Dubai’s immigration authority used Arabian Travel Market 2026 to showcase a group of border-management and visitor services aimed at making travel through the emirate faster, more flexible and increasingly digital.
The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai participated in the event at Dubai World Trade Centre from 14 to 17 September, presenting services that cover the traveller journey from arrival at Dubai’s ports through immigration processing and onward visitor services.
A central feature of the presentation was GDRFA Dubai’s Red Carpet service. The system uses biometric verification to identify passengers and complete passport-control procedures without requiring travellers to repeatedly present travel documents at each stage. GDRFA described the service as part of a broader move toward smart border control and more efficient passenger processing.
The authority also highlighted its Click and Travel service, which allows passport-control officers to carry out entry and departure procedures using mobile devices. GDRFA said the system is designed for peak travel periods and emergencies, when greater operational flexibility can help maintain passenger flows.
Click and Travel combines biometric technology, automated pre-screening of passenger data and secure connections to the relevant government systems. The aim is to give officers greater mobility while maintaining the identity and security checks required for border processing.
GDRFA’s stand also presented visa options for repeat and short-term visitors. These included the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, which allows eligible travellers to make repeated visits without a sponsor or host, subject to applicable conditions and permitted periods of stay.
The authority also highlighted a 60-day entry visa available to eligible nationals of certain countries who live abroad. GDRFA stressed that access remains subject to the relevant requirements and regulations, making the service an additional option rather than a universal entitlement.
Beyond immigration processing, GDRFA promoted the ALSAADA Card programme for tourists entering through Dubai’s ports. The programme connects visitors with offers and discounts across travel, tourism, dining, retail, health and beauty, vehicle services and other sectors. Travellers can access the ALSAADA app using passport information and review benefits available during their stay.
Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqaiti, Assistant Director-General for Airports at GDRFA Dubai, said the authority’s participation was intended to show the travel industry how Dubai is developing services across the full visitor journey. He linked the approach to faster processing, operational flexibility and a more integrated passenger experience.
Arabian Travel Market 2026 was held under the theme “Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology.” The wider programme focused on artificial intelligence, smart hospitality and personalised travel experiences, making GDRFA’s border-technology presentation part of a broader discussion about how technology is reshaping tourism.
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism also used ATM 2026 to launch the “Visit UAE” national tourism identity and the UAE Grand Tour platform, adding a federal destination-marketing layer to the technology and service initiatives presented by individual entities.
For travellers, the practical significance of GDRFA’s presentation is the continued shift from document-heavy border procedures toward biometric identification, mobile processing and integrated digital services. For Dubai’s tourism sector, the objective is to handle growing visitor volumes while maintaining security, speed and service quality.
The services remain governed by existing immigration rules and eligibility requirements. Travellers should therefore check official GDRFA and UAE government channels for current visa conditions rather than relying on exhibition material alone.
