New Biometric System Will Launch at Dubai Airport | ExpatWoman.com
 

Dubai Airport Will Launch a New Biometric System for Passengers

You won't need to carry your passport or boarding pass when travelling

Posted on

7 October 2019

Last updated on 7 October 2019
Dubai Airport Will Launch a New Biometric System for Passengers

Hotel room booked? Checked. Rental car reserved? Check. Plane tickets? Passport? No need

For anyone who has ever taken a plane, the travel quadfecta of hotel-car-plane-passport is a common list of mandatory things to check off before you travel out of the country. Missing any of these in your possession could sour your trip, but with the recent announcement at GITEX 2019, that list of four will soon be down to just two.

All Emirates Airline passengers travelling from Dubai will no longer require a passport or boarding pass to fly out, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). A new biometric system is soon to be launched at Dubai International Airport called the "Biometric Passenger Journey".

Thanks to the new scheme, pre-screened flyers will be able to stroll through the airport at a faster and more convenient pace using only state-of-the-art facial and iris recognition technology. Presenting your passport or boarding pass at the check-in counter or before boarding the aircraft won't be necessary. That sound? Huge sigh of relief.

At the GITEX event, Major General Mohammad Al Merri, General Director of GDRFA, said that the system makes use of artificial intelligence.

"It is a seamless airport journey in Dubai as passengers will no longer need to show their passports or IDs. Traveller can walk through the terminal to the airplane just by showing his or her face," he told Gulf News.

SEE ALSO: Travelling With Family? Enjoy Free Airport Taxis Within Terminal 3

A pilot phase of the Biometric Passenger Journey is set to launch in the upcoming months, with test runs to see travellers checking in for their flight, completing immigration, entering the passenger lounge, and boarding flights.

GDRFA said that all biometric information of passengers will only be stored in their system for future travels.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said, “We continue to improve our services with the latest technology and innovation and aim to provide a customer journey that is seamless and fast."

"Our collaboration with the GDRFA has resulted in the world’s first biometric path – giving all our passengers a world-class travel experience at Dubai International Airport. The experience we are showcasing with GDRFA at GITEX Technology Week is a first look at our groundbreaking initiatives and the future of travel," he added.

 
 

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