Fingerprints and photos will become mandatory for EU trips starting from October 2024. Reem Mohammed / The National
Fingerprints and photos will become mandatory for EU trips starting from October 2024. Reem Mohammed / The National
Fingerprints and photos will become mandatory for EU trips starting from October 2024. Reem Mohammed / The National
Fingerprints and photos will become mandatory for EU trips starting from October 2024. Reem Mohammed / The National

New entry hurdles to Europe await British passport holders


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

British passport holders will encounter new entry requirements when visiting the European Union from October 6, 2024, it has been announced.

This change results from Britons becoming “third-country nationals” following Brexit.

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) mandates that British passport holders travelling to the Schengen area must register fingerprints and have their pictures taken, starting from their first visit after October 6 and on each subsequent entry.

The EES, designed to bolster border security against terrorist threats, will replace traditional passport stamping with an automated IT system.

While aimed at streamlining the entry process, concerns have been raised about potential border delays, particularly for cars entering France through the Channel Tunnel.

The Schengen area includes most EU members (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania), as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The implementation of EES was initially set for May but faced delays due to IT issues and was postponed to avoid coinciding with the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Airlines have cautioned about potential delays during the biometric registration for British passport holders.

A Thomas Cook spokesman told The National: “Any additional visa costs will undoubtedly raise the price of holidays. As a result, holidaymakers will likely compare the costs of European holiday packages with those in destinations outside Europe.

“Airports across Europe now have plenty of time to prepare for the introduction and while there may be some short-term disruption in the most popular destinations, given the time of year we would hope our customers would only experience a short delay to the start of their holiday.

“We will be sharing advice with customers closer to the time to help them prepare but for those customers who have visited the USA on a recent holiday the process will be familiar to them.”

He also addressed the timing of these changes, noting their implementation will not cause disruption until 2025 at the earliest.

“October half-term is our peak period,” he added. "Typically, travellers during this time prefer warmer destinations like the Caribbean and Egypt. These holidaymakers won't be affected by the new rules."

Delays at Dover as summer getaway begins – in pictures

Eurotunnel, operating the LeShuttle service between Folkestone and Calais, confirmed an October 6, 2024, start date.

Getlink, the Channel Tunnel operator, is investing £67 million in new facilities in Kent to process up to 500 cars per hour.

Eurotunnel told The National it was working to adapt its terminals with a new pre-checkin zone and digital equipment. It plans to release more details next year.

Dover, the UK's busiest port, may also see increased delays due to limited space.

UK entry rules change in 2025

In contrast, EU citizens entering the UK will not face new procedures for now.

EU arrivals into the UK will continue as usual until new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and visa-waiver requirements take effect in 2025.

From 2025, EU passport holders will need the UK's ETA before departure.

Additionally, a visa-waiver scheme will be introduced, requiring online applications.

This scheme will cost €7 ($7.68) and will be valid for three years or until passport expiration.

Travellers are advised to apply for these at least 96 hours before departure to allow time for processing.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELECTION%20RESULTS
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MATCH DETAILS

Barcelona 0

Slavia Prague 0

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m

Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’  in Dubai is worth... $600m

China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn

The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn

Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

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AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
  • Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
  • Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
  • Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
  • Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
  • 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
  • Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Company%20Profile
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Scoreline

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17

Jebel Ali Dragons 20

Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson

Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
THREE
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While you're here
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors. 

 

 

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Updated: December 19, 2023, 3:30 PM`