Dubai takes biometric passport control mobile
GDRFA Dubai has launched a mobile biometric passport-control service that allows officers to process passengers anywhere inside airport terminals.
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai has launched Click and Travel, a mobile service for passport control. The service allows officers to process passengers away from fixed counters. It is designed for peak periods and emergency situations.
Click and Travel connects mobile devices to GDRFA Dubai systems and databases. Officers can use biometric verification to confirm passenger identities. GDRFA said the process takes around 12 to 15 seconds.
31,373 passport-control transactions were completed during the May-August 2026 pilot.
Mobile processing for peak airport traffic
The service gives officers more flexibility inside airport terminals. Instead of directing passengers to fixed passport-control points, officers can complete procedures at the passenger’s location. This can help airport teams manage passenger flows and deploy staff where they are needed most.
The departure service is available to UAE citizens, residents and visitors. For arrivals, the first phase covers UAE citizens and residents. GDRFA plans to expand the service based on operational needs. The pilot ran from May through August 31. During that period, Click and Travel processed 31,373 transactions.
Biometrics move beyond fixed checkpoints
The system also extends biometric processing beyond traditional counters and smart gates. According to The National, the portable system supports facial and iris recognition and can serve as a backup to Dubai’s existing smart-gate and Red Carpet biometric infrastructure.
GDRFA is also considering additional services that could be delivered through mobile devices, subject to operational and security requirements.
The project reflects a broader shift toward more flexible airport identity infrastructure, where biometric verification and secure access to government databases can follow operational needs rather than remain tied to fixed checkpoints.
