Plastic surgeon at immigration
This behaviour is unpardonable and must be dealt with firmly(‘Passenger alleges moustache ‘harassment’ at Sharjah airport,’ Gulf News, December 31). I am a plastic surgeon and I often questioned at the immigration. They ask me various questions about my profession and ask for spot on consultations. To an extent I may tolerate this as friendly chat. But what happened to this gentleman is atrocious. After a flight one is tired and in no mood for such pranks. This matter should be addressed by the authorities.
From Dr Mohan
Abu Dhabi
Vacant immigration counters
This is news is painful and unfortunate. I have realised that the general attitude of immigration officials at both Sharjah and Dubai airports is not very graceful, cordial or pleasant, especially towards Asians visiting the UAE. Beyond this I would like to complain about the never ending immigration queues. Sometimes the queues can take more than an hour. Often the queues are because half the immigration counters are unmanned and unattended. Most of us might be able to queue for a while, but what about the elderly people and women with children. This gives an impression hat the women are unwelcomed in this beautiful country. I request the concerned authorities to make sure that all immigration counters are functional during rush hours.
From Mr Singhal
Dubai
Suggestion
I strongly condemn the behaviour of the passport control officer. This is definitely not the right way for the public service ( if its true ). No one has the right to insult anyone personally. I am surprised, why his colleagues also didn’t advice the officer to give passport back to the passenger. Just one suggestion to the humanity : pls do not enjoy others pain. If you can enjoy yours, doesn’t matter!
From Mr Rathesh Vyshak
Fujairah
Well mannered
Sharjah Airport Police and Emigration Official’s harassment/behaviour to passengers some times exceeds limits. Few years ago I saw a that a labourer who had arrived and he only knew Urdu. So when the immigration official asked him to take the eye test he did not understand. The officer detained his passport, asked him to stand nearby. I intervened and told the officer that I could converse with him in Urdu as he is an illiterate. The officer asked me to stand keep out of the situation or he would take my passport too. I didn’t want to get into trouble so I left the place. Passengers pay high airport taxes and they don’t deserve to be treated like this. Airport staff must be well mannered and welcoming. However, I agree that not all staff is rude. There are several who are very helpful and the situation is much better than what it was a decade ago.
From Mr Jinesh
Sharjah
No trial and error period
Your article about malfunctioning new e-Gate is more than timely (‘Problems at e-Gate facility in Dubai are temporary, official says,’ Gulf News, December 31). In fact this has not been a problem for the past few days, it has been a problem for months. I am a frequent traveler and a UAE resident for over 16 years. Ever since e-Gate was introduced, they have malfunctioned. Indeed, this is to be expected as systems of this nature need to go through a certain trial and error period and nobody would have a problem if it were not to the ensuing rude treatment one is very often subjected to by the immigration officers, who now have a wave of work on their hands. Rather than building specific lines for e-gate users with problems (not everyone actually has a problem), we are often rudely told to “wait over there” or simply stand in the line of normal tourists. Of course by that time, one has no “fast track card” which could ut the wait time, because whenever I am offered one inflight, I would automatically reject it based on the fact that I am an e-Gate user! So the problem compounds itself. By no means is this always! There are some extremely accommodating immigration officers who have waved me and other arriving passengers through with minimum hassle, but the rule with me unfortunately has been the annoyed looking e-Gate officer, unhappy with a lot of work on his hands due to these malfunctions.
From Mr Ulrich T. Eckhardt
Ajman
Clear instructions
Thank you Gulf News for providing readers a chance to highlight the e-Gate issue to the concerned authorities. The e-Gate is an excellent facility that saves, not only passengers’ time, but also the stress encountered by them to get the passport stamped at the manually operated counters sometimes manned by arrogant officers. The passengers are most grateful to the authorities who have initiated this process in easing and reducing the waiting time behind long queues. I am an e-Gate user, and found the e-Gate procedure to be very simple, when we only needed the ID card to gain access to the finger scanning machine. But, now the boarding card also needs to be scanned, and this often leads to a confusion about when and how it needs to be placed for scanning. If fortunate, you might find an Immigration officer, who would be kind enough to come across and help. Clear instructions need to be placed next to the e-Gate. If the ID card and the boarding pass need to be placed one after the other, in a certain sequence, it must be clearly indicated as to what sequence is to be followed.
From Mr Thomas Varghese
Dubai
Live in peace
This is very good news (“Sharjah bans cigarette sales in key areas”, Gulf News, December 29). Hats off to the government of Sharjah and the concerned authorities for banning the sale of tobacco products in residential areas across the emirate. Hope this law is adopted and implemented in other emirates as well. Children and families can now live in peace without having to inhale harmful smoke. This is also likely to discourage youngsters from smoking cigarettes.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
UAE
Facebook comment
Healthy youth
I like this decision. It will help the future generation to become healthy and the only way forward is to have a healthy nation.
From Ms Sandra Jane Peters
UAE
Facebook comment
Ban needed
Other countries should also ban smoking in public places. There is nothing worse than sitting down to a meal and a smoker puffs away.
From Ms Kate Nolan
UAE
Facebook comment
Public ban
If a smoker wants to smoke, they will buy cigarettes in bulk and keep it with them. Banning cigarettes being sold in supermarkets will not help them quit smoking. Smoking should be banned in all public placed but be available for those who want to smoke in their private space.
From Mr N. E. D.
Al Ain
Website comment
Full name withheld by request
Passive smoker
Sharjah will no longer smell of smoke everywhere. Cigarette smoke not only harms the smoker but also the passive smoker. I am glad this decision is finally made.
From Mr Mohammad Imranuddin
Doha, Qatar
Website comment
Won’t matter
If people want to smoke, they will. Either they will simply go and buy it in bulk from a large supermarket or cigarettes will be sold under the counter for a higher price.
From Ms Caroline Wareham
UAE
Facebook comment
Black market
This ban will only encourage illegal sale of cigarettes by groceries. It will encourage the black market.
From Mr Rymon Samir
UAE
Healthier society
I hope this works. This is a step forward to a smoker free society. A positive thing!
From Ms Fatima Al
Sharjah
Dislike
Where’s the dislike button? I was planning to go back to the UAE, but if this is the case, I don’t know if I want to anymore. In 2005, people used to smoke inside shopping malls and supermarkets and now this. I think this is too extreme. Can’t authorities find a middle ground?
From Ms Sheika Yasmina
UAE
Facebook comment
Other emirates
This is great news! I hope the same rule is soon implemented in other emirates, especially in Abu Dhabi.
From Ms Lai Baltazar
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Personal choice
I respect the law. However, the shops only sell cigarettes to smokers and don’t force other customers to buy it. Smoking is a personal choice and shouldn’t be controlled. Anyway cigarettes will be sold in other places. The smokers will keep smoking.
From Mr S.
Dubai
Website comment
Full name withheld by request
Complete ban
Great work by the Sharjah authorities. I hope the ban spreads across all emirates in the UAE. The complete ban on cigarette sales and smoking anywhere in public will not only lead to a nation with healthier people but also a cleaner and healthier environment.
From Mr Mohammad Ishfaq
Dubai
Website comment
Clean city
This is a good move. It will also help keep the city clean. Banning smoking in public places will be tough initially, but with time it will be alright.
From Mr Venkat
Dubai
Website comment
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