Starting next year, travelers flying out of Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport may no longer need boarding passes. The airport is working on a “Smart Travel” project to introduce facial recognition technology for check-ins and security checks. Abu Dhabi Airports is developing this cutting-edge system and is set to roll out fully by 2025.
The new system will use biometric authentication, integrated with the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. This will allow travelers to be automatically verified without the need for prior registration at the airport. Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, already has a similar system in place, using facial recognition for self-service check-ins and baggage handling. Five additional airlines are expected to implement this technology soon.
The introduction of these new technologies will speed up the verification process, reducing check-in times from 25 seconds to just seven seconds. This project aims to enhance airline efficiency by cutting costs on infrastructure and improving security by detecting fraudulent identification documents.
Italy is also testing similar facial recognition software called FaceBoarding at Milano Linate and Catania airports. Travelers use kiosks to scan their documents and faces, enabling faster security checks and boarding. Airlines like ITA Airways and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have already adopted this technology.
Meanwhile, the EU plans to launch its own Entry/Exit System (EES) on November 10. This will require travelers from non-EU countries to scan their faces and passports at self-service kiosks when crossing EU borders.
