Dubai is set to redefine air travel with a cutting-edge experience at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), where artificial intelligence, autonomous robots, and biometric systems will work together to create one of the most seamless airport journeys in the world.
Unveiled at The Airport Show in Dubai on Tuesday, the new system promises to streamline every step of the passenger journey—from luggage drop-off to immigration and boarding. The most striking upgrade is a “smart corridor” that will allow travellers to clear immigration in seconds. Compared to the current smart gates at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the corridor will allow up to 10 passengers to pass through in the time it takes one person to clear DXB’s system.
“Our future will be one of seamless travel,”
said Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreign Affairs. He emphasized how AI will handle passport verification automatically, eliminating the need for manual checks and stamping.
Despite these technological strides, Al Marri noted that Dubai Airports will retain personal touches, with special counters for children and prioritized services for mothers and the elderly.
“We have not forgotten about children,”
he said,
“and we have dedicated a special counter for them, which is the first of its kind in the world.”
The innovation continues outside the terminal. An intelligent traffic management system will monitor vehicles on their way to the airport, helping airlines anticipate arriving passengers. Once travellers reach DWC, the journey becomes entirely automated.
Passengers will be greeted by concierge robots at curbside, while self-bag drop robots handle checked luggage directly from their vehicles. Bags will be tagged automatically upon booking through an app, which also allows travellers to manage flight details, shop duty-free, and enter a virtual airport metaverse before even leaving home.
“The complete check-in experience starts the moment passengers enter their cars,”
said Abdulla Al Shamsi, Senior Director of Future of Things at Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects.
“The system will weigh bags in the car and autonomous robots will take it from there.”
Inside the terminal, immersive digital experiences will entertain travellers. Autonomous delivery bots will serve food, beverages, and duty-free purchases, while lounges will offer shopping, dining, and rest areas with door-to-seat delivery services. Children’s play areas, mixed-use digital spaces, and biometric-enabled baggage claim kiosks will further enhance the futuristic experience.
Baggage claim itself will move beyond traditional conveyor belts. Instead, passengers can choose between biometric kiosks or home delivery via autonomous vehicles. Additionally, those flying through DWC may arrive via metro or bonded eVTOL aircraft—urban air taxis designed to reduce congestion and offer rapid access to the airport.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths previously confirmed that DWC will be built around eight smaller terminals, each offering a more intimate, efficient travel experience. Underground trains will connect terminals, while autonomous guided vehicles with immersive digital glass will transport passengers within the airport.
Set to become the world’s largest airport, DWC is positioning itself as the benchmark for the future of air travel—where technology, convenience, and comfort intersect.
News Source: Khaleej Times
