Dubai unveils 'click and travel' service to fast-track airport passport checks

Dubai's authorities have introduced a new technology-driven service called Click and Travel to expedite passport checks at the city's airports. The service, announced by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, leverages advanced biometric recognition technology – facial and iris scans – to verify travelers' identities in seconds.

The portable device, connected to GDRFA's smart platform and official database, enables spot checks without passengers needing to queue at a counter. Maj Gen Talal Al Shanqiti, assistant director general for airport at GDRFA, Dubai, explained that Click and Travel will serve as a backup to smart gates and the Red Carpet tunnel, primarily benefiting families, children, and people of determination during long queues.

The service is available to all passengers in departures but limited to Emiratis and UAE residents on arrival, with plans to expand it to others, such as individuals with visitor visas. The pilot phase, which began last October, saw over 31,000 passengers utilize the service, according to GDRFA. Dubai has long invested in smart technology to reduce immigration waiting times, including smart gates and the Red Carpet service, which utilizes AI-powered smart corridors to clear immigration quickly.

In the first half of 2023, around 26 million passengers traveled through Dubai's airports, with more than 9.4 million passengers using smart gates and nearly 750,000 passengers benefiting from the Red Carpet service.