Over the past six months, 154,000 travellers have used Dubai International Airport’s new biometric system, which eliminates the need for identification documents at different points in the airport.
The fast-track “biometric passenger journey” uses face and iris-recognition technology to let travellers complete passport control procedures in as little as five seconds.
The new contactless system, launched by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in September, has been installed at 122 smart gates in the arrivals and departures halls.
Eight Emirates airline check-in desks have also been fitted with biometric cameras.
As part of the introduction, passengers registered under the new system no longer need to show their passport or boarding pass, from check-in to boarding the plane.
"Any passenger who wants to use the new, seamless smart travel service needs to pre-register their details first," said Noora Al Mazrouie, director of Future Border Department at the directorate.
“First of all, the passenger will have to approach the Emirates check-in counter and register his or her biometrics and facial data at that touch point.
“Then he will get a boarding pass that specifies either smart tunnel or smart gate, so he knows which point to pass through when going through immigration.
“For example, at the smart gate, the passenger will enter the gate and it will verify his biometric passport through a camera.
"The gate will open within seconds without using any documents.”
The same process is used at the boarding gate and when checking in to the Emirates’ business and first-class lounges.
Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of directorate, said the time it took to pass through each point depended on the movement of the passenger.
"We are always trying to reduce the wait time between each check point in the airport," Maj Gen Al Marri told The National.
“We run on seconds, not minutes. Now, if the passenger stands in front of the camera, stays still and looks where he is supposed to, five seconds is more than enough to complete the procedure.
“Our customers are very important and we want them to walk away with the feeling that Dubai airport was the best airport they travelled through.
"The journey has to be smooth, quick and stress-free.”
How to use the new biometric service?
- Passengers passing though the smart gates must lower their masks, glasses and hats and look at the camera, keeping as still as possible.
- The biometric data of the passenger will be scanned and when the green light appears the gate will open and the traveller can pass through.
- If the smart gate does not recognise the passenger immediately, a message will appear, telling them to go back and try again
- Support staff are positioned near all gates to guide the passengers on how to use the service.
Who can use the service?
- Emiratis
- GCC nationals
- Residents of the UAE
- Foreign visitors who get visa on arrival or come with a pre-issued visa
- Children aged 15 and above
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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