Emirates has invested AED 85 million to install more than 200 biometric-enabled cameras across Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB), enabling passengers to move through check-in, immigration, lounges, and boarding using facial recognition. The system allows travellers to complete their journey without repeatedly showing passports or boarding passes, following a quick registration via the Emirates app.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigner Affairs – Dubai (GDRFAD), aims to streamline airport processes and reduce waiting times. The high-precision cameras can identify registered passengers from up to one metre away, allowing for faster movement through previously manual checkpoints.
Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer, Emirates, said, “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. Since 2017, we have been working in collaboration with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai to upgrade our equipment and implement the latest technologies, ensuring that our customers enjoy a world-class, seamless journey.”
HE Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFAD-Dubai, said, “At GDRFA Dubai, innovation has long been part of our DNA and a cornerstone of our services. Over the years, we have integrated artificial intelligence and biometric technologies to make travel through Dubai faster, safer, and more intuitive. Our partnership with Emirates continues this path of excellence, reflecting the spirit of collaboration that defines Dubai’s government and private sectors.”
How Emirates customers can use biometrics at DXB
Step 1: Register
Customers aged 18 and above can register through the Emirates app, at self-service kiosks, or at check-in desks in Dubai. Registration requires Emirates Skywards membership and passport verification linked to the GDRFAD biometric database.
Step 2: Biometric check-in
Registered passengers can check in using facial recognition at kiosks or counters. The feature will soon extend to flight connections within Dubai.
Step 3: Smart Gates
Travellers can pass through immigration at Emirates Terminal 3 using GDRFAD’s Smart Gates. The system supports UAE citizens, residents, GCC nationals, and visitors eligible for visa-on-arrival with biometric passports.
Step 4: Lounge access
Eligible customers can access Emirates Lounges at Concourse B using facial recognition at five biometric entry points.
Step 5: Biometric boarding
At select gates in Concourses A, B, and C, passengers can board flights without presenting a boarding pass, with further expansion planned.
The biometric registration process is designed to integrate seamlessly with GDRFAD’s database, creating a unified digital identity that simplifies every stage of travel through Dubai International Airport.
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