Aviation's role in border security comes under scrutiny

Aviation's role in the protection of national borders will come under the microscope at an international conference planned for the UAE next month.
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The Future of Borders GDRFA International Conference will take place at the Ritz Carlton DIFC in Dubai on March 11 and 12 will have a stellar line-up of 24 experts and top officials from 12 countries who will be sharing their vision about the future of international travel and border control. 

Angela Gittens, director general of Airports Council International (ACI) - the global body for the world’s airports with 573 members operating 1751 airports in 174 countries– will utilise the knowledge sharing platform to share her insights into the changing face of travellers’ facilitation and the challenges of border control in an increasingly mobile world.
Also sharing the podium will be Michael Herrero, from IATA, and Sir Tim Clark the president of Emirates airline. The aviation element of the conference will be moderated by Alan Peaford, editor-in-chief of Arabian Aerospace.
Top-ranking officials of the US, UK, Hong Kong and Netherlands immigration and border control authorities will also address the conference to help in chalking out the future roadmap for the borders control industry.
The event is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, who will open the conference.
Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general, of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) which is hosting the conference, said: “The conference will pave the way for all stakeholders to develop not only borders industry, but also the travel and tourism industries and keep the momentum of cooperation and collaboration among them to implement the growth and expansion plans smoothly in line with the changing times.”
He added: “The conference provides an ideal platform to present UAE’s successful borders management experiment and its expertise in harnessing the latest technologies, smart gates, smart travel solutions and biometric devices to accelerate and facilitate travel.”
 

 

Pictured left: Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri,