Dubai and Abu Dhabi Airports have issued 9 tips to make sure that holiday-makers have a hassle-free experience at the airport this Eid.
1. Be sure to check which airport and terminal you are departing from/arriving into beforehand. Passengers can checkdubaiairports.ae
2. Arrive early at the airport. It is best to leave a minimum of three hours for check-in and passport control.
3. Check with the airline in advance for information on your baggage allowance. The last thing any passenger wants is to incur additional charges for being over the allocated amount.
4. It is always simpler to pack liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in your check-in baggage. However, if you have to carry them in your hand luggage, make sure they are in a clear re-sealable plastic bag.
5. Each item should not be more than 100ml and the total content of all items should not be more than one litre.
6. Beat the queues by trying to check in online or using one of the self service kiosks in the airports.
7. Remember to put anything metal – watch, jewellery, mobile phone, coins, belt – into your hand luggage well before you arrive at the X-ray machine. This will save time at security screening.
8. An E-Gate Card can be used to save time at Dubai Airport and can obtained from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs (immigration) for a fee. GDRFA have E-Gate counters in the departure areas of all terminals.
9. Departing passengers from Abu Dhabi must now use the e-registration Smart Travel system, which is compulsory, and should arrive three hours before their plane takes off.
Abu Dhabi Airport said in a statement: “We anticipate around 85,000 passengers will depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport over the Eid Holiday, with July 6, 10 and 11 forecast to be the busiest days.”
The Smart Travel process at Abu Dhabi International Airport involves five steps:
1. Self Check-In: Check in by getting your boarding pass using one of the self-check-in kiosks at Terminal 1 and 3.
2. Self Baggage Drop: Send in your luggage by checking it in through the self-baggage drop system.
3. E-Registration: Sign up for the e-border gate service at one of the e-registration kiosks. You can submit your documents and perform biometric checks yourself, completing the entire process in 20 seconds.
4. E-Gate: Go through passport control in just seven seconds by using the e-border gates. Once you are done, you can breeze through the Duty Free to shop.
5. Self Boarding: Use the self-boarding gates to validate your printed boarding pass or mobile version and board your flight.
Abu Dhabi Airport said they have installed 25 e-registration stands, 58 e-gates, and 76 self-boarding gates distributed at arrivals and departures over the airport’s two terminals.
