e-boarding scheme cuts need to clear immigration

Dubai: Travelling between the UAE and the United Kingdom could soon become much easier if a trial scheme that lets people bypass immigration officers proves successful.

Officials are going to test out a new e-boarding initiative that will allow passengers to walk through electronic turnstiles at Dubai International Airport and London Heathrow.

The person's biometric data such as the irises of their eyes will be checked to confirm their identity and right to pass. The International Air Transport Association programme is also being tested at Hong Kong International Airport.

Passengers who are eligible to walk through the electronic checkpoints at the three airports will not have to show their passports to immigration officers. In total 3,000 people from the UAE, the UK and Hong Kong are due to be recruited for the trial, which is set to begin this autumn.

A spokesman for the UK's Home Office, which has signed up to the pilot scheme, told Gulf News: "This is very much about regular travellers and there are many people who go between Dubai and the UK often, and between Hong Kong and the UK. Volunteers will have to enrol in their own country, people from Dubai will have to enrol in Dubai and those from the UK will have to join in the UK."

He added that Dubai was selected for the trial because Emirates is one of the partners in the initiative.

From each participant, organisers will take 13 pieces of biometric data such as their fingerprints, facial dimensions and details of the irises in their eyes. When the person passes through the electronic immigration control, these biometrics will be checked before they can proceed.

"On the UK side, there will be an automated gate at Heathrow's Terminal Three. It will help people to get through more quickly," the Home Office spokes-man added.

Although people will be able to walk through without showing their passport, immigration officials will be able to request to see the document if they wish. The spokesman said there was no guarantee the scheme, which was still at the "development stage," would operate permanently.

"This is very much a trial rather than a pilot. There are no particular plans to roll it out across the UK," he said.