DUBAI: Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has congratulated the team behind the Red-Carpet Travel Corridor project at Dubai International Airport after it won the Dubai-it Award for Projects in the Field of Government.
The project, developed by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and biometric recognition technologies to verify passengers’ identities and complete travel clearance automatically, without requiring them to present documents or stop.
The smart corridor enables passengers to complete clearance procedures in under five seconds, while increasing processing capacity tenfold and achieving a passenger satisfaction rate of more than 99 per cent.
Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council, said the award recognised the project’s ability to transform conventional travel procedures and deliver an exceptional passenger experience.
“The Dubai-it philosophy is about making a leap in how things are done, going beyond what the world accepts as standard to deliver something extraordinary that redefines it,” he said.
He added that technology should make people’s lives easier and create experiences that exceed expectations, congratulating the project team on its achievement.
The Red-Carpet Travel Corridor can process up to 10 passengers simultaneously, compared with traditional lanes that handle one passenger at a time. The system has also helped reduce clearance and waiting times while improving operational efficiency.
According to the project’s organisers, its measurable results include faster passenger processing, increased capacity, financial savings and a wider economic impact. The initiative demonstrates how government innovation can improve services for millions of travellers.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Executive Office of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said a city’s competitiveness depended on its ability to facilitate the movement of people and business.
He said the Red-Carpet Travel Corridor translated the Dubai-it philosophy into economic value by saving travellers time, increasing capacity for growth and improving efficiency, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a global destination.
Al Gergawi added that the award aimed to recognise achievements whose impact could extend across government, encouraging institutions to pursue further improvements in performance and ambition.
The project is being presented as a model for the future of border crossings, combining advanced technology with innovative service design to make travel faster, easier and safer.
The Dubai-it initiative was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It reflects Dubai’s approach to development, emphasising rapid execution, hard work and turning ambitions into tangible results.
