Dubai: Passengers will no longer need a passport or boarding pass to travel from Dubai, thanks to a new biometric system which will be launched at Dubai International Airport, officials said on Sunday.
According to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)-Dubai, the "Biometric Passenger Journey" will ease the travel through Dubai airports in cooperation with Emirates Airline.
Under the scheme, and thanks to facial recognition technology, a pre-screened passenger no longer needs to show passport or boarding pass from the check-in counter to the aircraft.
At the on-going GITEX Technology Week show on Sunday, Major General Mohammad Al Merri, General Director of GDRFA-Dubai, told Gulf News: “Our participation this year in Gitex is very special for visitors as they can experience the most exciting and virtual Biometric Passenger Journey in the world by using artificial intelligence,” Maj Gen Al Merri said.
Seamless journey
"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 added.
According to the GDRFA, a pilot phase of the latest biometric technology which uses a mix of facial and iris recognition will be launched in a few months.
Test runs allowed passengers to check in for their flight, complete immigration formalities, enter Emirates lounge and board flights, simply by strolling through the airport.
All biometric information will be stored on the GDRFA system for future travels.
Meanwhile, 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 ground breaking initiatives and the future of travel.”
