Picture the usual arrival rush at Dubai International Airport. Long lines at the counters, someone’s trolley squeaking behind you, a child crying three rows over. Now imagine skipping all of it — not by walking to a smart gate, but by an immigration officer walking to you.
That is the idea behind Click and Travel, the new mobile passport-control service GDRFA Dubai launched on 7 September 2026. Described by the authority as the world’s first of its kind, it lets officers complete entry and departure procedures at a passenger’s location inside the terminal, using a handheld device, in roughly 12 to 15 seconds.
Quick answer: Click and Travel Dubai is a mobile immigration service at Dubai airports. Officers use portable devices with facial and iris biometric recognition to verify identity and clear travellers without them having to stop at a fixed counter. Departures are open to all travellers; arrivals, in the first phase, cover UAE citizens and residents.
One thing this is not: a visa or residency rule change. Click and Travel changes how passport control is carried out at the airport — visa requirements and entry rules stay exactly as they are.
Table of Contents
What is Click and Travel?
Click and Travel — the official name uses the ampersand, “Click & Travel” — is a mobile border-processing service from the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). Instead of directing passengers to fixed immigration counters or self-service gates, the service flips the model: the officer comes to the passenger.
The handheld devices connect securely to GDRFA Dubai’s systems and databases. An officer can verify facial biometrics, read an electronic passport, run automated checks, and complete the full entry or exit transaction on the spot. According to the Dubai Media Office, the service is designed for peak periods, emergencies, and moments of heavy operational pressure — times when fixed counters simply cannot absorb the flow.
During the pilot phase, which ran through 31 August 2026, the system completed 31,373 transactions. Testing began at Terminal 3 in October 2025, initially with families, before widening across Dubai airport terminals in May 2026.
How the new mobile passport control works
There is nothing a passenger needs to do. No app, no registration, no pre-enrolment.
When the service is deployed, an officer moves through the terminal with a portable device. The traveller’s identity is confirmed through biometric verification — facial recognition, with iris scanning in the mix — and the officer completes the immigration procedure right there. The whole thing takes about 12 to 15 seconds, according to GDRFA Dubai.
A few practical points worth knowing:
- Departing passengers still pass through security screening after immigration, as normal.
- Arriving passengers proceed to customs once cleared.
- Children and People of Determination can be assisted at their location — officers can bring the device directly to anyone who needs extra help, which is where the service arguably shines most.
- The service is used alongside existing channels, not instead of them. It appears during congestion, peak waves, and emergencies.
Major General Talal Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director General for Airport Affairs at GDRFA Dubai, put it simply: the service “can be used as a backup for smart gates and the Red Carpet tunnel” — and he called it “a new step towards the future of travel.”
Who can use Click and Travel at Dubai airport?
The rollout comes in phases, and the rules differ for arrivals and departures.
| Passenger category | Departures | Arrivals (first phase) |
|---|---|---|
| UAE citizens | Yes | Yes |
| UAE residents | Yes | Yes |
| Visitors and tourists | Yes | Not yet — expansion planned |
| Children and People of Determination | Yes, with priority assistance | Priority assistance where eligible under phase 1 |
Note that priority assistance does not override the first-phase arrivals eligibility — on arrival, the service currently applies to UAE citizens and residents.
So if you are flying out of Dubai, you may encounter the service regardless of your nationality. If you are arriving, the first phase covers UAE citizens and residents; GDRFA Dubai says access will widen according to operational plans. Visitors should watch this space.
Click and Travel vs Smart Gates vs Red Carpet: what is the difference?
Dubai now has three fast-track layers at its airports, and they are easy to confuse.
| Feature | Click and Travel | Smart Gates | Red Carpet corridor |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Officer with a mobile device comes to you | Self-service e-gates you walk through | Walk-through biometric tunnel |
| Processing time | 12–15 seconds | Within seconds | About 3.4 seconds |
| Registration needed | None | Pre-registration / eligibility check | Enrolment-based |
| Best for | Peak times, families, emergencies | Registered regular travellers | Pre-cleared travellers |
The Smart Gates — self-service e-gates expanded across DXB this year — remain the everyday option for eligible travellers, and a Smart Gates PreCheck tool launched in July lets you confirm eligibility before you fly. The Red Carpet biometric corridor, meanwhile, processed 745,188 travellers between January and August 2026 with a 100 per cent stop-free rate.
Click and Travel does not replace any of this. It adds a mobile, human-operated layer on top, precisely for the moments when everything else jams up.
Why this matters for UAE residents and travellers
Dubai International Airport handled roughly 25.8 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026. Every second shaved off passport control compounds across that volume — and for residents who fly often, the real value shows up during the holiday rush, when arrival halls overflow.
There is a bigger signal here, too. GDRFA Dubai has said it plans to explore extending mobile-device services beyond entry and departure procedures to other parts of the passenger journey. In other words, this is less a one-off feature and more a first look at how airport procedures in the UAE are trending: fewer counters, fewer queues, more biometrics following you — quietly — through the terminal.
For now, the practical advice is simple. Keep your passport and Emirates ID handy, make sure your details are current, and don’t be surprised if, on your next busy departure from DXB, the queue comes to you.
Key facts at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Service name | Click & Travel |
| Launched by | GDRFA Dubai |
| Launch date | 7 September 2026 |
| Where | Dubai airports (launched at DXB) |
| Processing time | Approx. 12–15 seconds |
| Pilot transactions | 31,373 (through 31 August 2026) |
| Departures | All passengers |
| Arrivals (phase 1) | UAE citizens and residents |
| Registration required | No |
| Replaces Smart Gates? | No — works alongside them |
FAQ
What is Click and Travel in Dubai?
Click and Travel is a mobile immigration service launched by GDRFA Dubai on 7 September 2026. Passport-control officers use handheld devices with biometric verification to complete passengers’ entry and departure procedures at their location inside the airport terminal, in about 12 to 15 seconds.
Who can use Click and Travel at Dubai airport?
For departures, the service is available to all passengers — UAE citizens, residents, and visitors. For arrivals, the first phase covers UAE citizens and UAE residents, with expansion planned for other categories.
Do I need to register or download an app for Click and Travel?
No. There is no registration, app, or pre-enrolment. Officers deploy the service in the terminal during peak times and emergencies, and passengers are processed where they are.
Does Click and Travel replace Smart Gates at DXB?
No. GDRFA officials describe it as a backup and complement to Smart Gates and the Red Carpet biometric tunnel, adding a mobile processing layer during congestion rather than replacing existing channels.
How fast is Click and Travel?
Each transaction takes approximately 12 to 15 seconds, covering identity verification and the complete immigration procedure.
Can children and People of Determination use Click and Travel?
Yes. Officers can bring the device directly to children, families, and People of Determination, giving them priority assistance during long queues.
