Dubai releases a new passenger clearance system, Click and Travel, that allows passengers to complete their departure procedures in 12 to 15 seconds. This allows for more flexible passport control, with officers processing travellers from their location within the airport terminal using a mobile device and not only in the immigration Smart Gates.
More Flexible Service to Complement Existing Passport Control
This system was launched on Sept. 7 as the world’s first mobile service allowing passport-control officers to complete entry and departure procedures at passengers’ locations within airport terminals. For departure, the service is available for all travellers, while arrival services are currently only available for UAE citizens and residents, with expansion planned in line with operational requirements.
It combines biometric technology, facial recognition, electronic passport reading and automated screening through a secure communications network. This can be especially useful during peak periods and emergency situations and is designed to complement existing passport-control procedures.
Dubai Targets More Efficient Passenger Processing
This service underwent a trial phase beginning in October 2025, when the service was activated for passengers at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. It progressed to a second trial phase which began in May to August 2026, when the service was expanded to other areas of Dubai Airport. It successfully processed 31,373 transactions in this second trial before its official launch in September.
This service is part of Dubai’s efforts to improve the efficiency of passport control, increasing overall travel experience. By using modern technology, Click & Travel aims to improve operational efficiency and make travel services more accessible and flexible.
Do you think Click & Travel can successfully balance efficiency and security? Let us know in the comments!
Clearing passport control in 12-15 seconds from wherever the officer happens to be is a big shift: the airport is moving the process to the passenger, not the other way round. The same thing is happening on the trip-planning side. I build an itinerary tool for small travel agencies, and the client’s whole trip lives in a branded web app on their phone – no download, works offline – so the documents an officer or a check-in agent asks for are always one tap away. Faster clearance only helps if the traveler isn’t then digging through emails for the next booking.