Abu Dhabi: New 'Smart' Project Eliminates Need for Travel Documents, Staff Interaction

Abu Dhabi Airports announced on Sunday the launch of the Biometric Smart Travel project, which will offer automated traveller registration services, self-service baggage delivery and facial recognition verification at e-gates and boarding gates, eliminating the need for travel documents or direct interaction with airport staff for passengers.

The project will be implemented in three phases to integrate biometric authentication systems across all security and operations touchpoints at the airport.

The project uses databases from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security to automatically authenticate travellers using biometric technology, removing the need for prior registration for departing passengers.

Abu Dhabi Airports and Etihad Airways have deployed biometric systems across multiple touchpoints at the airport as part of the launch of the new terminal at Zayed International Airport in November 2023.

This includes automated traveller registration services, self-service baggage delivery, and facial recognition verification at e-gates and boarding gates, without the need for travel documents or direct interaction with airport staff.

Abu Dhabi Airports has begun implementing a further phase of this project by introducing biometric systems for five additional airlines at check-in, all boarding gates, and the installation of new e-gates in designated transit areas to register travellers' biometric data and facilitate facial recognition.

The future expansion also includes the Etihad Airways lounge and duty-free retail outlets.

“By 2025, we aim to expand these systems across all security and operations touchpoints and other airlines,” said Andrew Murphy, Chief Information Officer at Zayed International Airport.

"The Biometric Smart Travel project aims to enhance the travel experience at Zayed International Airport, ensuring high levels of security and safety. The project reduces the time to serve travellers from 25 seconds to just seven seconds, integrating ticket and travel document verification into a single process and alleviating the burden on human resources by relying on smart gates for identity verification," said Saeed Saif Al Khaili, General Director at the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.

The Biometric Smart Travel project will enhance airline performance by eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure expansions and effectively detecting fraud and forgery in identification documents.

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