Dubai's new mega-airport Al Maktoum International targets 95% smart travel

Dubai: Travel through Al Maktoum International Airport, scheduled to open in 2032, is expected to enter a new era of automation, with projections indicating that 95 per cent of passenger procedures will be completed through smart technologies and systems.

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) said current travel indicators at Dubai International Airport reflect the growing role of smart systems in passenger processing and provide a foundation for future operations at Al Maktoum International Airport.

During the first eight months of this year, smart technologies handled procedures for 10.128 million travellers out of a total of 25.849 million passengers processed by Dubai Residency during the same period.

Smart travel as the future

Dubai Residency said the figures indicate that future travel through Al Maktoum International Airport will increasingly rely on advanced technologies and smart systems, helping support future growth in passenger numbers while reducing reliance on traditional procedures.

His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said the figures reflect the transformation of Dubai's air gateways towards smart solutions.

He added that Dubai Residency continues to develop technologies and services to provide a more convenient and efficient travel experience that keeps pace with the continuous growth in traveller numbers.

Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director General for Airport Affairs at Dubai Residency, said current indicators demonstrate the organisation's readiness to handle the expected passenger volumes at Al Maktoum International Airport when it opens in 2032.

He said current data and operational indicators suggest that modern technologies will manage a large proportion of future passenger procedures.

Red Carpet service

Among the technologies highlighted was the "Red Carpet" service, which enables travellers to complete border procedures in four seconds or less without stopping or presenting passports or travel documents.

The service relies on advanced identity verification technologies that authenticate travellers while they are in motion, reducing processing times and minimising the need for queues.

More than 745,000 travellers used the Red Carpet service during the first eight months of this year.

Dubai Residency said the service reflects the growing role of digital identity and biometric technologies in enhancing the travel experience.

Smart gates

Smart gates remain one of the most widely used technologies at Dubai International Airport.

During the first eight months of the year, 9,382,814 travellers used smart gates to complete their procedures.

Dubai Residency said the systems continue to undergo upgrades and improvements aimed at reducing processing times to just a few seconds while maintaining smooth passenger flows.

The widespread use of the technology demonstrates the ability of the smart travel system to process large passenger volumes efficiently.

Click and Travel

Dubai Residency is also expanding more flexible services through its "Click & Travel" initiative.

Under the project, passport officers use mobile devices to complete traveller procedures wherever passengers are located instead of requiring them to visit a fixed passport control counter.

The service allows procedures to be completed in approximately 12 seconds using mobile technology.

Officials said the initiative supports airport operations during peak periods and provides greater flexibility in service delivery.

Children's passport platform

The smart travel experience has also been extended to younger travellers through the Children's Passports platform.

During the first eight months of the year, 212,746 children completed procedures through the platform, bringing the total number of users since launch to 2,066,195 travellers.

The service is designed to make passport procedures more interactive and child-friendly while helping younger passengers become familiar with airport processes.

Services for People of Determination and senior citizens

Alongside the expansion of smart technologies, Dubai Residency said it continues to focus on services for People of Determination and senior citizens.

The organisation has more than 263 trained employees and trainers qualified to assist travellers with different needs and provides dedicated pathways, accessible facilities and specialised support services.

Officials said the approach reflects efforts to ensure the travel experience remains accessible and comfortable for all travellers.

Multiple travel options

Despite the rapid growth of smart technologies, traditional passport control counters remain available as part of a broader range of travel options.

Dubai Residency said travellers can choose between conventional counters, smart gates, biometric services and mobile solutions depending on their preferences, while maintaining high standards of efficiency and convenience.

According to Dubai Residency, the ongoing expansion of smart technologies is paving the way for a future travel model in which digital identity, biometrics and automated systems handle the majority of passenger procedures while significantly reducing waiting times and manual processing.