People pass through passport control section during a media tour orgainised by GDFRA-Dubai at Terminal 3 of Dubai Airports.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Passengers travelling through Dubai airport will no longer be forced to wait in long queues to get passport clearance as the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) has launched a new fast-track passport control service that uses face and iris-recognition technologies.

122 smart gates at arrival and departure terminals in Dubai airports are now equipped with the new biometric systems deployed to enable passengers to complete passport control procedures in five to nine seconds depending on the movement and steps of the passenger.

Pre-registration is required to avail the service.

GDRFA-Dubai organised a tour for media at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 to introduce the new smart service.

Outbound passengers can avail of the new fast-track service at the smart gates located at the departure terminal after obtaining their boarding pass and completing pre-registration.

A man passes through a face and iris-recognition scanner at Terminal 3 of Dubai Airports.

Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), the new service enhances passengers’ travel experience by expediting immigration procedures.

The newly developed system is part of GDRFA-Dubai’s efforts to develop innovative smart services in line with the leadership’s directives to integrate advanced technologies into all government services to enhance people’s quality of life.

Director General of GDRFA-Dubai Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said GDRFA-Dubai is keen to launch new projects and initiatives that use state-of-the-art technologies to transform service efficiency.

A woman interacts with a passport control officer.

He said the department will continue developing its services to enhance customer experience, as part of efforts to contribute to the leadership’s vision to make Dubai one of the smartest cities in the world.

Al Marri noted that GDRFA-Dubai is using biometric systems and artificial intelligence extensively to enrich passengers’ travel experience at airports. The launch of the new service is the culmination of the GDRFA project team’s efforts to use technological advancements to speed up immigration processes and simplify travel procedures.

Director General of GDRFA-Dubai Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports Jamal Al Hay, Chief Operating Officer of Emirates Airline Adel Al Redha, Assistant Director General of the Airport Immigration Department at GDRFA-Dubai Colonel Talal Al Shanqeti and several senior officials attended the launch event for the new service.