In a major advancement towards seamless air travel, Dubai International Airport has introduced a new AI-powered passport control system that enables some passengers to bypass traditional identity verification steps entirely.
Launched during Dubai AI Week, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) unveiled the ‘Unlimited Smart Travel’ service at the First and Business Class lounges in Terminal 3.
According to the GDRFA, the system uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and facial recognition to identify passengers without requiring physical documents.
“This service has been developed in line with the Directorate’s vision to improve the quality of life for travellers and enhance the efficiency and smoothness of travel procedures,” the authority said in a statement.
The initiative is based on learnings from the smart tunnel project launched in 2020, which utilised biometric data for identity verification. The upgraded system allows up to 10 individuals to pass through immigration in 14 seconds, significantly reducing wait times.
“In this new phase, we are transitioning to an advanced system, which does not rely on documents or any other procedures – just facial recognition,” a senior official said, noting that the system uses pre-registered biometric data.
Currently available only for departing passengers, the GDRFA said the future plan includes expanding the service to arriving passengers. Travellers will need to register just once, after which their data will be stored securely.
The smart lounges are equipped with advanced multi-angle cameras to capture facial data, streamlining movement through immigration gates. Officials expect the system to help manage an anticipated 8 per cent increase in passenger traffic.
Branded as ‘Unlimited Smart Travel,’ the service echoes Dubai’s broader ‘Travel Without Borders’ initiative showcased at GITEX Global 2024, aimed at redefining global airport experiences.
