Dubai airports introduced “Click and Travel”, a portable biometric service designed to speed up passport checks. The service is currently available to Emiratis and UAE residents arriving through Dubai airports.

The details

Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs introduced “Click and Travel” at Dubai airports in September 2026. The portable service uses facial and iris recognition to verify a passenger’s identity without requiring the traveller to queue at a traditional passport counter.

The device is connected to GDRFA Dubai’s systems and can be moved around the terminal during busy periods. The aim is to bring immigration checks closer to passengers and help manage queues during peak arrival times.

The service is currently available to Emiratis and UAE residents arriving through Dubai airports, with plans to expand access to other passenger groups, including visitors.

The launch comes as Dubai’s airports handle high passenger volumes. According to figures cited by GDRFA Dubai, around 26 million passengers travelled through Dubai’s airports between January and the end of August 2026, while more than 9.4 million passengers used the smart gates during that period.