As the UAE’s two-month summer break comes to an end, airports are gearing up to welcome back residents from their vacations. This means that airports, including Dubai International (DXB), the world’s largest airport, will be busier than usual. DXB is preparing to receive 3.3 million travelers in the next 13 days alone.
To help families expedite the passport control process, an advisory was issued stating that passengers above the age of 12 can use smart gates. These gates allow for swift clearance through passport control. Additionally, young travelers aged between 4 and 12 can independently stamp their passports at dedicated passport control counters.
Using smart gates enables passengers to complete immigration procedures within seconds. In the first half of this year, about 9 million passengers, constituting 36% of the 26 million DXB travelers, used these gates, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
Eligible users of the smart gates include UAE and GCC citizens, residents, individuals eligible for visa on arrival, and travelers with pre-issued visas. However, registration is required, and individuals must be taller than 1.2 meters.
Checking eligibility is easy:
- Visit https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/smart-gate-inquiry
- Provide your Emirates ID or passport number.
- Enter your date of birth and gender.
Upon submission, you will receive one of two messages: “Record is registered. You can use smart gates” in green, or “Record is not registered. You need to be registered to use smart gates while traveling” in red.
This feature on the GDRFA website simplifies the process, making it convenient for travelers to check if they are eligible to use smart gates and experience a smoother passport control experience at Dubai Airport.
