Travellers passing through Dubai’s airports can now clear passport control without ever stopping at a traditional immigration counter. The new Click and Travel service lets passport officers use handheld devices to process passengers wherever they happen to be within designated airport areas.
The service relies on biometric technology, facial recognition, electronic passport reading and automated checks to verify traveller information. The whole process takes around 12 to 15 seconds, which helps cut waiting times and keeps passengers moving through the airport.
How Click and Travel Works
The new system flips the traditional approach to passport control on its head. Instead of passengers always having to walk to a fixed immigration counter, officers can now carry the technology directly to them and complete the required procedures using a secure mobile device.
The device can verify a passenger through biometric identification or by reading their electronic passport. It then connects securely to official databases, giving officers quick access to everything they need to complete the arrival or departure process.
Biometric Technology Speeds Up Passport Checks
Facial recognition is one of the main technologies driving the service. Combined with electronic passport reading and automated pre-checks, it lets officers verify passenger information quickly while still keeping all the required immigration procedures in place.
The system connects to official databases through a secure network, letting passport officers complete checks on the move instead of relying entirely on permanent counters and fixed processing stations.
Passengers Can Be Processed in 12 to 15 Seconds
Speed is one of the biggest selling points of Click and Travel. During its trial period, each transaction took roughly 12 to 15 seconds, showing just how much mobile immigration processing could improve passenger flow.
The service had already processed 31,373 passengers by the end of the trial. According to Dubai Airports officials, the results pointed to strong processing speed and solid operational efficiency.
Available for Different Traveller Groups
Click and Travel is open to UAE nationals, UAE residents, GCC nationals and visitors alike. It works for both arrival and departure procedures, making it relevant to a wide range of travellers passing through Dubai’s airports.
For departing passengers, immigration can be wrapped up before they head to the next stage of their journey. Arriving passengers can move straight on to customs once the required passport checks are done.
Helpful for Children and People of Determination
The mobile nature of the service could be especially useful for passengers who find fixed counters difficult to approach. Children and People of Determination can get assistance without necessarily having to make their way to a traditional passport-control desk.
Instead, an immigration officer can simply bring the mobile device to them. That gives airport teams a lot more flexibility when supporting travellers who need extra assistance during the immigration process.
Moving Away From Fixed Immigration Counters
Saeed Ahmed Saeed, Deputy Assistant Director of Air Ports Services at Dubai Airports, said the service marks a shift from a fixed passport platform to a mobile one. The idea is to bring passport-control services directly to passengers instead of always requiring them to approach a specific counter.
This shift could also give airports more flexibility when planning passenger-processing areas. Since the mobile system can do what a fixed counter normally does, some airport spaces may not need as many permanent immigration stations going forward.
Successful Trial Before Official Launch
Click and Travel started out as a trial in October 2025 at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. The first phase focused mainly on families and was used to see how the mobile immigration process held up in a real airport environment.
The second phase kicked off in May 2026, expanding the trial to all Dubai airport terminals and a wider range of traveller categories. After the trial wrapped up, the service was officially launched on September 7, 2026.
Developed With Key Airport Partners
The new service was built through cooperation between Dubai Airports, Emirates and other stakeholders involved in passenger processing. The project is part of Dubai’s wider push to modernise government services and rethink how procedures get delivered.
The focus is on making essential travel processes faster and more convenient while still holding on to the security and verification requirements immigration demands. Mobile technology lets officers stay flexible while keeping access to all the information they need.
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What It Means for Dubai Airport Passengers
For passengers, the biggest change is that passport control no longer has to be tied to a fixed counter in every situation. Officers can use mobile devices to complete the required checks in a much more flexible setting.
The mix of biometric verification, electronic passport reading and secure database access is designed to cut down on unnecessary waiting. Once the passport procedure wraps up, travellers can head straight to the next stage, whether that is security screening for departures or customs for arrivals.
Part of Dubai’s Wider Smart Travel Strategy
Click and Travel fits into Dubai’s broader push to redesign public services through technology. The goal is not just to roll out new devices, but to rethink how government procedures reach people in the first place.
By bringing immigration processing closer to passengers, Dubai’s airports can offer a more flexible passenger journey. The system also feeds into the wider goal of making airport procedures faster, more convenient and better suited to the needs of different traveller groups.