Dubai Residency Launches 'Click & Travel' for 12-Second Processing

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has launched "Click & Travel", the first service of its kind in the world to use a mobile device to complete entry and exit procedures at Dubai's airports during peak and emergency periods. The step advances Dubai's efforts to develop the travel experience through its air entry points by means of a mobile model that allows passport officers to reach the traveller and complete entry and departure procedures from where they stand, quickly, flexibly and securely, without being tied to fixed service points.

The service embodies a shift in the concept of delivering entry-point services, as it moves to the traveller instead of the traveller moving to it, enhancing the flow of movement, operational efficiency and the travel experience.

The service relies on mobile devices integrated with GDRFA Dubai's systems and databases and on biometric verification technologies, enabling identity verification and completion of the transaction in around 12 seconds.

The total number of transactions completed through "Click & Travel" since the start of its pilot operation in May and up to 31 August 2026 reached around 31,373.

The mobile nature of the service allows the passport officer to reach the traveller inside the airport building, verify their data and identity, and complete entry or departure procedures from where they stand, giving entry-point teams greater flexibility in handling passenger traffic and directing resources according to operational needs.

The service also supports the readiness of entry-point teams to handle operational situations that require a flexible and rapid response, as it can be used whenever needed and during periods of pressure and high passenger traffic, contributing to smoother movement and faster response to operational requirements.

The service is available on departure to all travellers, including citizens, residents and visitors, while on arrival it covers, in the first phase, citizens and residents, with its scope to be expanded gradually in line with approved plans and operational requirements.

His Excellency Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, affirmed that "Click & Travel" reflects GDRFA Dubai's approach of moving from developing procedures to redesigning the traveller's experience.

He said: "We place people at the heart of the development process and employ modern technologies to create an easier and more efficient travel experience. With 'Click & Travel', instead of the traveller looking for the service, the service reaches them, and the passport officer can complete their procedures from where they stand quickly, securely and flexibly."

His Excellency added: "Completing more than 31,000 transactions reflects the readiness of the service and its ability to operate efficiently in the airport's operational environment, and drives us to continue developing and expanding it, reinforcing Dubai's leadership and standing in shaping the future of travel."

For his part, Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shanqiti, Assistant Director General for Air Entry Points at GDRFA Dubai, affirmed that the service enhances the flexibility of the operating system, noting that the importance of "Click & Travel" lies in bringing the service to where the traveller is, which speeds up the response to operational traffic, reduces waiting points and achieves a smoother flow of passengers while maintaining the highest levels of security and efficiency.

Colonel Expert Khalid bin Madiya Al Falasi, Assistant Director General for Digital Services at GDRFA Dubai, explained that the service represents a model for integrating digital solutions with fieldwork, saying that the value of "Click & Travel" is not limited to the mobile device but lies in the digital integration system that enables the passport officer to access the traveller's data, verify it and complete the procedure from where they stand efficiently and quickly, within an integrated and secure digital environment.

He added that the service was designed to allow its continued development and the expansion of the range of services that can be provided through mobile devices in the future, supporting GDRFA Dubai's direction towards more flexible and proactive digital solutions.

GDRFA Dubai is working to continue developing "Click & Travel" and to study expanding the range of services that can be completed through mobile devices in the future, going beyond entry and departure procedures to other services and procedures related to the traveller's journey, in line with approved operational and security requirements.

The launch of the service extends GDRFA Dubai's efforts to develop the smart entry-points system, enhance operational efficiency, and employ digital solutions and modern technologies to deliver more proactive, flexible and people-centred services, supporting Dubai's competitiveness and global standing in the quality and ease of the travel experience.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)