The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) recently inaugurated the first phase of e-passport gates at terminals 3 and 4 of Riyadh airport (King Khalid International Airport). This initiative establishes Riyadh airport as the first airport in Saudi Arabia to implement biometric e-passport scanners. Through this development, Jawazat aims to enhance passenger travel procedures and provide a seamless experience for international travelers.
Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) president Abdullah Alghamdi; General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) president Abdulaziz Al Duailej; director general of Jawazat Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al Yahya, and National Information Center (NIC) director Esam Alwagait attended the launch.
Facilitating independent travel procedures
Al Yahya emphasized that the introduction of e-gates at Riyadh airport aims to facilitate travel procedures without the need for human intervention. The e-gates’ design saves time and effort for travelers who have biometric passports.
The rollout of e-gates at Riyadh airport is part of Jawazat’s ongoing efforts to enhance travel procedures. Al Yahya also highlighted the directorate’s commitment to improving services through efficient, smart and digital solutions. Hence, this aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision for a modern and innovative travel experience.
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Commitment to excellence
For his part, Al Duailej emphasized the importance of the civil aviation system and government agency partners in leveraging digitization and self-services to enhance the traveler experience. He underscored that the e-gate facilities at Riyadh airport align with the National Aviation Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. Moreover, it positions Saudi Arabia as a leader in the aviation sector in the Middle East.
Ayman Abu Abah, CEO of Riyadh Airports Company, hailed the introduction of self-service passport machines as a significant addition to the airport’s digital transformation. He emphasized that these machines will accelerate passenger movement inside the terminal. Therefore, they will enhance procedures and improve the overall passenger experience.
