T1 DXB - Immigration
 

Hi,

I was wondering if any one might know what might have caused the following experience to happen at Dubai Terminal 1 Immigration back in June.

I was travelling on my own and got to the desks where a lady took her time looking at my passport, she tried it on 2 computers.

I was then handed a handwritten post it note in Arabic, which she had written (and was rather long) and was told to take it to the office at the back of the hall, a guy there took a look at my passport and stamped it before I was allowed through immigration.

Any thoughts on what it might have been - was very odd!

I tried to register for the e-gate here in Abu Dhabi, but the machine would not read my passport. The official said they've had the problem with quite a few UK passports, and that it is because the film is too shiny. He tried lots of times with no success. I've had no problems at Heathrow, so assume it is either the reader or software in the UAE. (I will try registering again next week)
However, I've not had any problems at the immigration/emigration desks with my passport being read.

It's unpredictable how long it takes the officer to stamp you through; sometimes it's seconds, sometimes they take a very long look and do lots of tapping.

I assume the computer is prompting them to take a closer look. I did once get sent to the back room when leaving through DXB T1. No reason was given and I was stamped out without further ado.

@londonba2014 ... are you a frequent visitor ?

Hi - nope it was my first visit to the UAE - very odd!!

I do wonder about the film on the passports - whenever I pass through the e-gates at Terminal 5 - LHR, it always takes me several attempts for the passport to be recognised.

My current UK passport is c. Nov 2014 (and almost full :)) and is fine at LHR and for the e-gate registration at AUH.

Maybe a bad/non-conforming batch of passports somewhere ?