Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) and DATEL, a technology and professional services company have jointly announced their co-sponsorship of the events of Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC), to be held on February 10, 2006 at the Nad Al Sheeba race course. The racing carnival which began on January 19, 2006, encompasses of 11 race fixtures culminating with the US$ 21 million purse of Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race on March 25, 2006.
The carnival attracts over 200 horses from 17 countries representing over 100 international owners and trainers. DNRD alongside DATEL is co-sponsoring various races under DNRD Trophy, DATEL Handicap, DNRD Stakes, DATEL Cup, DNRD Plate and DATEL Race categories. DNRD will also be highlighting its various services including the eGate card to the visitors to the races.
Speaking at a press conference organised to announce DNRD’s sponsorship, Brigadier Saeed Bin Belailah, Director, DNRD said, “DNRD is a frontal organisation that provides the visitors of the Dubai, the first taste of the hospitality in the Emirate. During the time of the carnival we are ensuring that enough resources are at our disposal to ensure that each visitor to the carnival is enriched with a unique and warm experience that is exclusive to Dubai. Our sponsorship of the carnival reflects our commitment to the sport of horse racing, which is ingrained culturally in the Arabic world.”
Commenting on the eGate information drive that DNRD is planning to host at the carnival, Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Majid Lootah, Assistant Director Information Technology and Quality, DNRD, said, “The races give DNRD the opportunity to reach a large number of frequent visitors to Dubai, who will be benefited by this service. In December 2005 alone, DNRD recorded 732227 entries and 686901 exits from Dubai through the Dubai International Airport. With such staggering numbers, DNRD is actively involved in streamlining our processes to ease passenger traffic. eGate is such an initiative which was piloted with success in Dubai. The decision to raise awareness about eGate at the races is a reflection of DNRD’s consistent efforts to highlight the benefits of using eGate, which is a global benchmark in advanced border control,” he added.
DNRD’s co-sponsors of the event, DATEL is a solutions provider and integrator of eGate. Tania Barton, Management Consultant, DATEL, said, “eGate is an advanced passport control system that ensures quick passenger clearance by utilizing a smart card. The technology allows pre-registered travellers to complete passport control procedures in in a fast and efficient manner. Our presence in the races is solely intended to raise awareness about the system that is geared to provide visitors to Dubai with a unique travel experience by replacing repetitive checks of their documents with a new streamlined system that is time- and cost –efficient.”
Dubai International Airport (DIA) is the first airport in the Middle East and the third in the world to install eGate. eGate recorded a tremendous success with more than 3,500 residents from over 45 nationalities applying for an eCard in the first month of its operation. To date there are over 400,000 frequent users of eGate.
Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), was established in 1971. It consists of 12 Sections, six of which are main sections located within the premises of the administration, namely: Naturalization and Passports Section, Entry Permits Section, Residency Section, Investigation and Control Section, Administration and Finance Section and Information Technology Section. The other six sections are spread over Dubai and neighbouring area and include Dubai Airport passports Section, Rashid Port Passports Section, Shindagha Port Passports Section, Hamriyah port Passports Section, Jebel Ali Port Passports Section and Hatta Passports Section.
DNRD has recently installed a fast-track electronic passport control system at the Dubai International Airport, eGate that offers card-operated access to the airport to travellers through pre-registration. eGate helps passengers complete passport control within a few seconds, using an electronically operated foolproof fingerprint identification system. Dubai Airport is the first airport in the Middle East and the third in the world to install such an advanced passenger clearance system.
