e-Gate earns praise for simplifying passport control at Dubai International Airport

e-Gate, the innovative electronic passport control system installed by the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) at the Dubai International Airport, has in its eighth month of operation earned well deserved recommendation from both frequent travelers and the staff operating the e-Gate system.

Frequent users of e-Gate have found the system to be highly secure, reliable and quick to use, providing a welcome relief to airline passengers racing to catch a flight or returning to Dubai after a long journey. e-Gate functions through an electronic card and a scanned finger print issued to pre-registered users.

"e-Gate has come as a blessing to regular travelers through Dubai International Airport, going by the extremely positive feedback we have received from registered users," said Colonel Saeed bin Belailah, Director of  DNRD. "We are delighted by the favourable comments users have made about the system. Most users said e-Gate has enhanced the pleasure of traveling through Dubai International Airport by eliminating the queues at passport control. These responses have prompted us to fine-tune the system and add enhancements to the fingerprint scan in order to make e-Gate accessible to all segments of the society."

"e-Gate is an advanced, reliable and fail-safe screening system that has both simplified and strengthened airport security since it was installed a few months ago," added Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah bin Hassan, Director of Passports, DNRD, Dubai Airport and Free Zone. "We are pleased that e-Gate has met the needs of so many frequent flyers".

Gaby Chamate, Chief Operating Officer, Elite Network Advertising, who has used e-Gate close to 25 times, said it had drastically reduced the time taken to pass through passport control at conventional counters. "The e-Card provides a fast-track immigration clearance using smart technology and a fingerprint scan. This not only takes you through immigration faster but also  saves space on passenger's passport, as it eliminates the need for manual stamping every time he travels. For frequent travelers like me, e-Gate is a real improvement to the old system."

"The introduction of e-Gate has enhanced the already laudable reputation of Dubai International Airport and placed it among three airports worldwide that offer electronic passport control," added Chamate. "e-Gate rounds off the Dubai experience that greets visitors at the Dubai International Airport.  Besides being an invaluable asset for business travelers, e-Gate is awelcome concession to incoming tourists who are pleasantly surprised by the fast track screening system."

Tony Francis, Director of Business Development, ATN Media, said "e-Gate makes the frequent traveler feel privileged and welcome. Though I am a regular traveler, I have not come across such a system anywhere else in my travels. This is something novel even to the Western World, who generally speaking initiates such hi-tech projects. When I speak about the e-Gate  system to immigration offices overseas, they are astonished that Dubai is soadvanced. I have no hesitation in recommending this service to my friends. And with the fingerprint scan procedure it makes procedures very simple, prevents fraud and provides a secure environment."

DNRD officials and staff who manage the e-Gate facility at Dubai International Airport are pleased with the system and the positive comments they receive from travelers.

"The e-Card issued to registered users of e-Gate makes the immigration procedures simple, quick and effective, which we have noted from the facial expressions of travelers," said Amina Sakhr, Shift Supervisor, e-Card registration office at Dubai International Airport. "On an average, over 90 e-Cards per day are issued at the registration offices, one at DNATA and the  other here at the Dubai International Airport. Recently, we have started receiving requests from visit visa holders, but to date this facility is not open to them, but will be in due course."

"We are constantly evaluating the responses from users through regular telephonic follow-up in order to enhance the service level and experience of e-Gate," said Mohammad Abdulla Darwish, First Officer, IT Unit Supervisor,  DNRD. "The common response from satisfied users is that e-Gate has  eradicated the need to stand in long queues for passport control by allowing an e-Card operated access to users."

"e-Gate has enhanced the efficiency and service levels of passport control officers at the airport," said Amal Ali Kaidi, Passport Controller, Dubai International Airport. "With the increased use of e-Gate, the queues at the manned counters are reducing and a notable level of frustration from visitors is dissipating."