The Dubai Naturalization & Residency Department (DNRD), in association with the Department of Civil Aviation, have launched the first phase of an e-Gate project at the Dubai International Airport to allow passengers access through electronically controlled gates.
Dubai Airport is the first airport in the Middle East and the third in the world to install such a passenger clearance system, aiming to accelerate the movement of traffic through electronic screening of passengers’ data with the help of a smart card.
The Naturalization & Residency Department has opened a registration office at the Dubai Airport to allow passengers to complete the formalities required for acquiring a smart card to gain instant electronic access to the airport.
VIP registration will be made available during this week, while first-time users are required to register at the enrolment office of Dubai Airport, which officially commences from August 17, 2002. The process requires users to show their original passports and complete simple procedures that include finger printing and photography.
Once registered, they will be supplied with a smart card that carries all the relevant information about the holder. The whole system is linked to a central monitoring unit that controls all the operations.
The finger printing identification is the most significant aspect of the system, as it ensures that a person can enroll just once in the database. 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 electronic gate facility will be available alongside the conventional manually operated gates, giving passengers an option to use either of the gates. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
