Dubai Airports has confirmed that the Red Carpet service will be extended to arriving passengers at Terminal 3 within the next two months.
The service, which has transformed the departure process at Dubai International Airport, represents a shift in how the airport handles passenger flow through immigration and passport control.
Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports, revealed the expansion plans whilst speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025.
Terminal 3 Red Carpet service: Groups of up to ten can pass through simultaneously
“We continually work to reimagine the passenger journey by integrating technology into operations and enhancing the efficiency and productivity of travel procedures,” he said.
The Red Carpet service, described as a first-of-its-kind smart service, allows passengers to pass through passport control within seconds without presenting any travel document or stopping.
Al Joker confirmed that the service completes processing in as little as six seconds and up to a maximum of fourteen seconds.
The service processes groups of up to eight or ten people through the smart corridor simultaneously, using real-time biometric data processing. This capability marks a shift from traditional passenger processing methods.
The significance of the Red Carpet service extends beyond processing single passengers. Groups of up to ten individuals can pass through the corridor at the same time, with biometric technology enabling rapid identification and clearance.
The system operates without requiring passengers to present travel documents or pause during the process.
Al Joker highlighted the role of biometric technologies in reshaping airport operations. He noted that these technologies have played a key role by integrating, simplifying or eliminating various steps in the passenger journey.
The airport has also invested in systems not visible to passengers, such as the use of artificial intelligence to determine aircraft positioning and rotation, assess aircraft characteristics and analyse operational data in real time. These systems enable operations teams to make faster and more accurate decisions.
The expansion to Terminal 3 arrivals represents the next phase of the Red Carpet service rollout. The service has already been operational for departing passengers at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The two-month timeframe indicates the airport’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of biometric processing across all passenger flows.
Al Joker attributed the record results achieved by Dubai International Airport in the third quarter, and since the beginning of the year overall, to “a fully integrated operational ecosystem built on operational efficiency, the One DXB team culture, and strong tourism and economic demand in Dubai and major markets.”
The airport expects strong traffic in December in line with national projections for a record season. Teams are fully prepared with flexible operational plans to manage peak periods, given the airport’s repeated experience in handling exceptional volumes and travel surges. Dubai Airports expects to surpass 95.2 million passengers this year.
Fourth-quarter figures and year-end projections remain under review at the airport. However, the organisation has indicated confidence in surpassing the 95.2 million passenger threshold for 2025.
Al Maktoum International airport development
Regarding Al Maktoum International Airport, Al Joker noted that current operations are witnessing growth, handling around 910,000 passengers in the first half of the year across more than twenty airlines. The airport expects to reach nearly one million passengers by year-end.
The new airport design is in its final stages, with tenders and partnerships ready. Al Joker clarified that the existing terminal used by passengers today is not part of the new airport, which will be entirely different in form, scale, structure and capabilities.
At the Dubai Airshow 2025, Dubai Airports is participating within a sustainability alliance in partnership with dnata, flydubai and other partners. The alliance aims to present practical solutions for using sustainable tools in aircraft handling and relying on renewable energy across ground operations.
The event serves as a platform for expertise exchange and showcasing innovations, including next-generation air mobility solutions, electric aircraft and vertical take-off aircraft.
