Saudi Arabia has introduced an eGate system at two of its airports to improve passenger throughput. The systems - at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam - use passenger's biometric images. Using the new eGate system, immigration officials will ask passengers to punch their cards at the eGate and place their index fingers in an allocated space on the gate to get a biometric print. The country's Passport Department has indicated that the eGate facility could be extended to other airports in the Kingdom soon. Local reports suggest the new system will be able to process passengers at an average time of five to seven seconds per person. This is seen as a big improvement, and has been welcomed by organizations involved in promoting the country as an ideal place for investment. They argue that such systems will make it easier for foreign investors to travel to the country and will thus help them do business with their Saudi counterparts. According to local reports the number of passengers using airports is increasing by 5 percent annually, so any system that can improve throughput is welcomed.
