The EU’s new system of automated border checks comes into force on Sunday, leading to the risk of increased delays for travellers.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens to register at the EU border, with registration valid for a rolling three-year period or until the passport expires. The EU’s biggest countries, including France and Germany, will carry out only a handful of checks in a bid to avoid long queues at airports.
Some smaller member states will have the system fully in place from Sunday and border officials will be able to suspend checks for short periods if processing times become excessively long.
Every member state will have until mid-April to use automated checks for all passengers at their borders. If travellers refuse to provide biometric data, they will be refused entry.
France's Interior Ministry acknowledged the system will be a "major challenge" for one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
UK authorities are warning those heading to Europe that while the checks should only take a couple of minutes for each person, they may lead to longer wait times at border control on arrival in the Schengen area.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, warned travellers to give themselves extra time. She said that, where bottlenecks already exist, for example when several flights arrive at once, it will become more of an issue.
“So our advice is actually to make sure, where possible, you’re leaving yourself between three and four hours from the point of entry,” she said.
Under the new system, first time travellers going to the EU they will need to register at a special machine. They look a bit like the e-gates at airports, with biometric scanners built in. The machine then scans the passport and the machine will take fingerprints and a photo.
Travellers will also need to answer four short questions about their trip, such as where they are staying and whether they have a return flight booked.
France said that border officers may ask for proof of medical travel insurance when travellers arrive, particularly once the new system is in full use.
Those going through Eurotunnel will be asked the questions by border officers instead of the machine.
On departure, travellers’ details will be checked against the EES database to confirm compliance with existing rules on time limits of stay and register departure. Manual stamps on passports will eventually be phased out.
The same requirements will apply in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, members of the European Economic Area including the EU and Switzerland. But they will not apply in Cyprus and Ireland, the only two EU members outside the Schengen area.
The big test will be holiday traffic at Easter 2026 and the following summer when many families travel for the first time after EES' introduction.
Checks will be carried out for passengers from Britain before they cross the border, especially at London's St Pancras station, the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkstone.
Terminals have already been installed and Eurostar has spent £11 million ($14.6 million) overhauling its border facilities at St Pancras, building 49 kiosks.
"EES will contribute to prevent irregular migration and help protect the security of everyone living in or travelling to Europe," it said.
Countries will use data for several reasons, including to identify travellers banned from entering the EU, finding those using fake identities, and helping to prevent crime. Each member state is able decide where and how they want to implement the system.
The only requirements are that at 30 days in, countries must be registering 10 per cent of travellers and by 90 days, they should be registering 35 per cent of travellers, rising to 50 per cent at 150 days. By April 9, countries must be registering all travellers in the system.
The next phase in the EU's border overhaul will be the launch of an electronic travel authorisation document, known by its acronym ETIAS, like the United States' ESTA or its British equivalent.
Before travelling to the EU, citizens of visa-exempt countries will have to complete an online form and pay a small fee, which still under discussion.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Cofe
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 80-100
Amount raised: $13m
Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
