GDRFA Dubai said Dubai smart gates and Red Carpet digital travel services handled more than 9.4 million travellers in the first half of 2026, moving AI-powered border control from trial evidence into daily airport use.

Between January and June, the authority said its integrated digital travel services handled 9,464,057 travellers.

GDRFA Dubai separately listed 9,024,736 Smart Gates users and 439,321 travellers for the Travel Without Borders – Red Carpet service.

GDRFA Dubai Says 9,464,057 Travellers Used Digital Travel Services

The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai described Smart Gates as the main digital border-crossing channel for eligible travellers.

The system uses biometric technology so passengers can complete immigration procedures without conventional manual processing.

The Red Carpet service is the newer and more automated layer.

GDRFA Dubai said eligible passengers can use a dedicated lane that removes document checks and officer interaction from the normal crossing process.

GDRFA Dubai said the Red Carpet service uses artificial intelligence and biometric recognition.

The authority said average border processing time fell from 12.5 seconds to 3.4 seconds, and it described that change as a 60 per cent reduction.

Red Carpet Service Processes Up To 10 Travellers At Once

GDRFA Dubai said the Red Carpet system can process up to 10 travellers simultaneously.

The authority also said the service removes paper documents and physical touchpoints for eligible passengers.

The operational claim is narrow but concrete.

It is about seconds saved at the immigration lane, the number of travellers already using the system and the eligibility step passengers must complete before arriving at Dubai airports.

The authority urged eligible travellers to complete pre-registration before travelling.

It said passengers can use the Smart Gate Registration Inquiry page on GDRFA Dubai's website to confirm eligibility before using Smart Gates or the Red Carpet service.

According to GDRFA Dubai, advance registration lets passengers bypass traditional immigration procedures and complete secure border clearance by standing at the Smart Gate and looking at the green light.

Dubai Airport Border Systems Use AI And Biometrics

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA Dubai, said the Smart Travel results reflected Dubai's use of innovation and artificial intelligence in government services.

He said the travel experience now covers service quality and competitiveness, not only faster procedures.

Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti, who oversees the Air Ports Affairs Sector, said Smart Gates and the Red Carpet service combine passenger movement with security standards.

He also said GDRFA Dubai is continuing to develop digital services as passenger traffic grows.

GDRFA Dubai said the system supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by strengthening Dubai's position as a destination to live, work and visit.

The authority did not disclose the project cost, technology vendors, biometric error rates, full eligibility limits or a timetable for expanding Red Carpet access beyond eligible travellers.