Dubai Launches "Click and Travel": A New Mobile Immigration Service at Dubai International Airport

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has officially launched "Click and Travel," a mobile passport control service designed to complete passenger entry and departure procedures at the traveller's location inside the terminal, rather than at a fixed counter.

The service was announced on September 7, 2026, at a press conference held at Dubai International Airport, attended by Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, and Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director General for Airport Affairs, along with senior officials from the authority.

What Click and Travel Does

Click and Travel changes the conventional model of passport control by bringing the officer to the passenger. Instead of travellers moving through a queue toward a service point, immigration officers carry mobile devices that connect directly to GDRFA Dubai's systems and databases, allowing them to complete entry or departure formalities wherever a passenger happens to be within the terminal.

GDRFA Dubai has described it as the first service of its kind globally, built specifically for situations where speed and flexibility matter most: peak travel periods, terminal congestion and emergencies that call for a rapid operational response.

How the Service Works

The mobile devices used by officers combine several technologies:

• Biometric verification and facial recognition to confirm passenger identity

• Electronic passport reading

• Automated pre-screening of passenger information

• A secure communications network providing instant access to GDRFA Dubai's records

Together, these allow an officer to verify a passenger's identity and complete the required transaction in approximately 12 to 15 seconds. GDRFA Dubai has been clear that Click and Travel is designed to complement existing clearance channels, including Smart Gates and the Red Carpet service, rather than replace them.

Results From the Pilot Phase

Before its official launch, Click and Travel was trialled between May and August 31, 2026. During this period, the service processed 31,373 passenger transactions across Dubai's airport terminals. The pilot was used to test the system's reliability and operational performance ahead of its wider rollout, including how it performs under real passenger volumes and varying terminal conditions.

Who Can Use Click and Travel

Eligibility currently differs depending on the direction of travel:

Departing passengers: The service is available to UAE citizens, UAE residents and visitors.

Arriving passengers: The first phase covers UAE citizens and UAE residents. GDRFA Dubai has indicated that arrival eligibility will expand to additional passenger categories in later phases.

Use of the service at any given time is determined by airport authorities based on operational needs, meaning it is deployed selectively during periods of high traffic or specific circumstances rather than applied uniformly across all passengers at all times.

Part of a Broader Digital Immigration Strategy

Click and Travel adds to a growing set of technology-driven services GDRFA Dubai has introduced in recent years to manage passenger flow at Dubai's airports, alongside tools such as Smart Gates and the Red Carpet biometric clearance service. GDRFA Dubai has stated that it intends to continue developing Click and Travel and is exploring the possibility of extending the mobile model beyond entry and departure procedures to other parts of the passenger journey, with any expansion carried out according to approved operational frameworks.

For travellers passing through Dubai International Airport, the practical effect is a system built to reduce waiting time at fixed checkpoints and give airport authorities more flexibility to manage passenger movement, particularly during the busiest periods of the year.

This article is based on information procured from official sources and public portals. It is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Kindly consult the relevant public authority or an immigration advisor at the Legit Migrant for guidance specific to your circumstances.