Flying with Emirates just got a whole lot easier and faster. Dubai’s flagship airline has rolled out a massive Dh85 million biometrics programme at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, installing over 200 smart cameras that recognise your face as your boarding pass. That means you can glide through check-in, immigration, lounges, and boarding gates, all without pulling out your passport or phone.

Developed in collaboration with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigner Affairs Dubai (GDRFAD), this new technology aims to cut waiting times and make your airport experience smoother than ever. The high-tech cameras can identify you from a metre away, letting you walk straight through checkpoints that once required multiple document checks.

How to use the new smart gates 

Step 1: Register

You can register in minutes via the Emirates app or in person at check-in counters in Dubai.
To sign up, you need to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have an Emirates Skywards membership
• Scan your passport and ensure your details match your Skywards profile
• Give consent for Emirates to use your biometric data stored in the GDRFAD system

If you’ve visited Dubai before or live here, Emirates will link your existing GDRFAD biometric profile. If not, they’ll create a temporary one for you, which will automatically convert once you enter the UAE.

Step 2: Check in with your face

Once registered, you can check in at biometric kiosks instead of using physical documents. Soon, this will extend to connections, making transfers between Emirates flights just as seamless.

Step 3: Use Smart Gates at Immigration

Skip the queues entirely with Smart Gates at Terminal 3. Simply step in, look at the camera, and walk through.
You can use the Smart Gates if you are:

• A UAE citizen or resident
• A GCC national
• A visa-on-arrival visitor with a biometric passport

Step 4: Lounge entry made smarter

Eligible Emirates passengers can now enter the Business or First Class Lounge at Concourse B using just facial recognition. No boarding pass, no fuss, just approach the camera and walk in to enjoy world-class dining and relaxation.

Step 5: Board your flight in seconds

At select departure gates across Concourses A, B, and C, registered travellers can now board with facial recognition. More biometric gates will be added soon, making the boarding process faster than ever.

In short

Emirates’ new biometric journey means no more juggling passports, phones, or boarding passes. With one-time registration, travellers can enjoy a seamless airport experience from check-in to take-off, redefining what it means to “fly smarter” through Dubai.

Imagine walking through Dubai Airport without ever reaching for your passport.
Emirates’ new biometric journey makes it possible, from check-in to boarding, all with a smile (literally).

Facial recognition technology is now redefining how travellers move through Terminal 3, offering speed, simplicity, and a touch of sci-fi luxury.