Flydubai, Dubai’s leading airline, has teamed up with UAE technology firm Emaratech to introduce smart biometric gates at its Airport Operations Centre. This cutting-edge solution is designed to streamline immigration processing for pilots and cabin crew, particularly during busy travel periods, by leveraging advanced biometric and AI technologies.
Revolutionizing Crew Border Control
The smart biometric gates use AI-driven facial recognition to verify crew identities in real-time, seamlessly integrating with flydubai’s internal systems and the UAE immigration platform. This innovation significantly reduces waiting times and operational bottlenecks at immigration, offering a paperless, user-friendly, and highly secure process that improves operational flow and enhances punctuality.
Leadership and Vision
His Excellency Thani Alzaffin, CEO of Emaratech, highlighted the partnership as a milestone for the UAE’s border control technology, emphasizing the seamless connection between airline and immigration systems that enables a frictionless experience for crew members. Emaratech is committed to positioning the UAE as a global leader in smart border technologies through AI integration.
Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, flydubai’s Chief Procurement & Technology Officer, praised the collaboration, citing the project as a key step toward digital transformation that supports operational efficiency, growth, and future-proofing of airline systems. Flydubai’s consistent investment in technology aims to enhance frontline employee experiences while maintaining safety and operational excellence.
Deployment and Impact
Six biometric gates have already been installed at the Airport Operations Centre, designed to accommodate large volumes of flight crew members swiftly and securely. The AI-based system eliminates the need for manual document checks, aligning with global trends toward paperless immigration.
This rollout marks a significant technological upgrade for flydubai, reaffirming its position as an innovator within the aviation sector. By adopting such smart solutions, the airline improves crew efficiency, supports faster flight turnarounds, and enhances overall service delivery.
Flydubai’s Growing Footprint
With a fleet of 89 aircraft, flydubai serves over 135 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its broad network and focus on technological innovation make it a critical player in the Middle Eastern aviation industry. Employing more than 6,400 people, including 1,300 pilots and 2,500 cabin crew, flydubai is committed to sustaining high standards while scaling its operations through efficiency, sustainability, and advanced technology.
Setting New Standards in Aviation
The integration of AI-powered biometric gates is part of flydubai’s broader strategy to adopt next-generation technologies that enhance operational workflows and customer experience. This initiative reflects global aviation trends toward digitization and automation to boost security, reduce wait times, and streamline processes for both crew and passengers.
As biometric solutions become increasingly mainstream, flydubai and emaratech’s partnership serves as a model for how innovative technology can transform airport operations and border control, ensuring a smooth, secure, and convenient journey.
Looking Ahead
Flydubai’s commitment to innovation through biometric and AI technologies underscores its dedication to operational excellence and future-readiness. By harnessing smart systems, the airline is paving the way for enhanced security, faster processing, and superior service quality, positioning itself as a leader in the evolving global aviation landscape.
