Airline passenger news and views

While predictions of a digitalized airport - expected to come into being eight years from now - have been put forward by the elite global foresight consultancy firm the Futures Company; in some parts of the world, a fraction of the future has already begun...

Indeed, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), airports have already embraced cutting-edge technology at their border control. UAE nationals, GCC citizens and UAE expatriates with a valid residence visa do not have to wait in long queues, but can benefit from the new eGate and its eGate Card. To pass through this electronic gate, passengers need two things: their eGate Card and one finger.

Swiping the card comes first and then a fingertip needs to be placed on a scanning panel, which will open the gate only if the fingerprint data matches the information on the eGate Card. This takes between 5 to 10 seconds and the eGate is installed at both entry and exit points.

The eGate has been placed at the Dubai International Airport since 2002 already, as a result of the UAE's Minister of Interior's initiative: Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al Nahyan - who personally tried its efficiency after implementation. At that time, Dubai was the very first airport to offer such an advanced facility in the entire region, and the third one in the whole world.

Following the great success of the new eGate, it was installed at the Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Al Ain International Airport in 2006. Now, the country wants to implement the new system across all of its airports, including Sharjah International Airport, Fujairah international Airport and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Cardholders will be able to use the same card at any of the airports' eGates, thus facilitating transit enormously.

The passport control process is not only faster and easier this way, but potential for better security is very much increased as well as an actual part of your body is checked against information. This virtually eliminates any mistake of false identity cases, according to Colonel Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, the general director of the General Directorate of Central Operation of Abu Dhabi police.

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