Dubai International Airport (DXB) has introduced a new Smart Gates PreCheck service designed to make passport control easier and faster for eligible travellers.
Launched in July 2026 in partnership with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, the service allows passengers to check their eligibility before reaching immigration.
Travellers can scan their biometric passports using the DXB Pocket Flights platform or QR codes available around passport control areas.
Once approved, passengers can proceed to the Smart Gates rather than joining a staffed passport control queue.
How does Dubai Airport Smart Gates PreCheck work?
The PreCheck process can be completed using a smartphone browser, meaning travellers do not need to download a separate application.
Passengers open the Pocket Flights platform and select the Smart Gates PreCheck option.
The service may request permission to use the phone’s camera. Travellers then open the photo page of their passport and position it within the scanning frame shown on the screen.
The system reads the passport information and checks it against the available Smart Gate eligibility records.
A result is then displayed within seconds.
Passengers can also access the same service by scanning QR codes positioned around passport control areas at DXB.
What happens after PreCheck approval?
An approved PreCheck result means the passenger can proceed to an available Smart Gate at passport control.
At the gate, travellers stand on the marked position and face the biometric camera.
Passengers may be asked to remove items such as hats, glasses or masks that cover their face. They then follow the instructions displayed by the gate and look towards the indicated light.
The facial recognition system compares the traveller’s biometric information with immigration records.
If the verification is successful, the gate opens and the passenger can continue through passport control.
For registered users, the process generally does not require them to scan their passport again at the gate.
However, passengers should keep their passport and boarding pass with them throughout their journey in case immigration or airport staff request them.
Does Smart Gates PreCheck replace immigration?
No.
This is an important distinction for travellers.
Smart Gates PreCheck does not replace passport control, provide immigration approval or change a passenger’s visa requirements.
The PreCheck system only determines whether a traveller is eligible to use the automated Smart Gate channel.
Passengers must still meet all UAE entry and immigration requirements applicable to their nationality and travel status.
Dubai Airports advises travellers to check current visa requirements with their airline and UAE immigration authorities before travelling.
Who can use Dubai Airport Smart Gates?
Smart Gate access is available to several categories of travellers, subject to eligibility and registration.
These include:
- UAE nationals
- GCC nationals
- UAE residents
- Eligible visa-on-arrival travellers
- Returning tourists with biometric passports
- Certain passengers holding pre-issued visas
- Eligible Schengen visitors
Eligibility can depend on the passenger’s passport, visa or residency status and the information held in the relevant immigration systems.
Travellers must also complete the required Smart Gate registration before using the biometric channel.
Is there a height requirement?
Yes.
GDRFA Dubai requires registered Smart Gate users to be at least 1.2 metres tall.
Passengers below this height should use alternative passport control channels.
The airport also directs travellers with large strollers and passengers who require assisted processing towards appropriate dedicated channels.
Families should follow signs and instructions from airport staff when approaching immigration.
Can children use Smart Gates?
Children may be able to use Smart Gates when they meet the applicable eligibility and registration requirements.
Dubai Airports has indicated that families with children aged over 12 can use Smart Gates where the relevant requirements are met.
Families should follow terminal guidance and speak to airport staff if they are unsure which immigration channel to use.
Passengers travelling with younger children should not assume that every member of the family will automatically be eligible for the automated gates.
What about People of Determination?
DXB provides dedicated accessibility support for People of Determination.
Passengers requiring assistance can use marked accessibility routes and receive support from trained airport personnel.
These facilities are designed to direct travellers towards the appropriate immigration processing point based on their individual requirements.
Passengers who need assistance should follow airport signage or speak to staff when approaching passport control.
What if Smart Gates PreCheck says you are not eligible?
A failed or unsuccessful PreCheck result does not necessarily mean a passenger cannot enter or leave the UAE.
It simply means the traveller is not currently approved to use the Smart Gate channel based on the available eligibility records.
In this situation, the passenger should continue to a staffed immigration counter.
Airport personnel can direct the traveller to the appropriate processing channel.
Travellers should therefore avoid treating the PreCheck result as a visa decision.
What happens for first-time Smart Gate users?
First-time users can receive Smart Gate registration when they reach the passport control touchpoint during arrival at DXB or Dubai World Central, subject to eligibility.
Once registered, eligible travellers can use the automated biometric immigration process on future journeys.
Passengers should still carry their physical passport and travel documents even when they are registered for Smart Gates.
Why has Dubai introduced the new PreCheck system?
The new service comes as Dubai continues to handle record passenger volumes.
DXB processed 95.2 million passengers in 2025, representing a 3.1 percent increase compared with the previous year.
The airport expects passenger traffic to approach 99.5 million in 2026.
Dubai Airports has also reported high levels of efficiency at passport control. During 2025, 99.35 percent of departing passengers waited less than 10 minutes at passport control, while 98.8 percent of arriving passengers were processed within 15 minutes.
The new PreCheck system provides another way to manage passenger flow as traffic continues to increase.
Smart Gates could make busy periods easier
DXB regularly experiences periods of extremely high passenger traffic, particularly during school holidays, major travel seasons and peak departure periods.
During the first half of July 2026, the airport expected around three million passengers, with daily traffic frequently exceeding 200,000.
By allowing eligible travellers to check their Smart Gate status before reaching immigration, the PreCheck system can help passengers identify the correct processing channel earlier.
For eligible travellers, this could mean spending less time looking for the right queue and moving more efficiently through passport control.
What should travellers remember?
Passengers using Dubai Airport should complete the Smart Gates PreCheck before reaching passport control when possible.
The process requires a biometric passport and can be accessed through the Pocket Flights platform or QR codes located around the immigration areas.
However, passengers should continue to carry their passport and boarding pass and make sure they meet all UAE visa and entry requirements.
For travellers who qualify, Dubai Airport Smart Gates offer another streamlined way to pass through immigration, combining advance eligibility checks with biometric passport control at DXB.
