Future travel at DXB: Dubai International Airport to launch AI checkout alerts and advanced security scanners soon
Baggage delivery trials aim to reduce heavy luggage handling
DUBAI – The Dubai International Airport (DXB) is taking airport convenience to a new level, with a system designed to alert passengers at checkout counters if they risk missing their flights.
The technology will notify shoppers and diners of their remaining time to reach gates, reducing the stress of last-minute sprints.
DXB checkout alerts
“When you make a transaction at a restaurant or at one of our retail stores, that transaction will identify who you are, where you're travelling to, and we'll do a quick check to see how long it takes you to get to the gate," DXB CEO Paul Griffiths told Gulf News. “If you're running short of time, then a polite reminder from the assistant – 'your flight departs in 22 minutes, the gate is 10 minutes away, you better move on' – sort of thing, just to keep people on track.”
The initiative is part of a broader passenger wayfinding system aimed at preventing travellers from missing flights. By linking payment transactions to passenger information, the system calculates real-time distance to gates and alerts both the customer and retail staff if departure is imminent.
Avoiding boarding stress
Griffiths emphasised that the technology targets those who treat the airport as more than a transit point, turning shopping or dining into an extended itinerary. “For those who arrive hours early, the system won't be intrusive,” he noted. “We want to avoid that trauma of people missing flights.”
The system is one of several innovations being trialled at DXB, shifting the airport from passive operations to proactive passenger assistance. It tracks customer locations and provides reminders as flight times approach, ensuring that passengers reach gates without panic.
Real-time tracking
Dubai International’s extensive retail and dining offerings, from Duty Free shopping to lounges and restaurants, have long attracted passengers. With gates spread across multiple terminals and long walking distances, timing remains essential. The new system helps balance leisure with punctuality, enhancing the overall airport experience.
In parallel, DXB is rolling out more than 100 AI-powered security scanners that allow liquids, laptops, and electronics to remain in bags. Already, five or six Level 3 machines are operational, with full installation expected during 2026.
“These machines mean passengers won’t have to remove laptops or liquids at security,” Griffiths said. The new scanners will also lift a 19-year-old restriction on aerosols and deodorants, allowing passengers to carry toiletries of all sizes in hand baggage. “I get so fed up not being able to take things like aerosols or deodorants,” he said.
Testing innovation
Both the checkout reminder system and scanner upgrades are being trialled at DXB before potential adoption at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), scheduled to open its second phase in 2032. Other technologies in development include facial recognition for passport-less immigration, allowing travellers to pass security seamlessly.
The initiatives form part of a broader “no red lights” strategy at DXB, eliminating unnecessary stops and streamlining passenger movement. “The technology certainly exists. We've just got to be bold and apply it,” Griffiths said.
Baggage solutions
DXB is also exploring technology to eliminate the need for passengers to carry heavy bags through terminals. The goal is to enable check-in from anywhere in the city and have luggage delivered directly to homes or offices. marhaba, part of Emirates’ travel services arm dnata, has integrated offerings from DUBZ, a baggage technology company, into its portfolio to support this vision.
Passenger growth
Dubai International handled 95.2 million passengers in 2025 and forecasts 99.5 million in 2026. Griffiths expects the airport will surpass this estimate, potentially hitting the 100 million milestone. “Our forecasts are always decently conservative. I hope that towards the end of the year, we will be saying it looks more like 100 million,” he said.
In January 2026, DXB overtook Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to become the world’s busiest airport by seat capacity, handling 5.5 million seats versus Atlanta’s 4.9 million. DXB serves 291 destinations across 110 countries, operating 454,800 flights in 2025 with an average of 214 passengers per flight.