(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES) The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) has launched the UAE Fast Track app, letting enrolled travelers use biometric Smart Gates at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah airports to clear immigration under 90 seconds.
The rollout began on the evening of 15 January 2026, and ICP said the first full day, 16 January 2026, ran smoothly across all three airports.
What UAE Fast Track changes for arrivals
UAE Fast Track is a voluntary pre-clearance style enrollment. It shifts some identity checks from the arrival hall to your phone before you fly, so officers can focus on travelers who need extra review.
For frequent business flyers, families arriving after long-haul trips, and residents returning home, the main gain is shorter queues at passport control and more predictable handover to baggage and transfers.
The app also signals that ICP is ready to run a “biometrics-first” entry lane at scale, rather than treating facial recognition as a pilot. VisaVerge.com reports that Gulf airports are investing heavily in automated border control to keep pace with rising visitor numbers and tight flight connections.
For transit passengers, faster clearance also helps make tight onward connections less stressful.
Enrollment choices to make before you travel
At launch, ICP says locals, residents, and visitors can enroll, and using the app remains optional. Enrollment is a one-time setup: scan your passport, take a selfie, and upload fingerprint images.
Treat this like a legal identity record. A blurry passport scan or a selfie that doesn’t match how you look when you land increases the chance the gate sends you to a staffed desk.
Before each trip, the app asks you to select your intended airport and your arrival date. That selection helps ICP route travelers into the right automated lane and match you to the correct travel authorization record, including any e-visa linked to your passport.
The decision checklist most travelers face is simple. You need a valid passport, you must complete the selfie and fingerprint capture, and you must confirm the right port of entry and arrival date in advance.
If you skip any of those steps, you still travel, but you join the regular immigration line.
Plan your enrollment the same way you plan your visa paperwork: early, on stable Wi‑Fi, with good lighting. For many travelers, the best window is 24 to 72 hours before departure, when your itinerary is fixed and your passport is in hand.
If you’re applying for an e-visa, the app’s data-sharing feature is meant to reduce duplicate entry, not to approve visas faster or expand who qualifies. Your visa category, length of stay, and any sponsor rules stay the same.
A practical timeline looks like this:
- Before booking flights: confirm your passport will remain valid for the trip.
- Before departure: complete the one-time passport, selfie, and fingerprint enrollment.
- After check-in: confirm your selected airport and arrival date in the app.
- On arrival: head to the biometric Smart Gates and follow the screen prompts.
What happens at biometric Smart Gates on arrival
At the gate, the process feels like airport self-service, but it’s still a border decision. You enter the Smart Gate lane, stand on the marked spot, and look straight at the camera.
The system compares your live face image to the selfie you enrolled and to ICP records tied to your passport. When the match succeeds, the gate confirms your identity and checks that you have permission to enter, including any visa or entry status already on file.
Then the barrier opens and you move on.
If the camera can’t confirm you, the most common outcome is not refusal. You get routed to a staffed counter for manual review. Bring your passport out even if you expect a touchless experience.
Officers can verify your identity with documents and, if needed, repeat biometric capture.
Small details cause most delays. Keep glasses off if they reflect light. Don’t tilt your head down toward a child. Avoid masks at the camera unless a rule requires them. Families should expect that very young children may need officer processing.
Where it’s available, how to download it, and what it costs
For now, ICP says UAE Fast Track works at three airports: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. The service is free at launch.
“Free” covers enrollment and Smart Gate use; it doesn’t replace visa fees, airline charges, or any fines for breaking stay rules.
Download only from official app stores and check the publisher name before installing. On Google Play, the listing appears as “ICP Identity Customs and Ports” and shows 10K+ downloads.
On Apple’s App Store, it sits in the Voyages category and is iPhone-only. Before you grant permissions, confirm the app is updated and review what it asks to access, especially camera and biometric features.
Travelers using corporate phones should also check company mobile-device policies so enrollment doesn’t conflict with security settings.
The app’s tie-in with e-visa systems is about reusing information. It does not change who needs a visa, who qualifies, or the conditions attached to each status. Overstay penalties still apply, and entry remains subject to inspection at the border.
ICP posts updates through official channels, including the ICP website.
Biometrics, risk checks, and what ‘profiling’ means in practice
Biometric border systems work because governments receive data earlier. With UAE Fast Track, ICP gets your face image, fingerprints, and itinerary selections before you arrive.
That supports two goals: moving most travelers through quickly, and flagging cases that need a closer look. “Risk profiling” in this context means automated checks that compare your travel record and identity data to watchlists and immigration history.
A profile doesn’t decide guilt. It decides routing, such as sending you to a counter for questions.
ICP says facial images and fingerprint data are stored on government servers. That reality makes basic privacy hygiene worth the effort. Lock your phone, avoid sharing screenshots that show QR codes or personal details, and enroll only through official apps.
If you change your appearance in a major way, update your enrollment before travel.
Officials have also hinted the system could become mandatory during high-volume periods such as Ramadan and Eid, once adoption stabilizes. For travelers, that would likely mean more automated lanes and fewer choices at the hall. It also raises the stakes for accurate enrollment.
Performance claims vary by traveler, but ICP’s launch messaging is clear: immigration can drop from 8–10 minutes to well under 90 seconds, and early users say registration takes under 5 minutes per traveler, saving up to 30 minutes on the overall airport journey.
Realistic arrival playbook for families, solo travelers, and mobility teams
Early adopters describe the biggest benefit as speed when arrivals are crowded. Results still vary with queue levels and with how well the face match works at the camera.
One Tripadvisor user reported fingerprint loading problems during setup, a reminder to enroll before travel.
If enrollment stalls, fix the basics first:
- Update the app and restart the phone.
- Re-take fingerprint images in bright, even light.
- Recheck that the selected airport and arrival date match your ticket.
Corporate mobility teams can treat UAE Fast Track as a pre-trip task. Add QR-code links to briefing emails, and keep a support path for travelers sent from biometric Smart Gates to staffed counters.
Carry your passport and any entry permission details until you exit immigration. ICP says January enrollees can use the service through 2026 without re-enrolling. Keep your phone charged before landing.
