The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA) quietly widened access to its biometric Smart Gates at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) on 17 November 2025. The automated lanes, now installed in all arrival and departure halls, rely on facial-recognition cameras linked to Emirates ID and passport databases. Once a traveller is registered, the gate opens in under six seconds, eliminating manual stamping.
Under the update, eligibility has been clarified into six groups: UAE citizens, GCC nationals, UAE residency-visa holders, visa-on-arrival passengers with biometric passports, Schengen-visa holders, and travellers with pre-issued UAE entry permits. Children under 1.2 metres, first-time visitors, and passengers with visa issues must still use staffed counters.
![Dubai Airports Expands Smart Gate Access: Who Can Use the Biometric Lanes?]()
For corporate mobility managers, the change means faster crew rotations and shorter layovers. Airlines estimate the gates can clear 60 passengers per minute, supporting DXB’s forecast of nearly five million passengers during the December peak. Registration status can be checked online via GDRFA’s “Inquiry for Smart Gate Registration” or the DubaiNow super-app; most residents are auto-enrolled after their first Dubai exit/entry.
Experts note that the Smart Gates form part of Dubai’s “No-Stop Border” vision and complement Emirates’ investment in facial-recognition boarding. Frequent flyers should remove sunglasses and masks before approaching the lane, and keep passports handy in case of system referral. The rollout positions Dubai among the world’s fastest biometric border-controls, rivalled only by Singapore’s Changi Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Under the update, eligibility has been clarified into six groups: UAE citizens, GCC nationals, UAE residency-visa holders, visa-on-arrival passengers with biometric passports, Schengen-visa holders, and travellers with pre-issued UAE entry permits. Children under 1.2 metres, first-time visitors, and passengers with visa issues must still use staffed counters.
For corporate mobility managers, the change means faster crew rotations and shorter layovers. Airlines estimate the gates can clear 60 passengers per minute, supporting DXB’s forecast of nearly five million passengers during the December peak. Registration status can be checked online via GDRFA’s “Inquiry for Smart Gate Registration” or the DubaiNow super-app; most residents are auto-enrolled after their first Dubai exit/entry.
Experts note that the Smart Gates form part of Dubai’s “No-Stop Border” vision and complement Emirates’ investment in facial-recognition boarding. Frequent flyers should remove sunglasses and masks before approaching the lane, and keep passports handy in case of system referral. The rollout positions Dubai among the world’s fastest biometric border-controls, rivalled only by Singapore’s Changi Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol.
