Dubai Goes ‘Passport-Free’: Emirates Invests $23.1M in 200 Biometric Cameras

Dubai Launches Passport-Free Travel with Emirates’ $23.1M Biometric Upgrade

Dubai is taking a bold leap toward a fully passport-free airport experience, as Emirates invests AED85 million ($23.1 million) to install over 200 biometric cameras across Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Developed in partnership with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigner Affairs – Dubai (GDRFAD), this groundbreaking system enables passengers to move through Check-In, Immigration, Lounges, Boarding Gates, and aircraft boarding using facial recognition only no passport or boarding pass required.

The innovation dramatically reduces processing times, with each camera capable of identifying a traveller’s face from up to one metre away, allowing smooth, contactless movement through the terminal.

Dubai’s Vision for Passport-Free Travel-

The initiative forms part of an ongoing collaboration between Emirates and GDRFAD Dubai, aimed at enhancing traveller convenience and operational efficiency through advanced biometric and AI technologies.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer, stated: “With our latest Biometrics Path development, Emirates has invested in further innovations to enhance the customer travel experience, providing remarkable speed, efficiency, and accuracy at Terminal 3 in Dubai International Airport.”

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFAD Dubai, added:

“At GDRFA Dubai, innovation has long been part of our DNA. Our partnership with Emirates reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines Dubai’s government and private sectors. Together, we are shaping a seamless travel experience that embodies the UAE’s reputation for efficiency, hospitality, and digital governance.”

How Dubai’s Biometric Journey Works-

Step 1 – Register:
Passengers can enrol via the Emirates app, Self-Service Kiosks, or Check-In desks at Terminal 3. Registration is available to UAE residents, visitors, and transit passengers aged 18+, who are Emirates Skywards members and consent to biometric use through GDRFAD.

Step 2 – Biometric Check-In:
Once registered, travellers can check in using facial recognition at self-service kiosks. Emirates plans to extend this feature to transit passengers connecting to other Emirates flights.

Step 3 – Smart Gates at Immigration:
At immigration, travellers can use GDRFAD-managed Smart Gates for a quick facial scan, available to UAE citizens, residents, GCC nationals, and visa-on-arrival visitors with biometric passports.

Step 4 – Emirates Lounge Access:
Eligible passengers can enter the Concourse B Emirates Lounge via facial recognition at five dedicated gates — no boarding pass required.

Step 5 – Biometric Boarding:
Select gates across Concourses A, B, and C now support biometric boarding, allowing passengers to board using facial recognition only. Emirates plans to expand this across more gates soon.

Data Protection and Privacy-

Emirates and GDRFAD confirm that all biometric data is securely processed under UAE government data protection laws.

• If a traveller has an existing GDRFAD biometric record, Emirates matches it directly.

• For new users, a temporary biometric profile is created and converted into a permanent GDRFAD record upon arrival in Dubai.

Strict privacy and consent standards ensure compliance and data integrity throughout the process.

Seamless Future for Global Travellers-

With over 200 biometric cameras now active, Dubai International Airport is redefining global aviation efficiency. The Biometrics Path enables passengers to move from check-in to boarding in minutes cementing Dubai’s status as a world leader in AI-driven, seamless travel experiences.