Dubai Customs undertook a series of measures to facilitate the entry of travellers to Dubai's three airport terminals and to eliminate obstacles they might encounter. These measures include maintaining collaboration with operating airlines to handle potential increase in passenger numbers; schedule or reduce annual leaves of airport customs inspectors as needed; conduct an inspector training session to ensure better reception and higher customer satisfaction; and provide more baggage screening devices.
Mr. Ali Al Maqhawi, Director of Customs Airport Operations at Dubai Customs, said that the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to extend celebrations of Eid Al Adha and distinguished family entertainment and leisure activities that are part of the yearly event, “Eid in Dubai” which kicked off on October 18 and will last for two weeks to November 2. During this period and for the first time in history, major shopping malls will remain open 24 hours on weekends (Thursday and Friday) during the time of celebrations for the purpose of enhancing performance and significantly energising Dubai's events & festivals and retail sectors, maintaining the emirate’s leadership in this field.
This has urged Dubai Customs to be fully prepared for this event and stand side-by-side with other entities in the emirate, especially as airports are considered the front-line in every country. Customs inspectors are urged to offer necessary assistance and help for travellers, as well as deal with all of them in a civilized manner. Training of the airport's customs personnel of both genders was intensified to boost their efficiencies and practical competence in terms of security, social interaction and language skills.
Al Maqhawi stressed that Dubai Customs' preparations for the Eid Al Adha vacation and afterwards the return of pilgrims to the UAE are tailored to avoid wasting travellers' time. They include the instalment of advanced devices to handle the enormous numbers of travellers, such as baggage and handbag screening devices, training inspectors on the best inspection ways and facilitating procedures for travellers, especially for those coming from the Holy Land after performing pilgrimage rituals.
He further added that customs officials in all three terminals meet with their employees before commencing their daily work to guarantee their compliance with the proper uniform and appearance which reflects the Department's public image; further stressing on civilized socialization with travellers and their readiness to handle peak seasons, especially during this time of the year. Team leaders and work-shift directors highlighted the vital role of airport customs inspectors in keeping the country and society clean of illegitimate or prohibited goods, as well as educating and urging new inspectors to continue their ongoing hard work, with the main focus on civilized communication with travellers by welcoming them with a genuine smile at all times, which stems from our deeply-rooted Arabic traditions, and offering them souvenirs.
“These measures are aimed to save travellers' time and facilitate their entry to the country," added Al Maqhawi. He indicated that Dubai Customs is working on educating travellers to and from the country of customs procedures at the airport. He said "We call upon every traveller from and into the country to visit our "Travellers Guide" online to be better acquainted with the airport customs measures, including the travel procedures, weight of luggage, list of permitted items, list of items to be declared upon arrival or departure, deposit refunds and other measures, besides the “Dubai Customs Passenger Charter” which clarifies passengers’ rights and duties with regards to the Customs.
Al Maqhawi reaffirmed that Dubai Customs has created an integrated team to follow up the preparations for receiving visitors of the country from various nationalities, particularly from the GCC countries, and the return of pilgrims from the Holy Land to the country. It has also set the schedule of employees' annual leaves and agreed with Emirates Airlines to inform the Department beforehand on any possible increase in the number of passengers, through direct collaboration between the airline's official on-duty and airport customs inspectors in terminals 1, 2 and 3.
"Dubai embraces more than 230 nationalities, following different customs and traditions. This is why we need to be better familiarized with the different cultures of the world in order to deal with the diverse visitors to the country and avoid any misunderstanding like using certain gestures that may be offensive to other nationalities," concluded Al Maqhawi.
Inspection sections will operate at their utmost capacity. In Terminal 1, four manual devices will be operational and all gates will be open to facilitate the entry of visitors and pilgrims coming to the country through Dubai airports, in Terminal 2, four devices will be operational, and in Terminal 3, six manual devices will be running in addition to allocating gates for pilgrims only.
Regarding on-duty inspectors, 37 inspectors will work rotating shifts round-the-clock in Terminal 1, 27 inspectors in Terminal 2 and 58 inspectors in Terminal 3.
In addition, certain gates are allocated for receiving travellers with special needs in all terminals and inspectors are assigned to welcome and guide them through their gates