Emirates passengers flying through Dubai can now walk from check-in to boarding without showing a passport or phone. The airline has started rolling out over 200 biometric cameras across Terminal 3, part of an AED 85 million investment to speed up passenger flow and reduce waiting times.
The new facial-recognition system, developed with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigner Affairs Dubai (GDRFA), lets registered travellers pass through check-in, immigration, lounges, and boarding gates simply by looking at a camera. The technology recognizes passengers from one metre away, allowing them to move quickly without pausing to show documents.
Any Emirates customer—UAE resident or visitor—can register for the service on the Emirates app, at self-service kiosks, or at check-in counters. Once registered, travellers can use dedicated biometric lanes every time they fly from or through Dubai.
Adel Al Redha, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Operating Officer, said the new Biometrics Path is part of the airline’s ongoing investment in innovation. “We have been working with the GDRFA since 2017 to upgrade our equipment and implement the latest technologies, ensuring our customers enjoy a world-class, seamless journey,” he said.
To use the system, travellers must first register on the Emirates app or at check-in. They must be Emirates Skywards members, scan their passports, and give consent for biometric use. Only individuals aged 18 and above can register.
At check-in, passengers can use facial recognition at kiosks instead of physical documents. The technology will soon be available for flight transfers as well. For immigration, eligible travellers—including UAE citizens, residents, GCC nationals, and visa-on-arrival visitors with biometric passports—can use GDRFA Smart Gates at Terminal 3 to breeze through passport control.
Eligible passengers can also enter Emirates Lounges in Concourse B using facial recognition at five gates. Selected departure gates across Concourses A, B, and C allow biometric boarding, so there’s no need to show a boarding pass.
For data privacy, Emirates matches a traveller’s biometric record with GDRFA if it already exists. New visitors get a temporary profile, which is converted to a permanent GDRFA record after entering Dubai and can be used for future trips.
Emirates’ new biometric path promises a faster, more efficient, and paperless airport experience for all registered travellers.