Biometric Data Activation Centre open for E-gate users at Hamad International Airport

The Airport Passports Department opened biometric data activation centre for E-gate users at the departure and arrival lounges in Hamad International Airport. The E-gate service can be accessed by expatriates with ID cards and their children over 18 years of age, without special charges.

Col. Mohamed Rashid al-Mazroui, Director of the Airport Passports Department said that the activation centres at both departure and arrival lounges have five self-service machines to enhance travel procedures for E-gate users who have not activated their biometric data before. The Ministry has introduced newest electronic programme that enables the passengers to update their biometric data within less than one minute. He added that most of the residents have been registered in the database with only eye-print or fingerprint. The E-gates can be used with biometric data of eye scan or fingerprint or with both prints in order to enable them to use E-gate services. The activation office will work round the clock and a technician will be available to help the passengers if they found any difficulties to update their data.

The number of E-gates will be increased to reach 35 gates in both lounges in the next phase. After delivering their baggage, the passengers can complete their travel procedures through E-gates and enter the flight without approaching any staff, he added.

 The Director of the Airport Passports Department called on the residents to use E-gates at Hamad International Airport to complete their travel procedures easily without waiting in long queues in the immigration counters for the services of staffs to confirm the validity of their data and put departure or arrival stamp in their passports. He added that the department has facilitated special counter adjacent to E-gates to help travelers to stamp in passports at the time of departure or arrival, if they wanted.

Major Khalid Muhammed Al Mulla, head of the Airport Passports section said that the E-gates at HIA airport are accessible to residents with electronic or normal ID cards. A passenger has to place the ID card on e-reader at the e-gate, which will read the biometric data stored on the card and verify them.

The device will then direct the passenger to move ahead as the first glass barrier will be opened making access for passenger to the middle of the e-gate, if the leave notification has been already registered. The device will then match the data obtained from travel document by capturing his/her eye print and fingerprint and if the data matches, the device will open the final exit gate, enabling the passenger to move to the boarding gate or baggage collection area.

He urged the residents who renew their passports to update their data through biometric data devices or at any Service Centre in the state as if the new passport details have not been updated in the Passports Directorate system, the E-gate service system will show that the passport has been expired and the gate cannot be opened.

He added that in addition to updating the biometric data, the traveler could verify the validity of ID, passport, Residence permit and driving license through the self-service machines.