Abu Dhabi Airports Company has inked a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) aimed at overhauling border-control and passenger-flow processes across the emirate’s airport network. The agreement, announced 24 November and detailed by Biz Today, formalises service-level commitments covering immigration clearance, customs collaboration, emergency response and data-sharing.
At its core is the roll-out of ICP’s Smart Travel platform—a biometric corridor allowing passengers to clear immigration in as little as seven seconds via facial and iris recognition. Smart gates will be integrated with airline departure control systems and customs screening to deliver on the operator’s “gate-to-kerb in 12 minutes” vision.
![Abu Dhabi Airports and ICP sign MoU to deploy ‘Smart Travel’ biometrics across five airports]()
The MoU arrives as Abu Dhabi Airports records 17 consecutive quarters of double-digit passenger growth and prepares for peak holiday season at the newly re-branded Zayed International Airport. For corporate travel programmes, faster processing times promise reduced connection risk and improved traveller satisfaction, while the enhanced data interface should allow advance-verification of crew and VIP manifests.
From a compliance standpoint, mobility teams should note that biometric pre-enrolment will become a prerequisite for e-gate use. Companies relocating staff should schedule ICP registration appointments as part of arrival formalities. The partnership also paves the way for wider adoption of ‘One-ID’ standards championed by IATA, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional test-bed.
Longer term, the collaboration underscores the UAE’s strategy of fusing border security with seamless travel to maintain its attractiveness as a logistics and business hub without compromising on risk management.
At its core is the roll-out of ICP’s Smart Travel platform—a biometric corridor allowing passengers to clear immigration in as little as seven seconds via facial and iris recognition. Smart gates will be integrated with airline departure control systems and customs screening to deliver on the operator’s “gate-to-kerb in 12 minutes” vision.
The MoU arrives as Abu Dhabi Airports records 17 consecutive quarters of double-digit passenger growth and prepares for peak holiday season at the newly re-branded Zayed International Airport. For corporate travel programmes, faster processing times promise reduced connection risk and improved traveller satisfaction, while the enhanced data interface should allow advance-verification of crew and VIP manifests.
From a compliance standpoint, mobility teams should note that biometric pre-enrolment will become a prerequisite for e-gate use. Companies relocating staff should schedule ICP registration appointments as part of arrival formalities. The partnership also paves the way for wider adoption of ‘One-ID’ standards championed by IATA, positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional test-bed.
Longer term, the collaboration underscores the UAE’s strategy of fusing border security with seamless travel to maintain its attractiveness as a logistics and business hub without compromising on risk management.
