Forget standing in line at a fixed counter. Passengers passing through Dubai airports can now get their entry and departure procedures done wherever they happen to be inside the terminal, thanks to a new mobile service called ‘Click and Travel’, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). I have all the exciting details you need to know, so keep reading to find out more.
In More Exciting Airport News – DXB’s New Luggage Scanners Means You Don’t Have To Remove Electronics, Liquids, Shoes & More
How Will Things Change With This New App
Instead of walking up to a fixed counter and waiting for an officer to wave you over, immigration officers now carry handheld devices that do the whole job on the spot. I’m talking biometric technology, facial recognition, electronic passport reading, and automated checks, all wirelessly connected to official databases. The result? Your entire passport-control transaction wraps up in about 12 to 15 seconds. Yes, seconds.
And it’s not just for a select few. UAE nationals, residents, GCC nationals, and visitors can all use it, whether you’re landing or taking off.
At The Touch Of Your Finger, Anywhere You Go
Saeed Ahmed Saeed, Deputy Assistant Director of Air Ports Services at Dubai Airports, emphasis that passport control is shifting from a fixed platform to a mobile one that comes to you. That too, mo matter where you are in the airport. That might sound like a small tweak, but it’s actually a pretty major rethink of how airports are designed. Fewer fixed counters means more flexibility in how passenger areas are laid out, and honestly, less standing around for everyone.
There’s also a thoughtful touch here. Families with children and People of Determination who might need extra support no longer have to make their way to a counter. Officers can simply bring the device to them instead.
Once your passport procedure is done, you’re free to head straight to your next step, whether that’s security if you’re departing or customs if you’ve just landed.
