Dubai’s DXB and DWC airports shut down smart gates

On a statement on its website, Dubai airport has said that effective from Sunday, March 8, all smart gates at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) will be no longer be operational for departing passengers.

The move comes as a means to monitor and contain the spread of coronavirus Covid-19.

Read: Video, pictures: Dubai’s Emirates intensifies aircraft cleaning process

The announcement means that residents will no longer be able to pass through the smart gates using their Emirates Id alone and will have to go through the immigration counters at the airport along with their passports.

The UAE recorded 15 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infected individuals in the country to 45, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced on Friday.

Read: GCC coronavirus update: Total cases surge past 190

At Dubai airport, every traveller will go through unobtrusive thermal screenings.

The statement added that in addition to thermal screening, nasal swab will also be carried out by Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) airport medical centre team at DXB on all passengers arriving from China, Italy, Syria, Lebanon and Thailand.

The dedicated medical teams at the airport try to complete the screening of passengers and crew of a flight within 40 minutes.

Flights to Bahrain, Iran and China (except Beijing) are temporarily suspended.

Those travelling to Kuwait, via Dubai, and are resident of or have travelled to the following countries in the past 14-days, will not be permitted to enter Kuwait and should check with their airline before departure: India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Syria, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

All flights to Saudi Arabia will be restricted to only three airports within the kingdom: King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh; King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah; and King Fahd International Airport, Dammam.

Read: UAE temporarily bans use of ID cards for airport immigration clearance

In February, UAE had already banned its citizens and nationals of other GCC countries to travel using only national ID cards under a temporary order issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).

Read: Dubai’s Emirates to waive change penalties for all new bookings this month

Dubai carrier Emirates announced a waiver policy for all bookings starting from Saturday, March 7, until the end of the month.

Passengers who decide to change their travel plans could do so for travel within an 11-month date range in the same booking class without change penalties. With early school closures for spring break in the UAE, the new waiver policy is applicable on tickets issued on or before March 4, 2020, with travel up to May 31, 2020, with rebooking permitted up to June 30, 2020.

Read: Passenger airline industry could lose up to $113bn due to coronavirus – IATA

Emirates Airline has implemented enhanced disinfection procedures on all flights arriving to and departing from Dubai.