Passengers departing from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 can now use their smartphones instead of passports at the airport’s smart e-gates.
The new service, called Smart UAE Wallet, has been launched in cooperation with Emirates Airline, and is expected to reduce departure clearance time to between 9 and 12 seconds per passenger.
For now, the UAE Wallet app can be used in Terminal 3. It will be operational in all terminals after the wallet is linked with other airlines.
“The Smart Wallet will save passengers’ time and also protect their documents and passport,” said Lt General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of police and public security in Dubai. “Passengers will only need to use the smartphone at the smart gates and scan their fingerprint [to finish the departure procedure] with ease.”
In the initial phase, the UAE Wallet will contain the personal ID, passport details, and smart gate card data of the traveller.
“The second phase will link all the data of Emiratis and residents into the wallet so people don’t need to show their documents when transacting in any government department. The individual will show the barcode inside the phone to share his data and finish the transaction in seconds,” he added.
People wishing to use this service can download the UAE Wallet app from the Apple store, and register their details any time before their travel date. “The application is safe and has security checks. The developers said it is impossible to hack or misuse the application,” Lt Gen Tamim said.
Sami Akilan of Emirates airline, said: “Passengers won’t need to carry their passport or even their boarding pass, because all of the data is registered and linked to the wallet, including the name, seat number and flight number. This will reduce the time and effort [for all concerned].”
