Al Maktoum Airport to Roll Out Smart Tunnels & Robots Soon

Say goodbye to long queues and passport stamps—Dubai is bringing futuristic vibes to the skies with Al Maktoum International Airport’s (DWC) game-changing travel experience.

At The Airport Show in Dubai, top officials revealed that passengers flying through DWC will soon pass through immigration in just seconds, thanks to a high-speed smart tunnel powered by artificial intelligence. That means for every traveler using smart gates at DXB, 10 passengers will be cleared in the same time through the new system.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA, broke it down: “Previously, the procedures involved passport checks and stamping... Now, all passports are programmed and verified automatically using AI.”

But while robots handle the techy stuff, Dubai is still keeping it personal. Special immigration counters will cater to mothers with children, elderly passengers, and even kids—with a dedicated children’s counter being the first of its kind globally.

Welcome to Airport 2.0: Your Journey Starts in Your Car

Step aside airport chaos—DWC is going fully autonomous, even before you reach the terminal. Once travelers arrive in their vehicles, self-driving robots will collect luggage directly from the car and head to check-in.

Abdulla Al Shamsi, Senior Director of Future of Things at DAEP, said, “A concierge robot will welcome the passenger at the curbside and take their hand carry as well through the airport.”

Other wild features include:

• E-tags for baggage generated the moment you book your flight
• Biometric luggage pick-up kiosks instead of conveyor belts
• Home delivery of your bags via autonomous vehicles
• Mixed-use immersive spaces with robot waiters and metaverse shopping
• Lounge shopping where purchases are delivered straight to your seat
• Underground trains and eVTOLs (flying taxis) to get you there in style

The entire trip will be trackable with intelligent traffic systems, helping airlines prep for incoming passengers in real-time. And yes, there will be plenty of Instagrammable cafés, nap lounges, and kid-friendly zones along the way.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, confirmed that DWC will feature eight smaller terminals, giving passengers a cozier, more personalized travel experience.

From biometric kiosks to robot concierges, Dubai is making travel smoother, smarter, and way cooler.