Dubai’s biometric Red Carpet clears 745,188 travellers in 2026

Dubai’s biometric Red Carpet immigration system processed 745,188 travellers during the first eight months of 2026, giving passengers eligible for the service a passport-free route through immigration at Dubai International Airport.

The figures, covering January through August, were presented by Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) as the emirate continues to expand automated border-control services at its airports.

The wider passenger numbers underline the scale of the operation. DXB handled 25,849,432 passengers during the same eight-month period, while 9,382,814 travellers used smart gates for entry and exit procedures.

Red Carpet reduces immigration processing time

The Red Carpet service uses artificial intelligence and biometric recognition to identify travellers as they move through a designated corridor.

Eligible passengers can complete immigration without stopping at a conventional passport-control counter or presenting a physical passport or boarding pass. The system verifies identity using biometric technology while travellers continue walking through the corridor.

According to GDRFA Dubai figures reported at the airport briefing, average processing time through the Red Carpet system has fallen from 12.5 seconds to 3.4 seconds, a reduction of about 60 per cent.

The system can process approximately 10 travellers simultaneously, allowing immigration procedures to be completed without the physical document checks associated with traditional counters.

The technology is separate from Dubai’s conventional smart gates, although both form part of the emirate’s wider automated immigration infrastructure.

Smart gates remain the main automated channel

Smart gates handled considerably more travellers than the Red Carpet system during the first eight months of the year.

GDRFA Dubai recorded 9.38 million smart-gate users between January and August, representing more than 60 per cent of passengers travelling through DXB during the period.

The figures indicate that automated immigration is no longer limited to a small premium service. Smart gates are now an important part of the airport’s passenger-processing system, while the Red Carpet provides a more advanced biometric corridor for eligible travellers.

Earlier GDRFA figures covering January to June showed that 9,024,736 passengers had used smart gates during the first half of 2026, while 439,321 used the Red Carpet service. The latest eight-month figures therefore show continued growth in the use of both systems.

Dubai adds more technology to the airport journey

The Red Carpet is one part of a broader push to digitise border procedures in Dubai.

On September 7, GDRFA Dubai also launched Click and Travel, a mobile passport-check service designed to allow immigration officers to complete procedures away from fixed counters using portable biometric equipment.

The service is intended to help manage periods of heavy passenger traffic and can be deployed when queues build up. During its pilot phase, more than 31,000 passengers used the service, according to GDRFA Dubai reporting.

Unlike the Red Carpet, Click and Travel does not require passengers to walk through a dedicated biometric corridor. Instead, the immigration service is brought directly to the traveller through a portable device.

The two initiatives therefore address different parts of the airport experience while supporting the same broader objective: reducing dependence on fixed immigration counters.

Children and passengers requiring additional support

Dubai’s airport passport services are also being expanded beyond faster processing.

The Airport Passport Sector says a dedicated passport platform for children has served more than 2 million children since its launch, including 212,746 during the first eight months of 2026.

Accessibility services have also been expanded for People of Determination. GDRFA Dubai said 263 passport officers and facilitators have been trained to provide additional support, including through dedicated lanes, hearing-support systems and accessible facilities.

These measures suggest that Dubai’s airport automation programme is being developed alongside specialised services rather than relying solely on a single biometric system.

International interest in Dubai’s border technology

The airport passport sector said it received 51 regional and international delegations during 2026 from organisations interested in studying Dubai’s immigration systems.

The sector also reported receiving 15 local and international awards during the year, including recognition linked to smart-government and artificial-intelligence innovation.

For travellers, the practical change is increasingly visible: more immigration procedures can be completed through automated channels, reducing the need for physical document checks and staffed counters where eligibility permits.

Dubai’s challenge will be to maintain the speed and convenience of these systems while ensuring that security, accessibility and passenger choice remain part of the airport experience as traffic continues to grow.

How many travellers used Dubai’s Red Carpet in 2026?

745,188 travellers used the biometric Red Carpet service between January and August 2026.

What is Dubai’s Red Carpet service?

It is an AI-powered biometric immigration corridor that allows eligible travellers to complete border procedures while walking through a designated lane without presenting physical travel documents.

How fast is Dubai’s Red Carpet immigration system?

GDRFA Dubai reported an average processing time of 3.4 seconds, compared with 12.5 seconds previously.

How many passengers used Dubai Smart Gates in 2026?

Between January and August 2026, 9,382,814 passengers used smart gates at Dubai airports, according to the Airport Passport Sector.

How many passengers travelled through DXB in the first eight months of 2026?

Dubai International Airport recorded 25,849,432 passengers from January through August 2026.

Does Red Carpet replace Dubai Smart Gates?

No. Red Carpet and Smart Gates are separate automated immigration channels within Dubai’s wider smart-travel system.

What is Click and Travel?

Click and Travel is a newer GDRFA Dubai service that uses portable biometric technology to bring passport-control procedures to passengers rather than requiring them to queue at a fixed counter.

Can every traveller use the Red Carpet?

The service is for eligible travellers. Eligibility and registration requirements can vary, so passengers should check current GDRFA Dubai guidance before relying on the biometric corridor.