• A new travel pass app that can be used to show if a person is vaccinated or has had a recent PCR test will be trialled in Dubai. It follows the recent introduction of a contactless system deployed at 122 smart gates, pictured. Courtesy: GDFRA
    A new travel pass app that can be used to show if a person is vaccinated or has had a recent PCR test will be trialled in Dubai. It follows the recent introduction of a contactless system deployed at 122 smart gates, pictured. Courtesy: GDFRA
  • A passenger lines up for an iris scan. He is not required to hand over his physical passport at 122 gates within the airport
    A passenger lines up for an iris scan. He is not required to hand over his physical passport at 122 gates within the airport
  • The fast-track biometric passenger journey service uses face and iris-recognition technologies
    The fast-track biometric passenger journey service uses face and iris-recognition technologies
  • Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the GDRFA immigration service, speaks to media during a tour of Dubai International Airport in March
    Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the GDRFA immigration service, speaks to media during a tour of Dubai International Airport in March
  • Eight Emirates Airline check-in desks have been fitted with biometric cameras
    Eight Emirates Airline check-in desks have been fitted with biometric cameras
  • The smart gates enable passengers to complete passport control procedures between five to nine seconds
    The smart gates enable passengers to complete passport control procedures between five to nine seconds
  • The upgrade will make the movement through smart gates smoother and faster
    The upgrade will make the movement through smart gates smoother and faster
  • Passengers passing though the smart gates must lower their masks, glasses and hats then look at the camera and keep as still as possible.
    Passengers passing though the smart gates must lower their masks, glasses and hats then look at the camera and keep as still as possible.
  • 154,000 travellers have used Dubai International Airport’s new biometric system, which eliminates the need to use identification documents
    154,000 travellers have used Dubai International Airport’s new biometric system, which eliminates the need to use identification documents
  • Passengers registered under the new system no longer need to show their passport or boarding pass, from checking in to boarding the plane.
    Passengers registered under the new system no longer need to show their passport or boarding pass, from checking in to boarding the plane.

How Dubai airport's new facial-recognition smart gates work


Kelly Clarke
  • English
  • Arabic

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

Expert input

If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?

“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett

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“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Movie: Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster 3

Producer: JAR Films

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Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Chitrangda Singh, Kabir Bedi

Rating: 3 star

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