Biometric Scans Lead to 75,000 Arrests at Airport

In 2009, more than 75,000 people travelling through Dubai International Airport were arrested following iris scans. The numbers of arrests were up by 4,000 compared to the previous year. In most cases, those arrested were people who had previously been deported from the UAE and were trying to re-enter. They were simply kicked out again.

Vigilant immigration staff also spotted 1,200 forged passports. This was among 12 million arrivals and 12 million departures of the course of 2009.

According to figures quoted in an interview, there were only 16 complaints from the public, down from 29 in 2008.