Dubai: Outbound passengers at all airports in the UAE will be charged a service fee of Dh5 from July 29, according to the UAE aviation body GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority).
"This is a service fee, which is related to safety and security of passengers and travelling public out of UAE airports.
"This service fee has been communicated to all airlines as well as airports, and will be collected starting July 29, 2011," GCAA's Director General Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi told Gulf News in an e-mailed statement.
Explaining further, the GCAA's spokesperson said: "The decision will be implemented by the UAE Government and has been issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as the prime minister of the country."
Asked how the passengers would be charged this fee, the GCAA's spokesperson said: "It will be built into the passenger's ticket purchased in the UAE," adding, it would "not be applicable to transit passengers".
Incorporated into ticket
Confirming the move, a flydubai spokesperson told Gulf News in an emailed statement that the budget carrier was notified on July 5 that a Dh5 fee per passenger travelling from any UAE airport will be introduced.
"The new charge will take effect from July 29 and will be applicable to all international departures from all UAE airports.
It will be levied at the time of booking and has already been incorporated into the price of flydubai's flights departing from July 29," the spokesperson said, adding that transit passengers and infants under two years of age are exempt from the charge.
The Abu Dhabi Airports Company, the operator of Abu Dhabi International Airport, too, has been notified, confirmed its spokesperson, without divulging any further details.
