DUBAI, 7 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Dubai has launched a new biometric immigration system aimed at reducing passenger processing times at Dubai International Airport to as little as 12 seconds, in a major move to automate border controls and ease congestion at one of the world’s busiest airports. The “Click and Travel” service combines facial recognition, electronic passport reading and automated checks to verify travellers’ identities. More than 31,000 passengers were processed during the system’s pilot phase, which ran from May to August, with 31,373 travellers using the service before its official launch on September 7. Under the new system, passengers can have their identities verified through facial recognition while their electronic passports are read automatically, reducing the need for conventional immigration procedures at counters. According to Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), the service is being introduced at different terminals of Dubai International Airport and is available to UAE citizens, residents, Gulf nationals and visitors. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA Dubai, announced the launch during a press briefing at the airport. The system is designed to complete identity verification through a combination of facial recognition, biometric technology and automated checks before the immigration process is completed.