President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that all international airports in the Maldives will be equipped with E-Gates by 2026, expanding the automated immigration service already underway at Velana International Airport’s new terminal.
In a post shared on his official X account, the President noted that ten E-Gates will be installed at each terminal of Velana International Airport for both arrivals and departures before 1 January 2026. He added that the same system will be rolled out to all international airports across the country during the year.
According to the update, the E-Gates are designed to streamline the immigration process by allowing passengers to scan their passports once, with subsequent border crossings verified through facial recognition. The move is expected to reduce queues and offer a more efficient entry and exit experience for both Maldivian and international travellers.
The new terminal at Velana International Airport, which opened on 26 July 2025, has a capacity of seven million passengers annually and features several modern enhancements. The introduction of E-Gates forms part of broader digital improvements under the Government’s Maldives 2.0 policy, which aims to modernise public services and improve overall service delivery.
