Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has completed the roll-out of 122 biometric smart gates across Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, enabling pre-registered travellers to clear immigration in as little as five seconds. The project, officially flagged as ‘last updated’ on 2 February 2026, integrates face- and iris-recognition cameras with the emirate’s immigration database.(gdrfad.gov.ae)
Passengers enrol once—either via the GDRFA app, at airport kiosks or during a previous trip—and thereafter can bypass manual passport stamping on both departure and arrival. The system is expected to boost DXB’s peak-hour throughput by 30 per cent, supporting the airport’s target of 100 million annual passengers by 2027. Emirates Airline COO Adel Al Redha called the gates “a critical enabler” for tight business-trip itineraries that require quick turnarounds through the hub.(gdrfad.gov.ae)
![Dubai activates 122 biometric smart gates, cutting passport control to five seconds]()
Travellers who still need to obtain a UAE visa before departure can further streamline their journey through VisaHQ, which provides a guided online application, real-time status tracking and expert assistance for tourist, business and transit permits—all accessible in one dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/). Sorting out documentation in advance ensures passengers can step straight into the new smart-gate lanes the moment they arrive.
The upgrade also dovetails with the UAE’s push towards fully digital borders ahead of the 2026 GCC ‘Grand Tours’ visa. Dubai Airport Hotel chains and car-rental firms are already exploring API links to import the biometric token for frictionless check-in. Privacy advocates note that the UAE still relies on sector-specific data-security regulations, but GDRFA says all biometric data is encrypted, stored onshore and governed by Dubai Electronic Security Centre standards.
For corporate travel managers the gates shorten minimum connection times and reduce the risk of missed onward flights, while expatriate residents gain a faster daily commute on regional shuttles. Companies should encourage frequent travellers to enrol during their next transit to maximise the benefit.
Passengers enrol once—either via the GDRFA app, at airport kiosks or during a previous trip—and thereafter can bypass manual passport stamping on both departure and arrival. The system is expected to boost DXB’s peak-hour throughput by 30 per cent, supporting the airport’s target of 100 million annual passengers by 2027. Emirates Airline COO Adel Al Redha called the gates “a critical enabler” for tight business-trip itineraries that require quick turnarounds through the hub.(gdrfad.gov.ae)
Travellers who still need to obtain a UAE visa before departure can further streamline their journey through VisaHQ, which provides a guided online application, real-time status tracking and expert assistance for tourist, business and transit permits—all accessible in one dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/). Sorting out documentation in advance ensures passengers can step straight into the new smart-gate lanes the moment they arrive.
The upgrade also dovetails with the UAE’s push towards fully digital borders ahead of the 2026 GCC ‘Grand Tours’ visa. Dubai Airport Hotel chains and car-rental firms are already exploring API links to import the biometric token for frictionless check-in. Privacy advocates note that the UAE still relies on sector-specific data-security regulations, but GDRFA says all biometric data is encrypted, stored onshore and governed by Dubai Electronic Security Centre standards.
For corporate travel managers the gates shorten minimum connection times and reduce the risk of missed onward flights, while expatriate residents gain a faster daily commute on regional shuttles. Companies should encourage frequent travellers to enrol during their next transit to maximise the benefit.
