GDRFA showcases frictionless travel initiatives, extended tourist visas, and visitor perks at Dubai World Trade Centre.
DUBAI, Sept. 18, 2026 : Dubai’s immigration authority has introduced a suite of next-generation border clearance services at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, aimed at eliminating checkpoint congestion and offering international visitors entirely hands-free travel through the emirate’s ports.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai is showcasing its latest passenger-processing platforms at the Dubai World Trade Centre, operating out of Sheikh Saeed Hall 1, Zone 29.
Chief among the innovations presented is the “Red Carpet” pathway, an integrated biometric system designed to replace traditional manual travel document inspections. The platform reads facial and iris data at designated entry corridors, matching arriving passengers against travel databases in seconds. By removing the need to repeatedly present physical passports and boarding cards, border control authorities aim to slash processing times across airport terminals.
To handle sudden flight-arrival surges and unexpected terminal bottlenecks, the authority also launched “Click and Travel.” The system deploys portable, handheld smart units to immigration officers on the concourse floor, enabling mobile passport control away from fixed counters. Equipped with automated pre-screening tools, biometric scanners, and direct secure networks, these mobile terminals clear arriving and departing passengers immediately within passenger lounges or transit zones.
Major General Talal Ahmad Al Shanqeeti, Assistant Director General for Airports at GDRFA Dubai, stated that these tools are built to adapt directly to passenger flow requirements. Speaking at the trade exhibition, Al Shanqeeti emphasized that collaborating across aviation sectors allows Dubai to maintain seamless, secure transit while accommodating record passenger numbers into the United Arab Emirates.
Alongside airport tech, the immigration pavilion is providing advisory counters for key visa categories. The directorate is highlighting the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, a scheme designed for business professionals, regular visitors, and families. The self-sponsored permit allows multiple entries within a five-year timeframe, permitting stays up to 90 days per year with an option to extend up to 180 days, subject to regulatory conditions. Clarifications are also being offered on 60-day single and multiple-entry visit visas, which offer greater scheduling flexibility for global tourists.
Incoming tourists visiting the pavilion can also sign up for the ALSAADA Tourist Card, an initiative managed by the GDRFA’s Events and Quality of Life Department. Delivered digitally via mobile application after passport verification, the card unlocks promotional rates and exclusive discounts across retail, hospitality, dining, vehicle hire, and entertainment venues across Dubai.
The GDRFA Dubai exhibition runs daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the trade fair, with immigration specialists conducting live demonstrations and addressing regulatory questions for travel agencies, airlines, and industry delegates.
