News

Dubai Airport To Introduce Complete Biometric Admin System

The new technology will make journeys faster and seamless by identifying people based on unique physical and behavioral cues.

Published

11 months ago

September 13, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai airport to introduce complete biometric admin system

Dubai Airport is working on a unified biometric system for check-ins, immigration, and boarding that will improve speed and efficiency for passengers.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) said that Dubai International Airport would deploy the technology to identify individuals based on unique physical or behavioral characteristics.

This single system will increase the number of passengers that can be handled by airport staff while eliminating the need for immigration counters, officials explained.

“We have been working on this one biometric project for two years. The idea is to make passenger journeys faster, easier, and seamless using one biometric. For example, passengers coming for check-in will use the same biometrics in immigration, lounge, and boarding the aircraft. We call it a smart journey. In the future, we may not see classic counters as we know them today,” said Major General Obaid bin Suroor, deputy director-general of GDRFA.

Meanwhile, Major General Talal Al Shangeti, assistant director-general of the Airport Passport Sector at GDRFA, said that the GDRFA was working with all stakeholders to improve services to make Dubai International Airport one of the best in service.

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Over 42 million passengers used airports and immigration borders, with 37% using smart gates during the January-June period.

“Our target is to reach 80% of people using smart gates and other technologies. We hope to achieve this in a couple of years. We believe Dubai airport will completely deploy biometric technology,” revealed Major General Talal.

Currently, there are 120 operational smart gates at Dubai International Airport, and the aim is to reach 150 by the end of 2023 or early 2024.

News

Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

21 hours ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.