Emirates has launched an integrated biometric path at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to provide a contactless airport experience to passengers.

This integrated biometric path will provide a seamless travel journey to passengers from check-in to boarding gates, thereby enhancing customer flow through the airport with less document checks and queuing.

Due to the implementation of the latest biometric technology, which uses a combination of facial and iris recognition, Emirates passengers can now check-in, finish immigration formalities, enter the Emirates Lounge and board their flights just by walking through the airport.

The several touchpoints in the biometric path enable hygienic contactless travel journeys.

Emirates chief operating officer Adel Al Redha said: “We have always focused on providing a great customer experience at any touchpoint and now it is more vital than before to make use of technology and implement products, and introduce processes that focuses not only on fast tracking customers, but more importantly on health and safety during their travel journey.

“The state-of-the-art, contactless biometric path is the latest in a series of initiatives we have introduced to make sure that travelling on Emirates is a seamless journey and gives customers added peace of mind.”

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Currently, the biometric touchpoints are deployed at select First, Business and Economy Class check-in desks in Terminal 3 and immigration gates, including a ‘smart tunnel’, as well as boarding gates and the Emirates’ premium lounge entrance at concourse B.

Areas deployed with biometric equipment are being clearly indicated.

Additional units will be installed at each touchpoint in the future.

A project by the General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) and Emirates, the Smart Tunnel is claimed to be a world-first for passport control. Under this programme, passengers just need to walk through a tunnel and are ‘cleared’ by immigration authorities without human intervention or the requirement for a physical passport stamp.

Emirates is claimed to be the first airline outside America to secure approval for biometric boarding from the US Customs Border Protection (CBP).

Passengers flying from Dubai to Emirates’ destinations in the US will be able to select facial recognition technology at the departure gates.

The biometric path is the latest in Emirate’s initiative to offer a smart contactless journey.

In September 2020, the airline launched other services, including self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at DXB for an easier airport experience.

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