Computer scans of passports are commonplace in the United Arab Emirates

From: The Australian February 26, 2010, by Simon Canning:

IN the past two weeks [alone], hundreds of Australian passports have been scanned into computers in the United Arab Emirates ...computer scans of Australian passports are commonplace throughout the region, hotels there usually requesting guests hand over their passports for scanning.

Travellers in large groups ...are often asked by hotel clerks to surrender their passports overnight for scanning  ...a practice that is frowned upon by the Australian government, but harried travellers often agree with the request when checking in.

...Two weeks ago, 500 Australians and New Zealanders travelling with the V8 Supercars round to Abu Dhabi and Bahrain were told by clerks at the Yas Marina Crowne Plaza Hotel to hand in passports to be scanned overnight...