Remember the long security checks at the airport? Yeah, the ones that will make you lose interest in flying totally! Dubai is going to get rid of them and instead install face scanning aquariums in place.
As per the reports, Travellers boarding from Dubai airport are no longer required to pass through e-gate anymore. All they have to do now is pass through a virtual aquarium tunnel and the hidden cameras will scan their face or iris, while they are in motion.
So how does it work, you ask? Behind the virtual aquarium tunnel, there are about 80 cameras that will scan your face and match your image with the existing biometric data. So as you reach the end of the tunnel, there will be a message displayed in green saying ‘have a nice trip’. On the other hand, if you are flagged for some reason, a red sign will pop-up indicating further inspection.
Related: Dubai is building its own floating Venice
“The fish is a sort of entertainment and something new for the traveller but, at the end of the day, it attracts the vision of the travellers to different corners in the tunnel for the cameras to capture his/her face print,”
“And throughout the tunnel, the passenger does not feel anything, they pass through normally,”
– Major Gen Obaid Al Hameeri, deputy director general of Dubai residency and foreign affairs.
Related: Dubai tested its first autonomous air taxi and it looks amazing
The tunnel which comes with a high-quality aquarium display is a great relief from the grey walls and the metal detectors. The virtual tunnel doesn’t necessarily stick with just one image rather it keeps displaying a variety of images – deserts to waterfalls to hilly terrains. Thereby keeping the travellers interested.
Walking through #Dubai airport's virtual aquarium security tunnel https://t.co/vAG6CbO8gm pic.twitter.com/XX5jStH6dL
— The National (@TheNationalUAE) October 11, 2017
The idea of a virtual aquarium tunnel came after 18 months of brainstorming and it will be installed by the end of summer 2018 at terminal 3 of Emirates. While the tunnels make their debut at the Emirates’ terminal, they will be installed in other terminals in Dubai as well by 2020.
Also read: Travel Hackers Guide: 7 well kept secrets of Flight Hacking
With increasing international security threats and the increasing number of travellers in the airport, the face scanning aquarium feature will come in as a great boon to the travel industry and if the reports are to be believed, the entire security process will be over in 15 seconds.
Also Read: Airports in Dubai
It is also interesting to learn that the United States is already testing its face-scanning technology and Australia is planning to replace passports with biometric scans by 2020.
Trending itineraries: Dubai Shopping Festival Package 2021 | Dubai Honeymoon Packages | Dubai Family Tour Packages
Related: No more physical police verification for passport – Digital India has new plans
For more travel news, inspiration and stories, follow Pickyourtrail.
Related Itineraries

Thrilling 2-Nights in Abu Dhabi and 2-Nights in Dubai City
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 2 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 1,08,793
Starting price/person

Awesome 4 Nights Dubai Trip Package with Transfer
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 4 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 28,310
Starting price/person

Fascinating 3 Nights Tour To Abu Dhabi With City Tour
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 1 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 1,13,307
Starting price/person

5 Nights Tour Package to Dubai with Abu Dhabi
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 2 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 33,690
Starting price/person

Amazing 3 NightsTrip To Abu Dhabi With City Tour
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 1 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 1,17,489
Starting price/person

Popular 5 Nights Dubai Tour with Desert Safari and Day Tour
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 3 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 37,051
Starting price/person

Top Class 3 Nights Trip To Abu Dhabi With Diwali Celebartion
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 1 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 1,22,630
Starting price/person

Best 6 Nights Dubai Tour Package with 2 Nights in Abu Dhabi
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 2 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 38,449
Starting price/person

Diwali Extravaganza with 2-N in Abu Dhabi and 2-N in Dubai City
- Flights excluded
- 3 star accommodations
- 2 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 1,24,298
Starting price/person

5 Nights Tour Pacakge to Dubai with Activities & Transfer
- Flights excluded
- 4 star accommodations
- 3 activities
- Shared transfer
₹ 41,218
Starting price/person