Today's Edition
SAMI ABDULRAOUF (DUBAI)
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai revealed that 366 fake passports and forged travel documents were confiscated at Dubai airports during the first quarter of 2024, compared to 355 cases in the first quarter of 2023.
Aqeel Ahmed Al-Najjar, Advisor at GDRFA Dubai’s Documents and Records InspectionCentre, during a media tour at the Centre, located in Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 1, said: “In 2023, 16,127 documents were inspected, 1,232 were found to be forged, and 443 cases were referred to the public prosecution for further action based on the specifics of each case.”
The GDRFA Dubai’s Document and Records Inspection Centre launched its services in 2018 and is recognised as an accredited entity for the courts and judicial authorities in the UAE, Al-Najjar said, adding that the Centre focuses exclusively on inspecting travel documents and related records.
Al-Najjar explained that these documents include passports, travel documents, identity cards, entry permits of various types, and residence cards issued by foreign countries, such as the US green card.
The inspection and verification processes cover all security features, seals, and electronic chips embedded within the documents. The Centre is equipped with a comprehensive lab featuring the latest precise and specialised technologies in this field, he said.
“The Centre provides services to all relevant entities in the country, including training services for some airlines and their staff responsible for verifying passenger identities and overseeing boarding processes,” Al-Najjar added. “It also assists any entities wishing to verify the authenticity of documents they receive, including individuals who acquire passports from some foreign countries through intermediaries and wish to verify their authenticity.”
Al-Najjar indicated that assistance is also provided those referred by the GDRFA who may need to replace their passports due to nationality changes or update their identity and residence records based on new passport data. The Centre examines the passport and verifies its authenticity.
The Centre is 100% staffed by Emiratis who have gained sufficient expertise through continuous training and qualification. This includes around 1,500 passport officers who verify documents across Buildings 1, 2, and 3, handling entry and exit processes. The Centre also has 30 second-line document examiners, all of whom are citizens.
Al-Najjar stated that said the checks carried out by the Centre can lead to significant legal consequences for individuals found with forged or counterfeit travel documents, whether they were aware of it or were victims of deception. He noted that the judicial authorities decide on their fate, but as for those arriving in the country with forged passports or travel documents, they are denied entry and immediately returned to the countries they came from or the relevant authorities.
