Modern, state-of-the-art E-gates have been inaugurated at Velana International Airport (VIA), in line with the President's pledge.
A special ceremony was held at the airport, with the E-Gates officially opened by chief guest, Controller Generation of Immigration Ahmed Faseeh. Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed were also in attendance.
President Muizzu had announced that VIA will be equipped with modern E-gates on November 19th. On a post on social media, he stated that E-gates will eliminate time spent in queue for border control counters, streamlining the process and bringing modern technological features to the Maldives.
Passengers can scan their passports once at these E-gates, and facial recognition technology will be utilised to cross the border the second time. A total of 20 such gates overall will be installed for arrivals and departures in the new terminal of VIA, with five E-gates currently opened for departures and arrivals each.
The government has stated that this service will allow local passengers to travel with ease. Meanwhile, plans are in motion to extend this service to foreigners travelling both in and out of the country in the first quarter of 2026.