Soon, millions of travelers using Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport will be able to pass airport checkpoints without having to take their passports or tickets.
The UAE’s residents and nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will now also be allowed to use this service, starting in 2023. Previously, this service was exclusively available to UAE residents and GCC citizens.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and Emirates Airlines published an announcement on November 15 that was followed by this.
How does it work?
As of 2020, passengers arriving or departing at Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3, can use a self-service immigration option thanks to the Smart Gates, an initiative by GDRFA and Emirates. This enables them to be “cleared” by immigration authorities without the need for any human interaction or a physical passport stamp.
If you have signed up for the Smart Gates service, you can pass through without scanning a document by simply gazing at the green light.
But you should always maintain a copy of your boarding pass and passport on hand in case they are required.
How does the biometric recognition system work?
International travelers will initially need to present their face and iris scans, which will be uploaded into the system, and grant their agreement for the use of their biometric data, according to Emirates and GDRFA. This can be done at Emirates self-check-in kiosks or standard check-in counters at the airport, as well as through the official Emirates mobile app, which is compatible with Apple and Android devices.
Your information will be connected to your passport once you have authorized the usage of your biometric data. The system, which utilizes biometric identification technology at several places throughout the airport, will then be available to you.
This includes the boarding gate, lounges, and immigration and check-in counters.
Also Read: These are certain things you should not carry with you to the Dubai Airport