Dubai is moving ahead with plans to expand its Red Carpet system to all airports across the emirate, following the success of a service that allows eligible travelers to complete clearance procedures in seconds without stopping or presenting travel documents.<\/p>\n
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai will introduce the system in phases, taking into account technical and operational readiness as well as security requirements.<\/p>\n
Expert Colonel Khalid bin Madiya Al Falasi, Assistant Director-General for the Digital Services Sector at the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, said the expansion follows the positive results achieved by the system, which has made airport clearance faster and more convenient for travelers.<\/p>\n
The Red Carpet system allows eligible travelers to complete clearance procedures in just 3.4 seconds while walking, without having to stop or present travel documents.<\/p>\n
The service marks a significant change in how airport clearance is handled, replacing traditional procedures with a process designed to operate while passengers are moving.<\/p>\n
The system was developed to simplify the travel experience while maintaining the accuracy, reliability and security of the clearance process.<\/p>\n
A total of 1,311,598 travelers had used the Red Carpet system by the end of the third quarter of 2026, while digital content related to the project recorded around 4 billion views across online platforms.<\/p>\n
The figures reflect widespread interest in the system and the new approach it brings to smart government services.<\/p>\n
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai is also continuing to develop digital and proactive services aimed at reducing repetitive procedures and avoiding requests for information already available to the relevant authorities.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi explained that the planned expansion builds on the system’s successful results and aims to make its benefits available to a larger number of travelers.<\/p>\n
He noted that expanding the service involves more than installing additional smart corridors. It also requires maintaining operational efficiency, ensuring the system remains reliable and strengthening coordination with strategic partners to meet security and operational requirements.<\/p>\n
The rollout will take place in carefully planned stages, based on the readiness of technical infrastructure and the categories of travelers eligible to use the service.<\/p>\n
The approach is intended to maintain service quality and ensure the system continues to operate effectively as it expands.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi said the development of the Red Carpet system was guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, to simplify procedures and avoid asking travelers to provide information already held by the relevant authorities.<\/p>\n
These directives formed the basis for redesigning clearance procedures, allowing verification to take place as travelers move through the airport instead of requiring them to stop at service checkpoints.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi also highlighted the project’s success in winning the Dubai-it Award, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.<\/p>\n
He said the award reflects the success of government innovation and the cooperation between working teams and strategic partners in turning development ideas into practical services.<\/p>\n
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai is working to improve the entire travel experience rather than focusing solely on reducing the time needed to complete passport procedures.<\/p>\n
Its approach covers the different stages of a passenger’s journey, from preparations before arriving at the airport to departure.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi explained that service development begins with examining the passenger journey, identifying unnecessary stops and repeated procedures, and finding digital solutions that can reduce those steps.<\/p>\n
The goal is to provide services that travelers find simple and convenient, without having to concern themselves with the technical systems and processes operating behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi said enabling travelers to complete clearance procedures while walking presented major technical and operational challenges, particularly the need to coordinate several systems within a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n
These challenges included ensuring accurate identification and verification, reliable data exchange and uninterrupted service, as well as providing appropriate routes for cases requiring different procedures.<\/p>\n
He explained that cooperation with strategic partners and continuous operational testing helped develop a system capable of combining speed, accuracy and security.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi also stressed that successful digital transformation depends not only on technology, but on effective integration between systems, operational processes and the people responsible for delivering services.<\/p>\n
Al Falasi said artificial intelligence and advanced technologies offer significant opportunities to improve government services and make them more responsive to customers’ needs, provided their use delivers tangible benefits.<\/p>\n
He explained that the General Directorate continues to review its services and procedures to reduce unnecessary requirements and steps, while making transactions easier for travelers, residents and investors.<\/p>\n
Regarding the possibility of automatically processing residency applications and renewals in the future, Al Falasi said such developments would depend on the nature of each service, its legal and regulatory conditions, and the applicable approval and verification requirements.<\/p>\n
He added that the directorate is working to reduce the need for customer involvement in completing transactions whenever approved regulations and procedures allow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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