Emaratech, the company behind the smart gate passport screening systems at Dubai airport, aims to boost its number of registered users to 700,000 by year-end, said a report.

The smart gate systems, which can process three passengers a minute, are set to become increasingly important as passenger numbers through Dubai International continue to rise, the Gulf News reported citing a company official.

Dubai International had recorded a 15.2 per cent increase in passenger numbers which rose to 66.4 million in 2013 over the previous year, the report added.

This year too, the numbers are on the rise with more passengers travelling through Dubai International in the first quarter than London Heathrow, which was the busiest for international passenger traffic last year.

Seeing the passenger boom, Emaratech has opened over 20 external registering centres across Dubai to help streamline passenger passport checks.

The system will be soon be rolled out across Terminal 1 and 2 at Dubai International and at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central.