E-Paper
Sign In
Now, clear immigration in 6 seconds: Inside Dubai Airport’s new AI travel corridor
It is currently in trial phase. Once fully implemented, including for arrivals, travellers will be able to pass through immigration as if walking down any other corridor.
- PUBLISHED: Sun 17 Aug 2025, 10:17 PM UPDATED: Thu 21 Aug 2025, 8:32 PM
Six seconds is all it took to clear immigration at Dubai International Airport’s new AI-powered smart corridor.
Khaleej Times tried the system in Terminal 3 during peak travel season and breezed past immigration without counters, document checks, or passport scans. Instead, passengers walked down a red carpet while discreet sensors scanned their faces.
Recommended For You
The process felt futuristic yet seamless. At the end of the corridor, a screen flashed the message “immigration procedure complete", along with the traveller’s photo, flight details, and timestamp. If flagged, passengers were simply directed to the left for additional checks.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Some first-time users instinctively reached for their passports, only to be waved along by officers who reassured them, “You can go, no need to show.” The moment felt surreal, a process that usually takes minutes, if not longer, was completed in seconds.
The corridor is currently in a trial phase, with plans to expand across the airport, including arrivals. Once fully implemented, travellers will be able to pass through immigration as if walking down any other corridor — no lines, no gates, no waiting.
Craig K, a visitor from the UK on a short vacation, expressed his amazement. “I travel all the time, but this is a first for me. What a way to travel,” he told Khaleej Times.
The system can process up to 10 passengers simultaneously and is designed to be inclusive. Senior citizens and people of determination using wheelchairs moved through effortlessly, without needing to pause.
Authorities say the corridor not only speeds up immigration but also enhances security. The AI system can flag suspicious passports and automatically refer them to forgery experts, explained Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, according to local newspaper Alkhaleej.
Earlier, a Khaleej Times report revealed that passengers at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) will also be able to clear immigration through a similar smart corridor, capable of handling up to 10 travellers at once. DWC is additionally set to feature automated baggage handling and the option for passengers to arrive on eVTOL aircraft.
Dubai International Airport retained its position as the world’s busiest hub for international passenger traffic in 2024, according to Airports Council International. For now, at DXB, the smart corridor is turning a traditionally stressful part of air travel into a fluid, almost effortless experience, a few steps, and travellers are cleared.
Waad Barakat is a Special Correspondent covering security topics, from law enforcement to local courts. With a keen eye for human interest stories, she hopes to blend it all with unique Gen Z-inspired content.