Dubai Airports CEO Envisions Fully Contactless Future, Eliminating Check-In and Baggage Systems
Dubai — Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has unveiled a bold vision for the future of air travel, predicting a revolutionary shift to a fully contactless, seamless airport experience—eliminating traditional check-in and baggage handling systems altogether.
Speaking at the Learning at Work Week 2025 event hosted by Dubai Airports, Griffiths, alongside Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, outlined the strategic direction for Dubai’s aviation and tourism sectors over the next decade.
The centrepiece of this vision is the proposed $35 billion passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central), which is set to transform the global travel experience and further solidify Dubai’s position as a world-leading aviation hub.
A Frictionless Future
Griffiths described a future in which airports function like luxury hotel lobbies, providing hospitality-focused environments free of the queues, checkpoints, and inefficiencies that currently define most air travel. His vision is a “frictionless, contactless airport”, where passengers move from arrival to boarding with minimal intervention and maximum convenience.
“We are on the cusp of a major revolution in passenger experience,” Griffiths stated. “The idea is to make airport processes invisible—to remove outdated systems that haven’t changed in 50 to 100 years and replace them with smart, intuitive technology.”
Innovations in Passenger Processing
Griffiths outlined several key innovations that will underpin this transformation:
- Biometric Identification: Traditional passport and boarding pass checks will be replaced by facial recognition and other biometric technologies, allowing security, customs, and immigration to be processed in mere seconds.
- Elimination of Check-In: Airlines already have passengers’ booking information, making check-in counters obsolete. Passengers will instead be able to manage preferences digitally before arriving at the airport.
- Universal Baggage Barcoding: Luggage will come pre-tagged with embedded barcodes during manufacturing, enabling seamless tracking without paper tags. Passengers will drop off bags at automated stations, which will then route them directly to their destination.
Doubling Capacity Without Expansion
With these innovations, Griffiths claims the airport will be able to double its passenger-handling capacity without significantly expanding its physical footprint.
As the functional aspects of travel become automated, Griffiths sees an opportunity to repurpose space for premium retail, dining, wellness, and lounge experiences. The aim is to shift the perception of airports from mere transit points to leisure destinations in their own right.
“We want passengers to enjoy their time at the airport—to experience a sense of comfort, relaxation, and hospitality from the moment they arrive,” he said.
Future-Forward Connectivity
Beyond the terminal, Griffiths emphasised the importance of citywide integration. He highlighted the potential of underground rail systems and autonomous vehicles to efficiently connect Dubai World Central with the broader city, reducing surface-level congestion and enhancing passenger mobility.
Kazim added that this broader vision aligns with Dubai’s ambition to become a preferred city to live, work, and visit, offering inclusive growth and opportunity for all residents and visitors.
As Dubai moves toward this technologically advanced future, it continues to set new benchmarks in global travel, positioning itself as a pioneer in reshaping how the world experiences aviation.
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