1.7 million passengers use smart gates at Dubai airports

More than 100 e-gates are installed at Terminal 1 and 2 of the Dubai airport while smart gates are available at Terminal 3 for residents over 17-year-olds.

As many as 1.7 million passengers have passed through smart gates at the Dubai International Airports, according to Dubai Immigration authorities.

“Up to 530,000 people have registered in the immigration smart gates so far,” said Major-General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, while inaugurating a new smart gate registration centre at the Mirdif City Centre on Thursday.

The move is in line with the strategic initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai towards a smart government, he added. “The free registration campaign is open to all Emiratis and residents for free until December 22 from 10am to 10pm.”

Earlier this year, the Dubai immigration authorities opened its doors for free registration in the smart gate at the World Trade Centre at the sidelines of the Government of Dubai’s Achievements’ exhibition which saw hundreds of applicants, mostly residents.

Maj-Gen Al Marri said more than 100 e-gates are installed at Terminal 1 and 2 of the Dubai International Airport while smart gates are available at Terminal 3 for residents over 17-year-olds with free registration and activation.

“Residents are urged to take the free service which normally costs over Dh200 and may only be availed at the immigration headquarters or external centres.”

Smart gates help process check in and out transactions at the arrival and departure counters in just 14 seconds. “The project is aimed to decrease the immigration counters, ease and expedite procedures with over 78 million passengers expected to use the Dubai International Airport in 2015 and 103 million by 2020.”  While children below 17 cannot use smart gates, the immigration officers there shall stamp their passports. Older family members have no problem using the smart facility, however.