DurIng the first quarter of 2024 alone, Dubai International Airport (DXB) intercepted over 350 passengers traveling with counterfeit passports.
This data has been revealed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai.
According to a report by the Khaleej Times, the GDRFA stated that 366 individuals were caught using forged passports within the first quarter of 2024, marking a slight increase from the 355 detected during the same period in 2023.
In 2023, a total of 16,127 documents were examined. Out of those, 1,232 were identified as forgeries. 443 cases were then referred to the public prosecution service for further action.
A consultant at the airport’s Document Examination Centre told local media that GDRFA has an effective system for intercepting travelers who attempt to enter the UAE bearing illegal passports.
Firstly, scanners verify security features on each passport, including watermarks, microprinting and colored fibers.
Every counter at Dubai Airport Passport Control is equipped with an advanced machine called Retro Check, which helps scrutinize suspected fake passports and aids immigration officers in the process of detection.
If a passport is suspected to be fraudulent, the document is then analyzed by one of 30 experts at the Document Examination Center at DXB Airport’s Terminal 1, which is referred to as a ‘firewall’ against fraudsters using fake travel documents.
When a fake passport is detected by immigration officers, it is then sent to a police station and referred on to the public prosecution agency.