The UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain have taken a decisive step toward friction-free regional travel by launching the pilot phase of the “One-Point Air Travellers” project on 16 February 2026. Under the scheme, Emirati and Bahraini citizens complete all immigration, security, and customs formalities at their departure airport—Zayed International in Abu Dhabi or Bahrain International in Manama—so that they can walk straight from the aircraft to landside arrivals on the other side.
The initiative is being implemented by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) in partnership with Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior and the GCC General Secretariat. Biometric enrolment, e-gates and real-time data-sharing platforms underpin the process, while both airports have installed dedicated checkpoints to keep the pre-cleared passenger flow separate from regular traffic.
For travelers who still need entry clearance—such as third-country nationals accompanying Gulf-based project teams—VisaHQ can remove yet another layer of friction. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) guides applicants through UAE and Bahrain visa requirements, offers document reviews, and provides end-to-end tracking so mobility managers know exactly when passports are ready to fly. Pairing this service with the One-Point corridor means door-to-desk itineraries can be planned with unprecedented precision.
![UAE and Bahrain Pilot ‘One-Point’ Pre-clearance System to Slash Airport Queues]()
For global-mobility managers the operational impact is significant. Duty-of-care calculations for short-haul assignments between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain can now factor in shorter journey times, reduced ‘air-side dwell’ risk and fewer missed connections. Corporations with shuttling staff—oil-and-gas contractors, defence suppliers and regional banks—stand to recapture productive hours previously lost in arrival-hall queues.
The ICP says the pilot will run for six months before a formal review. If successful, the model could expand to Dubai International and Dubai World Central as well as to flights operated by Emirates, flydubai and Gulf Air. Longer term, officials hint that the technology stack was designed to dovetail with the forthcoming GCC Unified Tourist Visa, positioning the bloc for a Schengen-style experience.
Travel-industry analysts view the project as a showcase for how biometric identity, advanced passenger-information systems and cross-border regulatory co-operation can de-risk post-pandemic capacity growth. As Gulf hubs vie for transfer traffic, speed and predictability are becoming key competitive differentiators—and the UAE is signalling that it intends to stay ahead of the curve.
The initiative is being implemented by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) in partnership with Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior and the GCC General Secretariat. Biometric enrolment, e-gates and real-time data-sharing platforms underpin the process, while both airports have installed dedicated checkpoints to keep the pre-cleared passenger flow separate from regular traffic.
For travelers who still need entry clearance—such as third-country nationals accompanying Gulf-based project teams—VisaHQ can remove yet another layer of friction. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) guides applicants through UAE and Bahrain visa requirements, offers document reviews, and provides end-to-end tracking so mobility managers know exactly when passports are ready to fly. Pairing this service with the One-Point corridor means door-to-desk itineraries can be planned with unprecedented precision.
For global-mobility managers the operational impact is significant. Duty-of-care calculations for short-haul assignments between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain can now factor in shorter journey times, reduced ‘air-side dwell’ risk and fewer missed connections. Corporations with shuttling staff—oil-and-gas contractors, defence suppliers and regional banks—stand to recapture productive hours previously lost in arrival-hall queues.
The ICP says the pilot will run for six months before a formal review. If successful, the model could expand to Dubai International and Dubai World Central as well as to flights operated by Emirates, flydubai and Gulf Air. Longer term, officials hint that the technology stack was designed to dovetail with the forthcoming GCC Unified Tourist Visa, positioning the bloc for a Schengen-style experience.
Travel-industry analysts view the project as a showcase for how biometric identity, advanced passenger-information systems and cross-border regulatory co-operation can de-risk post-pandemic capacity growth. As Gulf hubs vie for transfer traffic, speed and predictability are becoming key competitive differentiators—and the UAE is signalling that it intends to stay ahead of the curve.
