With the new Dh12 billion Emirates airline terminal set to open in January, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made an inspection tour of the facility at the Dubai International Airport on Saturday, calling on the staff to be kind and nice.

He was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; and Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group.

The terminal will have an annual capacity of 19 million passengers.

Shaikh Mohammed began his tour at Concourse 2 where he inspected the counters of the General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. He directed employees there to deal with passengers nicely and kindly. At the passengers check gate, Shaikh Mohammed ordered that security people deal with passengers in a civilised manner and pay them due respect.

Shaikh Mohammed and accompanying officials then headed for the new terminal through the internal metro which can transport 6,000 passengers per hour between the old and new terminal. Shaikh Mohammed hailed the idea of the internal metro.

Entering the new terminal, which is 645 metres long and 90 metres wide and covers an area of 528 square metres, Shaikh Mohammed inspected the arrival and departure lounges, which can accommodate 20 A-380 aircraft.

The new terminal is partially an underground structure and has five gates for remote stands, comprising an ‘Automated People Mover’ for both arrivals and departures. The terminal extends above the ground under a metal shell to accommodate 20 aircraft with the lower and upper levels of Concourse 3 connected by means of a special vertical transportation system (Sky Train).

Shaikh Mohammed also inspected the designs for the First and Business Class lounges as well as the two four and five-star hotels which have about 200 rooms in addition to a health club and a business centre.

At the luggage section, Shaikh Mohammed familiarised himself with the latest technology used in transporting and uploading luggages via the ‘Automated People Mover’ in addition to the vehicular and baggage handling system.

At the terminal 2 arrivals section, Shaikh Mohammed was briefed by Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, on the latest e-gates system which has been introduced to speed up and simplify the immigration process at entry and exit points. In his presentation, Al Marri also touched on the smart gates for people of special needs.

Shaikh Mohammed hailed the General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs’ initiatives, and urged Al Marri to make all possible efforts to achieve 100 per cent passenger satisfaction which he said would mirror the country’s culture.

Writing on his Twitter page later, Shaikh Mohammed said Emirates airline is a model for the rest of our national companies. “It started locally and succeeded internationally.”

“Emirates airline is a development success story and a national accomplishment. It serves our children and the future generations,” he wrote.

Also accompanying Shaikh Mohammed on his inspection tour were Shaikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum; Director of Dubai Ruler’s Court Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office Ahmad Abdullah Al Shaikh, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Dubai World Central’s Executive Chairman Khalifa Al Zaffin, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice-President, Airport Services, Mohammed Mattar and other senior officials.