DUBAI (Kashmir English): In a major development towards hassle-free air travel, Dubai International Airport has launched a new AI-powered passport system that enables some passengers to bypass routine identity verification steps entirely.
The advanced system allows up to 10 passengers to pass through immigration in just 14 seconds, significantly reducing wait times.
Terminal 3 of Dubai airport
The system was launched during Dubai AI Week. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) introduced the ‘Unlimited Smart Travel’ service at the First and Business Class lounges at Terminal 3 of the airport.
The system uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and facial recognition to identify worthy passengers without requiring physical documents, according to the GDRFA.
“This service has been developed in line with the Directorate’s vision to improve the quality of life for travellers and enhance the efficiency and smoothness of travel procedures,” the Authority said in a statement.
The move is based on learnings from the smart tunnel project launched in 2020, which used biometric data for identity verification.
“In this new phase, we are transitioning to an advanced system, which does not rely on documents or any other procedures – just facial recognition,” a senior official said, noting that the system uses pre-registered biometric data.
Currently, the service is limited only to departing passengers, according to the GDRFA which added the future plan includes expanding the service to arriving passengers.
Under the new system, the travellers will need to register just once, after which their data will be stored and used securely.
The smart lounges are equipped with advanced multi-angle cameras to capture facial data, streamlining movement through immigration gates.
The upgraded system is likely to help manage an anticipated 8 percent increase in passenger traffic.
Tagged as ‘Unlimited Smart Travel,’ the service aligns with Dubai’s broader ‘Travel Without Borders’ initiative showcased at GITEX Global 2024. The initiative promises to redefine global airport experiences.
