At Remitly, we know how important seamless travel is for people who move between countries frequently. Whether you’re a resident, on a visa living in the UAE, or even just visiting, this article will guide you through everything you need to know about Smart Gate registration and use, so you can enjoy your travels and stay connected with loved ones.
An overview of the UAE’s Smart Gate system
Smart Gates are a form of advanced passport control available at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai (DWC), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ). These automatic gates use facial recognition to let arriving or departing passengers pass through passport control in about seven seconds.
If you’re living in the UAE and travelling a lot by air, Smart Gates make leaving and entering a breeze; they’re self-service, and free to use. They let you get straight on with enjoying the UAE and its fantastic airports.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to use Smart Gates, you must be one of the following:
- UAE or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) national
- UAE resident
- Visa-on-arrival or Schengen Union guests with biometric passports
- Pre-issued visa holders
However, the following groups can’t use Smart Gates:
- Families with children.
- Travellers with large strollers.
- Children under 12 years old.
- Anybody less than 1.2 metres tall.
- People of Determination (as the UAE calls people with physical or mental impairments).
- Tourists without biometric passports.
- Passengers whose passports expire in less than three months.
If you fall into one of those categories, you can of course still use traditional passport control methods.
UAE Smart Gate registration: a step-by-step guide
If you’re in the eligible group, you still have to register beforehand to use the Smart Gate system. In addition, if you plan on using Smart Gates at different airports in the UAE, you must register at each airport.
Required documents and information for registration
If you’re a UAE citizen or permanent resident, you should be automatically registered so you don’t have to worry about it.
Recent eligible DXB arrivals are usually automatically registered in the Smart Gate system when they pass through immigration, too. You can also ask on arrival, when you go through passport control.
If you want to see if you’re already registered, or you’re not sure if you’re eligible for Smart Gate, follow these steps:
- Visit this website.
- Enter your Emirates ID or passport number, nationality, date of birth, and gender.
- Click submit.
You should receive instant confirmation of whether you’re already in the system or eligible to use Smart Gates.
To register for Smart Gates, you’ll also need:
- Your original passport, valid for at least the next six months.
- A visa, if applicable, valid and in your passport.
Registration process at Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- In the arrivals or departures section of Terminals 1 or 3, look for Smart Gate registration kiosks.
- Follow the on-screen registration instructions, which are available in multiple languages.
- Fill in your passport details.
- After filling in everything, the kiosk will take your photo. Make sure it gets a clear and accurate picture.
- Submit your information and photo. You’ll receive a printed receipt or a digital notification confirming your successful registration.
Registration steps for e-gates at Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)
Since its Terminal A opened in 2023, Abu Dhabi Airport has made a strong commitment to biometric technology and a “smart travel” experience, and that extends to their passport control gates—which this airport calls “e-gates.” That dedication to convenience extends to its e-gate registration process.
If you’re a first-time UAE visitor, you can register for the e-gates at Abu Dhabi Airport before arrival if you have a smart mobile device:
- Download the UAE Fast Track app, available for Apple and Android devices.
- Open the app and create an account with your email address and a secure password.
- Use the app to scan your passport. Your personal details will be automatically populated.
- Enter your date and port of arrival and date of departure.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete facial recognition using your front camera.
- Use the back camera to register your fingerprints.
- Enter your email address, mobile number, and UAE address.
- Enter your job, traveller category, and reason for your visit.
If you’re living in the UAE, you can complete registration at UAH airport. The process only takes around 20 seconds, and you can start using e-gates immediately after registration.
- Find the e-registration kiosks at the entrance to Terminal A.
- Scan your passport to fill in the data.
- Follow instructions to complete face and fingerprint biometric checks.
Registration process at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)
All Air Arabia passengers can use Smart Gates automatically at SHJ regardless of their residency status.
Other passengers must register to use Smart Gates at the registration counter in the departures area. You can come to the airport at any time to pre-register, or register after checking in to your flight. You must present your passport or Emirates ID and perform a retina scan.
How Smart Gates work at UAE airports
Smart Gates are very simple to use, but the process varies slightly between the various airports.
Navigating the Smart Gate process in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The process at these two airports is the same:
- Approach the Smart Gate.
- Put any luggage next to you.
- Remove things that obscure your face, like glasses, hats, or face masks.
- Look directly at the scanner for facial and iris recognition.
- Wait for the light on the screen to turn green and the gates to open, and walk through.
That’s it—you shouldn’t even have to scan your passport or boarding pass. If the Smart Gate isn’t opening, there will be airport workers nearby who can assist you.
Smart Gates at Sharjah Airport
At Sharjah Airport, Smart Gates work slightly differently:
- Approach the Smart Gate
- Place your passport photo page on the e-reader on the right side of the Smart Gate until the light turns green.
- If you’re a departing passenger, scan your boarding pass, with your barcode facing the e-reader.
- Wait for the first set of gates to open.
- Enter the Smart Gate and stand in the designated area.
- Place your luggage next to you and remove anything obscuring your face.
- Look directly at the camera.
- Wait for the Smart Gate to open and pass through.
That’s it—safe journey!
Tips for a seamless Smart Gate experience
While they’re quick, convenient and pretty reliable, as with all technology you might run into one or two teething troubles, particularly when you first encounter them.
Troubleshooting common issues at Smart Gates
The Smart Gate doesn’t open
Double-check that you have nothing obscuring your face. Make sure you open your eyes wide, and that you’re looking at the screen until the light turns green.
The Smart Gate doesn’t work more than once
Go to the immigration office in the airport and see if there’s a problem with your file.
You’ve recently renewed your passport
The first time you fly after renewing your passport, go through the normal immigration line and inform the immigration officer. They’ll update it in the system for you.
You’re travelling in a group
If any guests in your party aren’t eligible or registered for Smart Gates, it’s probably better to stick together and all go through manual passport control.
Contact information for Smart Gate assistance
Who you have to contact if you encounter Smart Gate issues depends on which Emirate you’re in. Remember that working hours may be reduced during Ramadan.
General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai
- 24/7 Toll-free phone number (calling from within the UAE): 8005111
- International phone number: +971 4 313 9999
- Email: amer@gdrfad.gov.ae
- 24/7 online chat
- Address: 170 Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, Dubai, opposite Jafiliya metro station (also known as Max metro station)
Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Abu Dhabi
- Address: Shakhbut Bin Sultan Street, Al Mushrif, W24 01, Abu Dhabi
Or, also in Abu Dhabi:
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security
- Phone: 600522222
- Email: contactus@icp.gov.ae
- Address: Street 12, near Al Forsan Resort, Abu Dhabi
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Sharjah
- Address: Airport Street, Bridge No. 6, Al Rahmaniya area, Sharjah
Maximising efficiency: best practices for quick entry
Smart Gates have been developed and installed across the UAE to move people through the border controls as quickly and efficiently as possible. But you can still play your own part in making things easy.
Arrive prepared
Know what you have to do before arriving at the airport, and make sure you’re registered and comply with all requirements.
Follow instructions
Read all the signs, which will be in English as well as Arabic, and follow any instructions from airport staff.
Keep your face and body clear
Make sure you have nothing on your face, so the sensors can identify you. Put your luggage next to you so it doesn’t interfere with the scanning process.
Be patient
The gates work smoothly most of the time, but let airport staff know of any issues. And even in airports where you don’t need to scan your documents to use the Smart Gate, keep your passport and boarding pass handy in case workers need to manually check your documents.
Expedited travel: the future of airport immigration
Smart Gates use facial and iris recognition technology—connected to the UAE’s immigration databases—compared with the data stored in your biometric passport’s chip to determine your identity automatically.
The Smart Gate technology lets you pass through border control in less than a minute, compared to lengthy lines in traditional passport control. With their biometric technology, the gates reduce passport fraud and allow airports to optimise their staffing.
Even for people who aren’t eligible for Smart Gates, they speed up your experience by shortening manual immigration check lines. They’re so efficient that they’re being installed in many modern airports around the world.
How UAE airports are enhancing the passenger experience
Beyond Smart Gates, UAE airports are investing in a variety of technologies to make your flying experience seamless, easier, and more pleasant. Even as more passengers pass through UAE airports every year, these improvements keep the experience simple and hassle-free.
Dubai
- Interactive virtual assistants
These AI-powered chatbots, found throughout the airport, can respond to spoken questions in English and Arabic. They can give passengers personalised information on topics from flight status to airport amenities
- Intelligent baggage handling
Technology like RFID tracking and automated sorting expedites the baggage handling process and reduces the change of lost or delayed luggage. With this tech, 92% of bags are delivered within 45 minutes of arrival. - Digital connectivity
From free, high-speed Wi-Fi to mobile apps offering real-time updates, Dubai International Airport’s digital infrastructure shows its commitment to a smooth passenger experience.
Abu Dhabi
- Terminal A
Abu Dhabi’s new terminal replaces the now-closed Terminals 1 and 3, doubling its passenger capacity. Its centralised design makes it easy to get from security to your gate or make a connecting flight.
- Smart Travel initiative
Register for the Smart Travel System at designated kiosks at the airport to enjoy self check-in kiosks, automated bag drop, and self-boarding gates as well as the Smart Gates. - US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility
The only one of its kind in the Middle East and Asia, this facility allows customers flying Etihad Airways to the US to clear US immigration and customs inspections before boarding your flight.
Sharjah
- Self-service travel
Print your boarding pass and bag tags at home, then drop off your bag when you get to the airport. You’ll even get discounts at restaurants and shops in the airport for choosing the self-service option.
- Increased flight frequencies
To accommodate rising demand, many airlines at Sharjah airport have expanded their services, and the Emirate is starting an airport capacity expansion project. - Expansion of inter-Emirate transportation services
Due to the region’s proximity to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, options like 24/7 shuttle buses (including free ones for Air Arabia passengers) and ride-sharing are connecting the three cities better than ever before.
The UAE’s airports are a reflection of the country’s high-tech, digital-first nature. They have some of the most comfortable and spectacular airports in the world, and when you make your move to the UAE, or if you’re just visiting, the Smart Gates will literally be your gateway to the most modern face of the Middle East.
FAQs
How do you register for UAE Smart Gates?
How you register for Smart Gates depends on the airport you’re registering for. Typically, though, you can register at designated kiosks in an airport’s departures or immigration terminal. All you need is your passport and any relevant visa.
How do you register for e-gates at the Abu Dhabi Airport?
People living in Abu Dhabi can register for e-gates at registration kiosks in Terminal A. Visitors can pre-register for e-gates before arrival by using the UAE Fast Track app on Apple or Android devices.
How do Smart Gates work at the Dubai airport?
Smart Gates use biometric technology to compare your iris, scanned at the gate, to the biometric data stored in your passport and the UAE’s immigration databases. The gates can verify your information in about seven seconds.