Dubai Airport Rolls Out AI Screening to Speed Security Checks

Based on reporting by The National, Dubai International Airport is rolling out AI-powered hand-luggage scanners that will allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their bags, marking a major step in checkpoint modernization and non-intrusive aviation security

Dubai International Airport is moving ahead with a major upgrade to its passenger screening infrastructure, introducing AI-powered hand-luggage scanners designed to make the security process faster and less disruptive. Based on reporting by The National, the new systems will allow travelers to keep liquids and laptops inside their bags while passing through checkpoints, removing one of the most familiar friction points in airport security.

A key part of the upgrade is the use of artificial intelligence to analyze bags and determine whether additional inspection is required.

The report says more than 100 hand-luggage screening machines are being upgraded during 2026, with several already operational. Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths told The National that the technology will support a smoother checkpoint process by reducing the need for passengers to stop, unpack items or remove shoes, while still strengthening threat-detection capability.

A key part of the upgrade is the use of artificial intelligence to analyze bags and determine whether additional inspection is required. According to The National, this will enable faster triaging of suspicious items and deliver a more intensive but non-intrusive screening process. For the physical security sector, that makes the DXB rollout noteworthy not only as a passenger-experience improvement, but also as an example of how AI is being embedded directly into frontline aviation security operations.

The move also fits into Dubai Airports’ wider push toward what it describes as barrier-free travel. The National reported that this broader strategy includes passportless immigration, face-recognition-enabled check-in, and smarter passenger-flow management across the airport. Taken together, these developments show how DXB is positioning security screening as part of a larger, integrated approach to airport safety, efficiency, and operational resilience.