Dubai International Airport launched the ‘Click and Travel’ mobile immigration service on September 7, 2026, allowing passenger entry and departure procedures to be completed in approximately 12 to 15 seconds. The new system deploys handheld devices to process passengers swiftly, aiming to reduce long immigration queues at the airport.
Mobile Biometric Technology Enables Rapid Processing
The ‘Click and Travel’ service integrates biometric fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, electronic passport reading, and automated pre-screening through a secure communications network. Immigration officers use mobile handheld devices, freeing them from fixed counters to move throughout arrival and departure areas. This mobility allows officers to process passengers directly wherever congestion occurs,
optimizing resource allocation during surges such as public holidays or delayed flight banks.
Pilot Program and Official Launch Details
The system’s pilot phase began in October 2025 at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. By May 2026, it expanded to cover all passenger categories across all airport terminals. During this pilot period up to the end of August 2026, more than 31,000 passengers were processed using ‘Click and Travel’. The official launch took place on September 7, 2026, at a press briefing led by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri and Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti.
Access and Passenger Impact
The ‘Click and Travel’ service is available to all
UAE citizens, residents, Gulf Cooperation Council nationals, and visitors. The system’s rapid processing capability substantially reduces passenger wait times at immigration, with clearance times averaging between 12 and 15 seconds. Mobile officers processing passengers directly in halls help reduce congestion by adapting to real-time crowd flow changes rather than relying on fixed counters.
Dubai International Airport’s CEO has highlighted the need for efficient immigration processing to support the airport’s projected growth past 100 million annual passengers within 18 months. ‘Click and Travel’ contributes to these efforts by accelerating passenger flow and easing bottlenecks at immigration checkpoints.
