Dubai airport introduces new tool to verify Smart Gates access before immigration
Passengers can check access within seconds using passport scan
DUBAI – Dubai Airports has unveiled a new digital service that allows passengers to check whether they are eligible to use Smart Gates before reaching passport control at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Developed in partnership with Dubai's General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), the feature is designed to make immigration faster and reduce uncertainty for travellers during one of the airport's busiest periods of the year. The service provides instant confirmation through a simple passport scan, enabling eligible passengers to head directly to the automated gates instead of joining manual immigration queues.
The latest enhancement comes as DXB prepares for a significant increase in passenger traffic over the summer, with daily traveller numbers expected to exceed 265,000.
New feature
The Smart Gates Pre-Eligibility Verification service is available through Dubai Airports' Pocket Flights platform and can also be accessed by scanning dedicated QR codes displayed across airport terminals and boarding gates.
Every improvement at @DXB is designed around the objective of making the journey through the #airport more seamless for our guests.
— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) July 24, 2026
Developed in collaboration with @GDRFADUBAI, the new Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check gives travellers instant confirmation of their Smart Gates… pic.twitter.com/cg8irvnbfY
Passengers do not need to download a separate application. Instead, they can open the Pocket Flights portal on their smartphone, select the Smart Gates PreCheck option and scan the photo page of their passport using their device's camera.
Within seconds, the system confirms whether the passenger is eligible to use the biometric Smart Gates.
Dubai Airports said the initiative is intended to remove guesswork before travellers arrive at immigration checkpoints, making it easier to navigate the airport while improving the overall passenger experience.
In a statement shared on X, the airport operator said every improvement at DXB is aimed at making journeys through the airport more seamless, with the new service helping travellers confirm eligibility before reaching passport control.
Faster journey
Passengers who receive confirmation can proceed directly to the Smart Gates instead of using conventional immigration counters.
At the automated gates, travellers simply stand on the designated footprints, remove any face coverings or glasses if required, look towards the green light for facial recognition and pass through immigration within seconds.
The Smart Gates system uses advanced biometric verification and facial recognition technology to speed up border clearance while maintaining security.
Dubai Airports said the latest service forms part of its ongoing efforts to streamline passenger services and support smoother movement through the airport, particularly during periods of high demand.
The introduction of the eligibility checker comes as Dubai International Airport continues to handle record passenger volumes.
DXB welcomed a historic 95.2 million passengers in 2025, retaining its position as the world's busiest international airport. Passenger growth has continued into 2026, with the airport forecasting more than 265,000 travellers each day during the peak summer season.
More than 9 million passengers cleared immigration using Smart Gates during the first half of 2026 alone, highlighting the growing adoption of the automated system.
Smart Gates are available to a broad range of travellers, including UAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents, visa-on-arrival visitors, travellers from Schengen countries and holders of pre-issued UAE visas.
Dubai Airports expects the new pre-check feature to encourage more eligible passengers to use the automated gates, easing congestion at manual passport control counters during busy travel periods.
The initiative also complements Dubai's wider smart travel ecosystem, including the AI-powered Travel Without Borders – Red Carpet service, which has reduced average immigration clearance times for eligible passengers from 12.5 seconds to just 3.4 seconds.