The e-Gate launched by the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) at the Dubai International Airport, in association with the Department of Civil Aviation, has drawn an enthusiastic response from frequent travellers with more than 2,500 people completing the registration process for the Smart Card in the month since the service was introduced.
People of 45 different nationalities have registered so far for the revolutionary electronically operated entry/exit system, with the majority being UAE nationals, followed by Indians, Britons and Lebanese. The registration office, located near the restaurant area of the departure lounge at Dubai International Airport, is being visited by hundreds of frequent travellers including VIPs and businessmen every day, to complete the formalities required to acquire the smart card that provides quick walk-through facility for inbound and outbound passengers. The registration office is open Saturday to Thursday, from 8am to 9pm. "The e-Gate has been designed as a totally different concept to manage airport traffic and we are delighted by the response it has generated from UAE residents. We have been witnessing a steady increase in the number of people coming to the registration office though the concept is very new and not familiar to most travellers," said Colonel Saeed Matter Bin Belailah, director, DNRD.