenger clearance system," Col. Belailah added.

Regular travelers, who have already registered, have expressed satisfaction over the registration facilities and the comfort levels provided by the e-Gate.

"The registration process for the innovative e-Gate at Dubai International Airport was a pleasant surprise because it was extremely simple and efficient. It also proved beyond a doubt that technology when put to good use can really make a difference in out lives," said Ibrahim Al-Hashemi, Assistant General Manager-Acting, Dubai World Trade Centre LLC. "It was extremely gratifying to note that the staff at the registration office was well versed in the intricacies of the system."

"The e-Gate is an excellent example of how the latest IT technologies can be introduced to provide a real benefit for busy travelers. As a result of the new system, frequent travelers through Dubai can swiftly complete registration procedures without any time-consuming formalities. The e-Gate is definitely the way of the future," remarked Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free.

Registration has been made easy and simple and those wishing to register are required to bring their original passports and a passport-size photograph. Facility for having a photograph taken is also available. The data of the applicant is fed into a computer and his index fingerprint is taken for quick and foolproof identification The smart card, which costs Dhs 150, is valid for a period of two years and can be collected within 10 minutes after registration.

The e-Gate is an optional facility ideal for frequent travelers for whom time and convenience matter a lot. The pilot project, developed by the IT Department of DNRD, will in due course be applied to ports and other points where security is crucial.