Emirates, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, has launched a smart service that allows travelers to pass through various airport checkpoints using only their facial features, without the need to show a passport or boarding pass.
This step is part of the airline's investments in the latest biometric technologies to speed up travel procedures at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. Here is a simple five-step guide to using the new service and enjoying a seamless travel experience through the smart airport:
Step One: Registering for the Service
Travelers can easily register via the Emirates app or at the check-in counters at the airport, provided the traveler is 18 years of age or older and is a member of the Skywards program.
The customer is asked to scan their passport and take a "selfie" to match it with their profile in the program, and to consent to the use of their biometric data registered with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Step Two: Check-in With Your Face
After registering, travelers can use facial recognition technology at self-service kiosks or check-in counters in Terminal 3, without the need to show a passport or boarding pass.
Step Three: Passing Through the Smart Gates
The smart biometric gates operated by Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs allow registered travelers to pass through quickly, as it is enough to stop for a few seconds in front of the camera for the image to be captured and then proceed directly to the security screening area or baggage claim. The service is available to citizens, residents, GCC nationals and visitors eligible for a visa on arrival.
Step Four: Entering Emirates Lounges
Eligible travelers can enter Emirates lounges in Concourse B through five dedicated gates that operate with facial recognition, without the need to swipe a card or undergo manual verification.
Step Five: Fast Boarding
Travelers can board the aircraft directly through boarding gates equipped with facial recognition technology in Concourses A, B and C, without the need to show a boarding pass.
Emirates plans to expand the service soon to include more gates and areas within the airport. If a traveler has previously visited Dubai or resides there, Emirates can match their photo with their biometric profile held by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, while a temporary profile is created for new visitors and automatically converted into a permanent one when they enter the UAE.
For more information about smart travel gates, visit the "Seamless travel experience" page on the Emirates website, or visit the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
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