Dubai Smart Gates Process 9.4 Million Travellers In Six Months
GDRFA Dubai said more than 9.4 million travellers used Dubai smart gates and Red Carpet digital travel services in the first half of 2026, with Red Carpet clearance averaging 3.4 seconds. Project cost, vendors, error rates and a wider rollout timetable remain outside the public record.
GDRFA Dubai said 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, integrated digital travel services handled 9,464,057 travellers, according to Gulf News.
The authority separately listed 9,024,736 Smart Gates users and 439,321 travellers for the Travel Without Borders - Red Carpet service.
Digital Travel Services Handled 9,464,057 Travellers
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.
Red Carpet is the newer and more automated layer.
Eligible passengers can use a dedicated lane that removes document checks and officer interaction from the normal crossing process.
The service uses artificial intelligence and biometric recognition.
Average border processing time fell from 12.5 seconds to 3.4 seconds, which the authority described as a 60 per cent reduction.
Red Carpet Processes Up To 10 Travellers At Once
The system can process up to 10 travellers simultaneously and removes paper documents and physical touchpoints for eligible passengers.
The operational claim is narrow but concrete: seconds saved at the immigration lane, traveller volume already using the system and the eligibility step passengers must complete before arriving at Dubai airports.
Eligible travellers were urged to complete pre-registration before travelling.
The Smart Gate Registration Inquiry page on the authority's website lets passengers confirm eligibility before using Smart Gates or Red Carpet.
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.
Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti said Smart Gates and Red Carpet combine passenger movement with security standards as passenger traffic grows.
The system supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by strengthening Dubai's position as a destination to live, work and visit.
Project cost, technology vendors, biometric error rates, full eligibility limits and a timetable for expanding Red Carpet access beyond eligible travellers remain outside the public record.
