Dubai: About 5,000 travellers are entering through the Hatta border centre every day, but they only need 20 seconds to cross passport control thanks to innovative technologies used at the port.
Major General Obaid Muhair Bin Surour, deputy director-general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, said the new port is part of the development plan for Hatta area in Dubai after instructions from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“It is a unique land port and offering best services to customers. The average time for a traveller to complete his or her checks is 20 seconds. It is really an achievement as the port welcomes 5,000 travellers per day,” Maj Gen Bin Surour said.
Earlier this week, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, unveiled a 5-Star plaque at the GDRFA centre located at the Hatta Border Crossing Point.
The centre is among the second set of Dubai Government Customer Happiness Centres to be rated under the Star Rating programme.
“The centre has four buildings for departure and five for arrivals. Each path can finish the checks for two vehicles at the same time for smooth traffic and to avoid traffic jams during peak hours. We trained our employees and developed the procedure to provide quick service for travellers around the clock,” Maj Gen Bin Surour added.
Trucks will have a separate path and won’t be queuing with small vehicles at the same point. Hatta centre also has a duty free facility for the travellers.
Maj Gen Bin Surour praised Shaikh Hamdan’s instruction and his follow up to develop the Hatta area.
“One of the secrets of why the UAE succeeded is that the rulers are close to the people and know their needs and work to develop the best services,” he said.
