The e-Gate project has significantly accelerated passport control procedures at Dubai International Airport, introducing a much-needed comfort factor for regular travelers, according to Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Lootah, head of Information Technology (IT) at Dubai Naturalization & Residency Department (DNRD).
Delivering the keynote address on "Fast Track Immigration—the Dubai International Airport e-Gate" recently at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) IT Forum, Lootah said: "In these times of increasing airport traffic and stringent security requirements, Dubai International Airport has succeeded in reducing the time at passport control down to approximately five seconds, due to the novel concept of e-Gate, developed by the IT department of DNRD. Dubai International Airport is the first airport in the region and the third in the world to adopt such a hi-tech passenger clearance system."
e-Gate is open to pre-registered users through an e-Card, issued by DNRD. The system is fail-safe because it uses the fingerprint scan for identification and instant information retrieval. Within seconds, the computer confirms the record and provides or denies access of the user. Travelers can register for the e-Card at counters set up at the Dubai International Airport and the DNATA office on Sheikh Zayed Road.
"We are pleased to report that the number of registered users of e-Gate are ever increasing. The system has not only accelerated the movement of passengers but also helped detect and prevent fraudsters from leaving the country," said Lootah. "The success of e-Gate has prompted us to introduce enhanced innovations to the system to make it accessible to people who are unable to provide a fingerprint scan." — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
