The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) quietly launched the new “UAE Fast Track” smartphone application late on 15 January. After a one-time enrolment that captures passport data, a selfie and fingerprint images, travellers pre-select their port of entry and arrival date. Once on the ground, they bypass manned counters and head straight to the Smart Gates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, where biometric verification is completed in a matter of seconds.
ICP officials told local media that the average arrival processing time for Fast Track users has dropped from 8-10 minutes to “well under 90 seconds”—a critical gain as the UAE prepares for passenger volumes approaching 140 million a year. Airlines and ground-handlers welcomed the move, noting that shorter queues reduce missed connections and improve on-time performance during peak periods such as Ramadan and Eid.
For global mobility managers, the app promises smoother rotational assignments and easier project staffing. Companies can bulk-register employees before deployment, allowing international assignees to enter the Emirates with the same ease as residents. The government gains an advance biometric data layer that enhances security screening without adding headcount, while travellers enjoy a largely paperless, touch-free arrival.
![UAE rolls out “Fast Track” mobile app to clear immigration in under 90 seconds]()
Travellers who may still need help navigating UAE entry requirements can turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines e-visa applications, offers real-time status tracking and provides corporate account tools that dovetail neatly with Fast Track enrolment. Mobility managers can coordinate documentation for multiple employees at once, ensuring compliance while keeping the process as frictionless as possible.
The service is free and optional for now, but ICP hinted it could become mandatory during high-volume travel seasons once adoption rates stabilise. Travellers who still need an entry permit can integrate their e-visa application into the Fast Track enrolment workflow, eliminating duplicate data entry and further compressing timelines.
Practical takeaway: Mobility teams should update pre-trip checklists to encourage Fast Track sign-up—especially for frequent travellers whose time savings will compound over multiple trips. HR should also review data-privacy disclosures, as the app stores facial images and fingerprints in government databases.
ICP officials told local media that the average arrival processing time for Fast Track users has dropped from 8-10 minutes to “well under 90 seconds”—a critical gain as the UAE prepares for passenger volumes approaching 140 million a year. Airlines and ground-handlers welcomed the move, noting that shorter queues reduce missed connections and improve on-time performance during peak periods such as Ramadan and Eid.
For global mobility managers, the app promises smoother rotational assignments and easier project staffing. Companies can bulk-register employees before deployment, allowing international assignees to enter the Emirates with the same ease as residents. The government gains an advance biometric data layer that enhances security screening without adding headcount, while travellers enjoy a largely paperless, touch-free arrival.
Travellers who may still need help navigating UAE entry requirements can turn to VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines e-visa applications, offers real-time status tracking and provides corporate account tools that dovetail neatly with Fast Track enrolment. Mobility managers can coordinate documentation for multiple employees at once, ensuring compliance while keeping the process as frictionless as possible.
The service is free and optional for now, but ICP hinted it could become mandatory during high-volume travel seasons once adoption rates stabilise. Travellers who still need an entry permit can integrate their e-visa application into the Fast Track enrolment workflow, eliminating duplicate data entry and further compressing timelines.
Practical takeaway: Mobility teams should update pre-trip checklists to encourage Fast Track sign-up—especially for frequent travellers whose time savings will compound over multiple trips. HR should also review data-privacy disclosures, as the app stores facial images and fingerprints in government databases.
