Dubai Launches Mobile Passport Control Service That Processes Travellers in 15 Seconds

Dubai mobile passport control now lets immigration officers process arrivals and departures in approximately 12 to 15 seconds.

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai launched the service, called Click and Travel, on September 7, 2026.

The system allows passport officers to complete entry and departure procedures using mobile devices instead of relying only on traditional immigration counters.

How Click and Travel works

Click and Travel combines facial recognition, electronic passport reading, automated verification and secure connections to official government databases.

An immigration officer uses the mobile system to verify the traveller’s identity and travel documents. GDRFA Dubai said each transaction takes approximately 12 to 15 seconds.

The authority tested the technology before its wider launch. A total of 31,373 passengers used the service during its trial period, according to a report published by Emarat Al Youm.

The service became available on September 7, although GDRFA Dubai has not published details explaining which terminals or passenger categories will receive it first.

The mobile devices are operated by airport staff

Click and Travel should not be confused with a passenger mobile application.

Travellers do not complete immigration procedures on their own phones. The mobile devices are operated by passport control officers, allowing authorised staff to process passengers away from a fixed counter when the service is available.

GDRFA Dubai has not announced a registration process, fee or separate application for passengers using the new system.

Travellers should continue carrying their passport, boarding pass and any required visa or residence documents. Immigration officers may still request these documents or direct a passenger to a conventional counter for additional checks.

How it differs from Dubai Smart Gates

Dubai already offers contactless Smart Gates at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Eligible travellers use Smart Gates by standing in the designated area and looking at the camera for biometric verification. They may also need to scan a biometric passport when instructed.

UAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents and eligible visa-on-arrival passengers with biometric passports can use the gates when registered. Families with children, passengers under 1.2 metres tall and some other traveller categories may need to use a staffed counter.

Passengers can check their registration through the GDRFA Smart Gate inquiry service.

Click and Travel complements these existing systems by giving immigration officers a portable processing option. It does not replace Smart Gates or remove the need for traditional passport-control facilities.

What the new system means for passengers

The mobile service is designed to reduce waiting times and improve passenger movement during busy travel periods.

Because officers are not restricted to fixed desks, GDRFA Dubai may have more flexibility when responding to queues and changing passenger volumes. The authority has not yet published figures showing how much the system will reduce total queue times.

Travellers should remember that the 12-to-15-second figure refers to the processing transaction. It does not guarantee that every passenger will clear the entire immigration area within that time.

Document problems, visa questions, biometric mismatches or additional security checks may require more time.

Passengers can review current visa and passport-control information through the Dubai Airports travel guide or contact GDRFA Dubai for official immigration guidance.