UAE airports are pioneering a new era of travel where passengers can move from check-in to boarding using only facial recognition. Systems at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International and Dubai International’s Smart Corridor cut wait times to seconds, replacing passports and boarding passes. A SITA study shows nearly 80% of global travellers support digital passports, and biometric users could rise from 155 million to 1.27 billion by 2029. Millennials and Gen Z, driving this shift, prefer mobile-first, contactless journeys. Yet, experts stress balancing automation with human support. With most travellers comfortable sharing data, UAE airports are setting the global benchmark for seamless, document-free travel.
