DUBAI, 25 May 2007 — Dubai will implement new security regulations on hand baggage liquids, aerosols and gels at Dubai International Airport starting June 17, 2007. The announcement follows a recent decision by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to enforce rules as specified by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) for its member states.
Liquids include water, drinks, soups, syrups, creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, sprays, gels (including hair and shower gels), contents of pressurized containers (including foams, shaving foam and deodorants), pastes (including toothpaste) and other similar items.
Under the new security rules, passengers are only allowed to take small quantities of liquids in their hand luggage provided these are in separate containers with a maximum capacity of 100 milliliters each.
All such containers are required to be packed in one transparent, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one-liter capacity per individual. In addition, passengers must present all liquids being carried at security checkpoints for examination.
Almost all airports worldwide follow the same regulations.
Since the new rules only affect what can be carried as hand luggage, passengers can still pack liquids in bags that are checked in.
“The UAE is an ICAO member state, and as such the GCAA (the UAE’s federal civil aviation authority), and through it all local civil aviation authorities across the country follow safety and security standards set by the organization. It translates into greater security for passengers and should therefore be welcomed by one and all,” said Mohammed ibn Ahmed Al-Tayer, director of the Aviation Unit at the Department of Civil Aviation.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department (DNRD) has increased the number of e-gates from six to 16 at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 1.
The new electronic gates take 30 seconds to process one passenger and will be more convenient for passengers, sources said. “The new machines will reduce congestion at the manual immigration counters,” said Al-Tayer.
