Dubai Airport Click & Travel: How the New Immigration Service Works

ByStaff Reporter Last Updated on

Dubai Airport Click & Travel is a mobile passport-control system that allows immigration officers to carry out immigration procedures wherever passengers are being processed. It is designed to make passport control faster and more flexible for passengers.

Launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) on September 7, 2026, the service allows immigration officers to complete arrival and departure procedures using handheld mobile devices instead of relying only on traditional immigration counters.

What is Dubai Airport Click & Travel?

Rather than requiring every traveller to approach a fixed immigration desk, an officer can bring the device directly to the passenger. The system securely connects to official databases so the necessary immigration checks can be completed from the mobile device.

How does Click & Travel work?

The mobile system combines several technologies, including:

  • Biometric verification
  • Facial recognition
  • Electronic passport reading
  • Automated passenger checks
  • Secure access to official immigration databases

Once the passenger’s details have been verified, the immigration officer can complete the relevant arrival or departure procedure directly through the device.

How long does immigration take?

According to GDRFA Dubai, a transaction using Click & Travel takes approximately 12 to 15 seconds.

The system was tested extensively before its official launch, processing 31,373 passengers during the trial period.

Who can use Click & Travel at Dubai Airport?

The service is available for:

  • UAE nationals
  • UAE residents
  • GCC nationals
  • Visitors

It can be used for both arrival and departure immigration procedures at Dubai’s airports.

Does Click & Travel replace immigration counters?

No. Travellers should not expect traditional immigration counters to disappear.

Click & Travel provides an additional mobile passport-control option, giving immigration officers greater flexibility to process passengers away from fixed counters when required.

Does it replace Dubai Airport Smart Gates?

No. Click & Travel works alongside Dubai’s existing Smart Gates and automated passport-control facilities.

The difference is that Click & Travel makes the immigration process mobile, allowing officers to carry out procedures away from a conventional immigration counter.

Can children and People of Determination use it?

Yes. The mobile nature of the system can be particularly useful for passengers who may require additional assistance, including children and People of Determination.

Instead of requiring the passenger to approach a counter, an immigration officer can bring the device to them and complete the procedure.

Do passengers need to download an app?

No. Passengers do not need to download a new app or learn a separate immigration procedure.

Click & Travel primarily changes how immigration officers provide the service. Travellers continue through the normal airport journey, while officers have the option of completing passport-control procedures using the mobile system.

What happens after Click & Travel immigration?

Once immigration is completed, passengers simply continue to the next stage of their journey.

Departing passengers can proceed towards security screening, while arriving passengers can continue towards customs and onward through the airport.

When did Dubai Airport start testing Click & Travel?

Testing began in October 2025 at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, initially focusing on families.

The trial was expanded in May 2026 to cover all Dubai airport terminals and different categories of travellers. Following these trials, GDRFA Dubai officially launched Click & Travel on September 7, 2026.

What does Click & Travel mean for Dubai Airport passengers?

For travellers, the biggest benefit should be a more flexible immigration process. The system is intended to help reduce waiting times, improve passenger flow and allow airport teams to respond more efficiently during busy periods.

You don’t have to register or specifically request Click & Travel based on the information provided so far. It is an immigration-processing tool used by airport officers rather than a separate passenger service that travellers need to book.