Abu Dhabi Airports declared the initiation of the Biometric Smart Travel project on Sunday, which introduces an automated traveler registration service, self-service baggage drop, and facial recognition checks at e-gates and boarding gates, eliminating the necessity for travel documents or direct contact with airport personnel. The project is set to be implemented in three phases, integrating biometric authentication systems across all security and operational checkpoints at the airport. It leverages the databases of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security to authentically verify travelers using biometric technology, negating the need for prior registration for departing passengers.
Abu Dhabi Airports and Etihad Airways have already integrated biometric systems at various points in the airport as part of the launch of the new terminal at Zayed International Airport in November 2023. This encompasses automated traveler registration, self-service baggage drop, and facial recognition at e-gates and boarding gates, without requiring travel documents or direct interaction with airport staff. Abu Dhabi Airports has commenced the next phase of this project by deploying biometric systems for five additional airlines at check-in, all boarding gates, and new e-gates in designated transit areas for registering travelers' biometric data and facilitating facial recognition. Future expansions include the Etihad Airways lounge and duty-free retail outlets.
“By 2025, we plan to extend these systems across all security and operational checkpoints and other airlines,” stated Andrew Murphy, chief information officer at Zayed International Airport. “The Biometric Smart Travel project is designed to elevate the travel experience at Zayed International Airport, ensuring high levels of security and safety. It cuts the time to serve travelers from 25 seconds to just seven seconds, integrating ticket and travel document verification into a single process and reducing the reliance on human resources by utilizing smart gates for identity verification,” explained Saeed Saif Al Khaili, general director at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. The Biometric Smart Travel project will also improve airline efficiency by removing the need for costly infrastructure expansions and effectively detecting fraud and forgery in identification documents.
