The Ministry of Interior stated that the E-Ports Project (E-Gates) streamlines the procedures of passengers exiting and entering the country at border ports delivering services quickly. The ministry explained that an arriving or departing passenger’s transaction would take less than 20 seconds.
Registration offices have witnessed a strong turnout by individuals who wish to benefit from this time-saving service. Major General Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, expressed his satisfaction of the turnout by different sectors of society, which included citizens, residents, GCC citizens, and visitors. Each of these community segments registered for free to use the E-Gates. He noted that this enhances the success of the E-Ports Project and emphasizes the public’s wish to find an alternative to reduce travel procedures and save time.
He said that the project has achieved scientific leadership for the United Arab Emirates; the country is seen as the first in the world to implement the registration via three biometric prints. It also enables passengers to complete travel procedures with speed and seamlessness by using modern electronic gates to detect eye and face prints; travel procedures can be finished in less than 20 seconds.
He added that the E-Ports Project is a translation of the directions of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to create a modern system for the ports that processes passenger procedures with ease and rapid turnaround in addition to providing traffic safety at borders.
He clarified that other countries attempt to find alternative systems for a certain sector of passengers to streamline their travel procedures and save time, whereas the UAE has introduced the E-Ports Project for all sectors including both citizens and residents.
The ministry specified times for registration in six commercial centers in Abu Dhabi: the Marina Mall Center from 9 – 13 last June; Abu Dhabi Mall Center from 23 – 27 June 2013; Al Wahda Mall from 7 – 11 July; Al Khaldiya Mall from 21 – 25 July; Musharraf Mall Center from 4 – 8 August; Delma Mall Center from 18 – 22 August 2013; and Al Sharq Electronic Gate from 1 – 5 September 2013.
Simplifying travel procedures
Major Mohammad Ahmad Al Zaabi, Director of the E-Ports Project at the Ministry of Interior, said: “The E-Port (E-Gates) Project simplifies travel procedures across the country’s ports, as it facilitates and streamlines the entry and exit of travelers via e-gates that are equipped with eye and face scanners and passport readers. The e-gates take a photo of the face and scan the eye, so that travelers do not need to visit any offices, fill in any forms, or pay any fees. The project saves time and effort for travelers as it spares them from queuing to finish travel procedures when entering or exiting the country. E-Gates is easy and simple to use and it takes only few seconds to complete entry or exit procedures.”
Al Zaabi added: “The Marina Mall received on June 9, large numbers of the public, from different categories of society, to complete the free registration process. Other centers, designated by the Ministry of Interior, also continued to receive public members. Registration ends on September 5th.”
E-ports: A 7-Star Service
People expressed their comfort to register at the E-Gates and commended the seamlessness and speed of the process. Samah Abdul Aziz, an American, said: “The E-ports services have a 7-star ranking, as it brings ease to travelers enabling t