Dubai – United Arab Emirates, 11 May 2026 The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) has completed one full year since the launch of the “Red Carpet” seamless travel service — a transformational project that has reshaped the travel experience across Dubai airports through an integrated digital ecosystem powered by artificial intelligence and biometric technologies. The system enables eligible travelers to complete entry and exit procedures within seconds, without the need to stop or present any documents, in what is considered one of the fastest travel experiences globally.
Since its launch, the “Red Carpet” has represented an advanced model for future government services, contributing to a qualitative shift in the concept of border crossing through a seamless, trust-based, and proactively designed experience that reflects Dubai’s vision of building a smart travel ecosystem combining operational excellence with a strong human-centric approach.
Since its launch and until end of April 2026, the service has recorded advanced operational indicators, contributing to reducing crossing time by more than 60% — from 12.5 seconds to just 3.4 seconds — while enabling collective processing for up to 10 travelers simultaneously instead of one traveler at a time. The project also eliminated all contact points entirely and reduced required travel documents from two documents to zero, reflecting a highly advanced level of digital integration and operational efficiency. In addition, the service achieved a 100% service delivery rate according to the agreed indicators with Dubai Airports, alongside a customer satisfaction rate of 99.81% across services provided within the air ports sector.
The number of users of the “Red Carpet” seamless travel service exceeded nearly 800,000 users since the launch of the service until the end of April 2026, while the adoption rate reached 83% among eligible travelers, reflecting the growing confidence in the digital ecosystem and its integration as a core part of the travel experience across Dubai airports.
Since its launch, the project has also witnessed a series of expansions and developmental updates, including redesigning the service cameras in the First Class and Business Class lounges at Terminal 3, in addition to launching the service in the arrivals hall for UAE nationals in October 2025, followed by residents in March 2026. GDRFA Dubai is currently studying the second phase of expansion through the addition of new corridors as part of the ongoing Terminal 3 development plans, contributing to enhanced capacity and an even smoother passenger experience.
This achievement coincides with the “Red Carpet” project winning the Distinguished Innovation in Government Sector Award under the Global Innovation Institute (GInI) Awards 2025 — a global recognition reflecting GDRFA Dubai’s success in transforming innovation from a technical concept into an integrated government experience with tangible impact on quality of life and traveler experience. The award is considered one of the leading international recognitions specializing in evaluating institutional innovation and future government solutions, granted to projects that successfully leverage innovation to create sustainable societal and operational value. During its first year, the project also received the Stevie Middle East & North Africa 2025 Award, in addition to being recognized at the IDC Voices of AI Innovation Forum, in recognition of its role in redefining the smart travel experience globally.
H.E. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, affirmed that the completion of one year since the launch of the “Red Carpet” marks an important milestone in Dubai’s journey toward reinforcing the concept of future-ready government built on innovation and proactive readiness. He noted that the project was not merely a technical development, but rather an integrated vision aimed at redesigning the travel experience in a way that reflects Dubai’s global standing and the world’s confidence in its government ecosystem.
His Excellency stated: “The ‘Red Carpet’ represents a practical model of Dubai’s vision in transforming innovation into an integrated human experience. The goal was not only to accelerate procedures, but to create a travel journey that reflects respect, hospitality, and trust from the very first moment. What has been achieved within one year confirms GDRFA Dubai’s ability to develop proactive solutions that keep pace with global transformations and enhance the emirate’s readiness for the future of travel and digital services.”
One Year After Its Launch… The “Red Carpet” Seamless Travel Service Reflects GDRFA Dubai’s Vision for Redefining the Global Travel Experience
