Dubai airport's Red Carpet passport project wins Dubai-it Award in government category

The Red Carpet project, run by Dubai's immigration authority GDRFA, has won the government category of the Dubai-it Award. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the result in a statement on 20 October. The project is an AI-powered passport control system at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

According to the statement, travellers can finish entry and exit checks in under five seconds. Sheikh Hamdan called it the quickest service of its type anywhere. He said the project had "transformed the airport experience".

The smart corridor was launched with Dubai Airports. Passengers can clear passport control without presenting travel documents. The corridor handles up to 10 passengers at once. Khaleej Times reported that processing at DXB takes between 6 and 14 seconds. The Crown Prince also said the Red Carpet had increased capacity tenfold and reached a passenger satisfaction rate above 99 per cent.

Airport authorities plan to expand the smart corridor at Terminal 3 so that it serves both departing and arriving passengers. The source gives no date for the expansion, only "the near future".

The Dubai-it Award is annual and recognises individuals, projects, companies and institutions that reflect the Dubai-it approach. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the initiative on 17 June. The award runs from September to May, and nominations for the following edition are received and evaluated in June, July and August. Three days before the Red Carpet announcement, the SWS Board Technology team was named winner in the economy field.

For visitors, the project concerns the time spent at passport control on arrival and departure at DXB. The Terminal 3 expansion has no confirmed date, so the current speeds apply only where the corridor operates.

Khaleej Times reported the announcement.