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Canopy helps provide a safe, healthy and productive working environment for staff

Dubai Customs provides a safe, healthy and happy work environment through leading initiatives that care for the inspection staff and boost their productivity. The recently introduced air-conditioned inspection canopy was one of the initiatives implemented in the Hatta Border Crossing Center by the Administration Affairs Department. The vehicle inspection bay at the crossing point has been upgraded with full air-conditioning to accommodate six vehicles distributed on three lanes at peak times for a more seamless and convenient inspection process.

The air-conditioned checkpoint reduces temperatures to 25 degrees Celsius inside the canopy, while it reaches 50 degrees Celsius outside especially in summer, which considerably reduces chances of inspectors’ heat stress during the inspection process.

The new initiative has raised inspectors and passengers’ happiness, and sped up the inspection process. It also contributed to raising the efficiency of customs control at the border crossing with considerable rise in the number of reported seizures.

“The air-conditioned inspection canopy initiative is aligned with Dubai Customs’ strategic plan 2021-2026, which has as an objective to improve work environment and ensure convenience and wellbeing for both our inspectors and customers,” said Eng. Khawla Al Slaes, Director of Administration Affairs Department at Dubai Customs. “With continued development and modernization, we have come a long way towards boosting productivity and efficiency of our inspection operations through a safe work environment.”

The move has had a positive impact in terms of increased inspection productivity while maintaining the smooth flow of passenger and cargo vehicles passing through the Hatta border crossing.

Al Slaes pointed out the air-conditioned inspection canopy took 45 days to be installed. It includes insulators and air curtains to prevent the entry of hot air, while separating cold air from hot air coming from outside the canopy through an automated control device to close and open the electronic gates leading in and out of the inspection lanes.
The Director of Administration Affairs underscored that the main challenge faced by the project team during the development and implementation of the canopy was to maintain the normal operation, speed and smoothness of inspections to ensure uninterrupted passage of vehicles through the crossing point.