Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) has launched “Click & Travel,” described as the world’s first mobile service allowing passport control procedures to be completed at passengers’ locations inside Dubai airports during peak periods and emergencies.

The service is designed to improve passenger flow and operational efficiency by allowing passport control officers to move directly to travellers rather than requiring passengers to visit fixed service points.

Using mobile devices integrated with GDRFA Dubai’s systems and databases, alongside biometric verification technology, officers can verify identities and complete entry or departure procedures in approximately 12 to 15 seconds.

Around 31,373 transactions were completed through “Click & Travel” during its pilot phase, which began in May and ran through August 31, 2026.

The mobile service allows officers to reach passengers inside airport terminals, verify their information and identity, and process their entry or departure at their location.

It also gives airport teams greater flexibility in managing passenger movements and deploying resources according to operational demands.

The system can be activated during periods of high passenger traffic, emergencies and other situations requiring a rapid operational response.

At departure, it is available to UAE citizens, residents and visitors.

For arrivals, the first phase covers UAE citizens and residents, with plans to gradually expand the service in line with operational requirements.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, said the initiative reflects a broader effort to redesign the passenger experience rather than simply improve existing procedures.

“We place people at the heart of the development process and harness advanced technologies to create an easier and more efficient travel experience. With ‘Click & Travel,’ instead of passengers having to look for the service, the service comes to them, enabling passport control officers to complete their procedures at their location quickly, securely and flexibly.”

Al Marri said the completion of more than 31,000 transactions demonstrates the service’s operational readiness and supports plans for further development and expansion.

“The completion of more than 31,000 transactions reflects the service’s readiness and ability to operate efficiently within the airport environment and encourages us to continue developing and expanding it, further strengthening Dubai’s leadership and position in shaping the future of travel.”

Major General Talal Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director General for Air Ports at GDRFA Dubai, said the service strengthens the authority’s ability to respond to passenger movements while reducing fixed waiting points.

“The importance of ‘Click & Travel’ lies in bringing the service to wherever the passenger is, enabling a faster response to operational movement, reducing waiting points and ensuring smoother passenger flows, while maintaining the highest levels of security and efficiency.”

Colonel Expert Khalid Bin Mediya Al Falasi, Assistant Director General for Digital Services at GDRFA Dubai, said the service’s significance extends beyond its mobile hardware, highlighting the integration between digital systems and field operations.

“The value in ‘Click & Travel’ is not limited to the mobile device itself, but lies in the digital integration ecosystem that enables passport control officers to access and verify passenger information and complete procedures at the passenger’s location efficiently and quickly, within a secure and fully integrated digital environment.”

He added: “The service has been designed to enable its continued development and the future expansion of the range of services that can be delivered through mobile devices, supporting GDRFA Dubai’s direction towards more flexible and proactive digital solutions.”

GDRFA Dubai said it plans to continue developing “Click & Travel” and explore additional services that could eventually be delivered through mobile devices, extending beyond entry and departure procedures to other stages of the passenger journey.

The initiative forms part of Dubai’s wider efforts to develop its smart ports ecosystem, improve operational efficiency and use digital technologies to provide more flexible, proactive and passenger-focused services, reinforcing the emirate’s reputation for a seamless travel experience.  -TradeArabia News Service