Now, pass airport security checks in just 2 seconds!

The new generation smart gates will be fitted with a device that can do an iris and face scan in just two seconds.

 Dubai - No more queues for eye scans and luggage screening as the Dubai Airports security checks will be completed in just two seconds instead of 16 through the new intelligent travel gates and interactive smart apps.

The Dubai International Airports is expected to receive 78 million passengers in 2015 and 103 million are expected by 2020.

The new generation smart gates will be fitted with a device that can do an iris and face scan in just two seconds. Officials said the devices will be fitted initially at Terminal 1 and 2 but did not give a time frame. “Some features will be introduced by the end of the year,” they said.

These details were unveiled during the two-day Future of Borders conference which was opened on Wednesdayby Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, in the presence of 500 delegates.

Emaratech, an online and technology solutions company in the Arab World, launched the new system that performs simultaneous document and iris scans to quickly verify travelers’ identity when integrated with border gates.

Thani Alzaffin, Director-General and Board Member of emaratech, told Khaleej Times that the latest iris recognition system engineered and launched by emaratech has an average acquisition speed of up to two seconds.

“Eyen, which means guard, sight, noble and people of the region in Arabic, and also means sight and vision in English, has been integrated in the new intelligent travel gate that will be launched soon.”

Alzaffin said passengers used to spend an average of 45 minutes queuing to complete eye scans and then head to another queue for immigration clearance. “We re-engineered the business processes and deployed technology integrating systems which minimised the entire process to 45 seconds.”

Now, the immigration counters have an average service time of 30 to 45 seconds for each passenger whereas smart gates, for pre-registered users have a record of 10-16 seconds, he said.

 “The new gate using “eyen” technology will enhance passengers’ experience with minimal amount of changes in habit norms. The system also maintains highest level of security using the latest iris recognition technology.”

Smart guide for passengers

He said the Dubai Airports are also to have two new sophisticated systems whereby passengers will be escorted via an SMS-based smart guide from the moment they enter the airport to the boarding gate.

“A passenger will be receiving instant messages where to go, which counter is less crowded, let alone more details on eating corners, duty free zone, and all the information he or she may need.”

The new passenger experience includes indoor guidance and boarding facilitation, which will help track passengers flow, aggregate their locations and push information to them as they desire, he said.

“Promising an average speed of 400 plus passengers an hour, a third smart technology has been successfully tried here as well for easing procedures of scanning passengers and luggage.”

Explaining the new system in the security zone where passengers are prompted for security checks, Alzaffin said: “A passenger no longer needs to take off his jacket, shoes, belt, or even keys, or any other stuff for security check. The system does the whole job while a passenger passes through a smart scanning gate which examines his or her luggage at the same time with no need to load, unload, or open any bag.”

Alzaffin said over two-third of the world’s population lives within eight hours from Dubai. “This is a trans-continental hub.”