# Dubai International Airport technological upgrades

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dubai-international-airport-technological-upgrades
> Updated: 2026-09-12T14:58:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

Dubai International Airport is implementing several technological upgrades to enhance passenger processing and convenience. The airport began rolling out new high-resolution 3D security scanners designed to allow travelers to keep liquids and electronics inside their carry-on luggage, aiming to make the security process “slicker, quicker, faster, and more convenient”.

Following these security upgrades, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai launched ‘Click and Travel’, a mobile immigration service. This system utilizes facial recognition, fingerprint biometrics, and electronic passport reading to allow officers to conduct entry and departure procedures via mobile devices rather than fixed counters. Following a testing period involving 31,373 passengers between May and August 2026, the service is now officially available to UAE citizens, residents, GCC nationals, and international visitors. Transactions through this mobile service are estimated to take between 12 and 15 seconds.

At the 33rd Arabian Travel Market (ATM), held from September 14–17, 2026, under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology’, the GDRFA Dubai is demonstrating its integrated ecosystem. This includes the ‘Red Carpet’ service, which uses biometric verification to allow passengers to complete passport control without repeatedly presenting physical travel documents. Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqaiti, Assistant Director-General for Airports at GDRFA Dubai, stated that these solutions aim to provide a “seamless, safe, and integrated travel experience” to support the growth of the tourism sector.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-12: Arabian Travel Market 2026 opens in Dubai

The 33rd Arabian Travel Market opened in Dubai on September 14, 2026, focusing on innovation, AI, and the future of global tourism under the theme ‘Travel 2040’.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/gdrfa-dubai-showcases-biometric-travel-services-at-arabian-travel-market-2026

### 2026-09-07: Dubai Airport launches mobile immigration service

Dubai has launched ‘Click and Travel’, a mobile immigration service using biometrics and facial recognition to complete passenger processing in approximately 12 to 15 seconds.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dubai-airport-launches-mobile-immigration-service

### 2026-08-28: Dubai International Airport rolls out new security scanners

Dubai International Airport is installing new 3D security scanners that allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their bags, aiming to speed up checkpoints and improve traveler convenience.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dubai-international-airport-rolls-out-new-security-scanners

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Cite as: Dubai International Airport technological upgrades. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dubai-international-airport-technological-upgrades