Gulf | Oman
Oman introduces e-gate card at airport
Four years after launching machine-readable smart resident cards, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) yesterday introduced an e-gate system at Muscat International Airport to allow holders of Omani residence visas entry and exit by simply swiping their resident card.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:39 September 10, 2008
Muscat: Four years after launching machine-readable smart resident cards, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) yesterday introduced an e-gate system at Muscat International Airport to allow holders of Omani residence visas entry and exit by simply swiping their resident card.
No longer will passengers, nationals as well as expatriates, have to wait in long queues to get their passports stamped as they can head straight for the machine and register their entry or exit.
"There are clear-cut instructions for passengers on how to use their residence cards to register entries or exits at the e-gate," an ROP spokesperson said.
"The entry or departure will be recorded without any need to stamp the passport," he said. He also added that passport officers would be on hand to offer help with using the new system.
In January 2004, Oman became the first Arab country to introduce a machine-readable smart card with stored fingerprints. The card has all the holder's personal details, including marriage status.
At the time of launching the smart card an ROP official said the card would not work at the e-gate for persons with adverse reports against them.
"The new e-gate system is a move to make travelling easy for citizens and expatriates through Muscat International Airport," a statement issued by ROP yesterday read.
Fingerprints
Work has also started on the ROP's new building for electronic fingerprints, situated near the Civil Status Building near Muscat International Airport. The new building provides an electronic reader for taking fingerprints without the need for ink or chemicals.
There are plans to eventually introduce the e-gate system at all border posts to make entry and exit easier for residents of the country.
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