New smart tunnel uses biometric technology instead of traditional passport stamps.

Dubai International Airport has unveiled a “smart tunnel” that will recognise passengers’ faces as they go through passport control.

The new system, located in Terminal 3, uses biometric technology, which takes a 3D scan of the passenger’s face as they enter the tunnel and checks it against a digital passport. The whole process is said to take just 15 seconds.

Here’s a video that shows how it works:

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“It is the first of its kind in the world,” said Major-General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

“The traveller can finish his departure procedure without the need to use any travel documents such as passport, ID cards or boarding cards.”

Passengers who have used Dubai Airport’s smart gates are automatically eligible to use the smart tunnel, as their information is already registered in the system. Those who haven’t used the smart gates will have to register their details first.

The new system is still in its trial stage. For now, it’s only available to business and first class passengers.

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