Smart Gates in Dubai International Airport DXB Airport: Fast and Contactless Passport Control

What is Smart Gates in Dubai and How does it Work?

Smart gates are automated self-service border control systems that use facial recognition technology to identify travelers. At DXB airport, smart gates can be used by three groups of people:

• UAE Nationals and GCC Nationals,
• UAE residents,
• visa-on-arrival guests with biometric passports.

Smart gates work by matching the faces of travelers with data connected to immigration databases, which determines their status as a UAE National, GCC National, UAE resident, or visa-on-arrival guest.

How to use the smart gates at Dubai International airport?

Follow these steps to use Smart Gates At Dubai Airport

1. Go to the Smart Gate section at passport control and stand on the designated spot.
2. Remove any face coverings like masks, glasses, or hats. Keep your boarding pass and passport handy.
3. Look at the green light on top of the camera to verify your biometrics and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Once your biometrics are approved, the Smart Gates will open, and you can proceed with the passport control process.

Benefits to using Smart Gates at Dubai International Airport:

1. It saves time as the process is quick, taking only seconds.
2. It is a self-service system, allowing travelers to go through without assistance.
3. It is free to use.
4. It provides a sense of convenience and efficiency compared to waiting in queues.

DXB airport has a total of 112 smart gates located in the arrivals and departures areas.

Categories not eligible to use Smart Gates

Certain groups of people are not eligible to use smart gates at DXB airport,

• families with children
• travelers with large strollers
• individuals under 15 years old
• those under 1.2 meters tall,
• people of determination (individuals with disabilities).

However, there are dedicated desks with helpful staff available to assist these travelers with their passport checks.

Registration is not required to use the smart gates at DXB airport. Most travelers who have recently arrived at DXB airport are likely to have been automatically registered for smart gate usage upon entering the immigration touchpoint.

Are you registered to use Smart Gates at Dubai International Airport?

To check eligibility for the Smart Gate service, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) offers a feature on their website. You can visit the GDRFA website and follow the instructions provided to check your eligibility.

If you want to know if you’re registered to use the Smart Gates at Dubai International Airport, you can use the online service called “Inquiry for Smart Gate Registration” provided by GDRFA-Dubai.

Here’s how to check if you’re registered:

1. Go to the website gdrfad.gov.ae.
2. Look for the service called “Inquiry for Smart Gate Registration” and click on the “Start Service” button.

3. Choose one of the options:

• File Number: You can find this number on your visa sticker or e-visa. Select the file type (resident or permit), the issuing Emirate, and enter the file number.
• UDB Number or Emirates Unified Number.
• Emirates ID number.
• Passport Number: Enter your nationality and passport number.

4. Enter your date of birth and select your gender.

5. Complete the captcha and click on the “Submit” button.

6. GDRFA-Dubai will inform you if your record is registered. If it is, they will say “Record is registered. You can use Smart Gates.

Using the Smart Gates can make your passport control process faster and more convenient.

Which non-residents are eligible to apply for Smart Gates in Dubai?

Non-residents in the UAE who are eligible for a visa on arrival and hold a biometric passport can apply for Smart Gates in Dubai. This technology is also available for UAE Nationals, GCC Nationals, and residents.

The following countries, eligible for a visa on arrival, can benefit from the Smart Gates technology at Dubai International Airport:

For a 30-day visa on arrival:

• Andorra
• Australia
• Brunei
• Canada
• China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
• United States of America
• Vatican City

For a 90-day visa on arrival:

• Argentina
• Austria
• Bahamas Islands
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Kiribati
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Maldives
• Malta
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Uruguay

Additionally, Indian nationals can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 14 days if they hold a visit visa issued by the USA, a green card issued by the USA, a residence visa issued by the UK, or a residence visa issued by the EU.

Frequently Asked Questions FAQs on Smart Gate At Dubai International Airport