Over three million used Al Ghuwaifat border crossing last year

Abu Dhabi: More than three million people used the Al Ghuwaifat border crossing between the UAE and Saudi Arabia last year, according to the latest official statistics.

Major Saeed Al Afari, Deputy Head of Security Police at the border, said: "The number of passengers leaving the UAE via Al Ghuwaifat  border jumped to 1,554,519 last year, while the number of arrivals was 1,526,628."

In total, 3,081,147 people and 1,663,899 vehicles used the crossing, he said.

"Some 442,419 people used the Al Ghuwaifat border in July alone to cross over to Saudi Arabia, as opposed to 164,081 in March," Major Al Afari added.

Highlighting the importance of this land crossing point, he said it also saw an increase in the number of vehicles using it last year compared to 2009.

Major Al Afari attributed this increase to the economy the route provided to travellers and the fact that many people preferred to drive across, taking the land route to save money.

Shopping was a contributing factor, he added, for the increase in the number of travellers, since people from neighbouring countries liked to shop in the UAE.

"Abu Dhabi police offered numerous services to users of the Al Ghuwaifat border crossing over the past year, especially during Ramadan and Haj when 12,795 pilgrims used the crossing. Efforts were made to complete the pilgrims' official procedures in an exceptionally quick time of five minutes per 40 pilgrims, and logistic services were also offered to them," Major Al Afari said.