www.economymiddleeast.com: Dubai Airports announced on Friday a new Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check service at Dubai International (DXB), allowing travelers to instantly confirm whether they are eligible to use Smart Gates before reaching Passport Control.

Developed in collaboration with Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai), the new feature is designed to make passenger journeys through DXB faster and more seamless by helping eligible travelers navigate the airport more efficiently.

Dubai Airports makes travel  journey seamless for guests

The Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check is available through the Pocket Flights platform or by scanning QR codes located across all DXB terminals and boarding gates, giving passengers quick access to their eligibility status before arriving at immigration.

Dubai Airports said the initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the travel experience, with every improvement at DXB focused on making the airport journey as seamless as possible for guests.

The introduction of the Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check tool comes at a time when DXB is heading into its summer peak, with around 3 million guests expected through its terminals in the first half of July. The peak begins with a surge in departures from July 2 as residents head off for the holidays.

The busiest day is expected to be July 12 with over 225,000 guests, in a fortnight where daily traffic regularly tops 200,000. Transfer traffic is expected to account for around 50 percent of total guests, reflecting Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most connected global hubs.

How to use the Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check

The Smart Gates Eligibility Pre-Check is available without requiring travelers to download an app. Passengers can access the service through Pocket Flights, DXB’s live flight information platform, or by scanning QR codes placed throughout the airport’s terminals and boarding gates.

To verify their eligibility, travelers must open the Pocket Flights portal on their phone, select the Smart Gates PreCheck feature, and scan the photo page of their passport using their device’s camera.

The system then confirms within seconds whether they are eligible to use the Smart Gates.

Eligible passengers can proceed directly to the Smart Gates instead of joining standard immigration queues. Once at the gate, they simply stand on the marked footprints, remove any face coverings or glasses, look toward the green light for facial recognition, and pass through immigration in seconds.