The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) quietly rolled out the new “UAE Fast Track” smartphone application on the evening of 15 January, and the first full day of live operations on 16 January proved successful at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports. After one-time enrolment (passport scan, selfie and fingerprints), travellers pre-select their port of entry and simply head to the Smart Gates on arrival, where facial recognition completes clearance in under 90 seconds—down from the previous 8- to 10-minute average. (visahq.com)
For global-mobility teams, the gain is immediate. Project staff and short-term assignees can be bulk-registered before departure, minimising queue-time fatigue and missed onward connections. Airlines and ground-handlers welcomed the move, noting that shorter arrivals processing boosts on-time performance during Ramadan and Eid peaks.
![UAE Launches ‘Fast Track’ Biometric App to Clear Immigration in 90 Seconds]()
VisaHQ can further streamline the journey by securing UAE e-visas and managing pre-travel documentation in one place. Through its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), companies and individual travellers can obtain entry permits, track application status, and receive compliance reminders—ensuring that once Fast Track enrolment is complete, the arrival process remains truly seamless.
From a security standpoint, the ICP now receives travellers’ biometric and itinerary data in advance, allowing risk-profiling without adding headcount. Although participation is optional at launch, officials hinted it could become mandatory during high-volume travel periods once adoption stabilises. The service is free; overstay fines and visa rules remain unchanged.
Companies should update pre-trip checklists to encourage enrolment and review data-privacy disclosures, as the app stores facial images and fingerprints on government servers. Travellers who still require entry permits can integrate their e-visa application into the Fast Track workflow, eliminating duplicate data entry and further compressing lead-times.
For global-mobility teams, the gain is immediate. Project staff and short-term assignees can be bulk-registered before departure, minimising queue-time fatigue and missed onward connections. Airlines and ground-handlers welcomed the move, noting that shorter arrivals processing boosts on-time performance during Ramadan and Eid peaks.
VisaHQ can further streamline the journey by securing UAE e-visas and managing pre-travel documentation in one place. Through its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), companies and individual travellers can obtain entry permits, track application status, and receive compliance reminders—ensuring that once Fast Track enrolment is complete, the arrival process remains truly seamless.
From a security standpoint, the ICP now receives travellers’ biometric and itinerary data in advance, allowing risk-profiling without adding headcount. Although participation is optional at launch, officials hinted it could become mandatory during high-volume travel periods once adoption stabilises. The service is free; overstay fines and visa rules remain unchanged.
Companies should update pre-trip checklists to encourage enrolment and review data-privacy disclosures, as the app stores facial images and fingerprints on government servers. Travellers who still require entry permits can integrate their e-visa application into the Fast Track workflow, eliminating duplicate data entry and further compressing lead-times.
