10 passengers in 14 seconds: Dubai Airport rolls out AI-powered ‘red carpet’ for fast passport processing

Can process 10 passengers in 14 seconds

The new corridor can complete the process in just 6 to 14 seconds and can handle up to ten passengers simultaneously.

Brigadier Waleed Ahmed Saeed, Acting Assistant Director General for Airports at GDRFA, told Gulf Today that the corridor enables entire families or groups of people to pass through simultaneously, ensuring greater flexibility of movement and enhancing the travel experience.

In 2024, the Dubai Airport was the busiest in the world, and saw a footfall of around 94 million passengers. (Photo: Dubai Media Office)

How the red carpet works

The red carpet, which was launched under the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, in cooperation with Dubai Airports, will complete the verification process without any stops or documents being presented, while special cases are referred for manual review, maintaining the highest security standards.

It uses advanced artificial intelligence to pre-identify travelers based on biometric and digital data before they approach the system, and once the passenger is inside, the AI confirms their identity automatically. Any irregularities or flagged profiles are redirected to manual review to maintain strict security protocols.

According to the authorities, the new system helps in reducing wait times and also reshapes the entire airport journey.

The new red carpet is also part of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Dubai Vision 2030, which seek to establish Dubai as the world’s best city for living, working and travelling.

Busiest airport in the world

In 2024, the Dubai Airport was the busiest in the world, and saw a footfall of around 94 million passengers, the highest in its history. 2025 is shaping up to be yet another record-breaking year for Dubai Airport, which welcomed 46 million passengers in the first half of this year.