Government

Travellers passing through Dubai International Airport (DXB) will soon enjoy faster and more convenient security checks, as the airport prepares to eliminate the need for removing laptops and liquids from hand baggage by the end of 2026.

Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President for Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports, confirmed that a phased plan is underway to replace existing hand baggage and hold baggage screening systems. “The introduction of this new technology will make travel easier, smoother, and stress-free as you don’t have to take anything out of your bag,” Al Shamsi said in an interview.

Advanced security technology

Dubai Airports is currently testing next-generation scanners and artificial intelligence (AI) systems that allow passengers to keep items such as laptops, perfumes, creams, and liquids over 100ml inside their bags during screening.

In May 2025, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects awarded a contract to Smiths Detection to deploy advanced checkpoint screening technologies across all three DXB terminals. These scanners use high-resolution 3D imaging to speed up security checks, improve accuracy, and enhance passenger flow.

Supporting record passenger growth

Passenger traffic at DXB has been rising steadily, with the airport recording its busiest first half in history. Dubai Airports handled 46 million passengers in the first six months of 2025, a 2.3 per cent increase compared to the previous year. In the second quarter alone, 22.5 million travellers passed through the terminals — up 3.1 per cent year-on-year. April 2025 was the busiest month of the quarter, setting a new record with 8 million passengers.

To manage this sustained growth, Dubai Airports is investing in cutting-edge innovations that enhance security, reduce processing times, and create a seamless travel experience. The adoption of AI-powered screening technologies is set to transform airport security, aligning with Dubai’s vision to remain at the forefront of global aviation.

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