Artificial intelligence (AI), biometrics, digital twins and integrated data platforms are transforming airport operations across the region, as industry leaders highlight technology’s role in improving passenger screening, baggage handling and capacity management at the 25th edition of Airport Show in Dubai.
The event, which concluded at Dubai World Trade Centre,
featured discussions on how airports can accommodate rising passenger numbers
while maintaining service standards and improving efficiency throughout the
passenger journey.
At the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF), a panel titled
“Smart Airport Operations: Connecting Every Stage from Home to Flight” examined
how airports are connecting check-in, security screening, baggage handling,
boarding and arrival through integrated digital systems.
Dubai is emerging as a global leader in smart airport
operations, with initiatives enabling passengers to check in baggage from their
homes, hotels and workplaces. Dubai Airports plans to work towards implementing
Baggage Collaborative Decision Making (B-CDM) over the coming year, supporting
its wider Total Airport Management (TAM) framework.
Dubai Police outlined how AI, predictive analytics and
advanced screening technologies are improving security operations at Dubai
International Airport (DXB). In August 2026, the airport introduced screening
equipment allowing passengers to keep laptops, liquids and other personal
belongings inside their hand luggage during security checks.
Other technologies include centralised screening rooms,
occupancy-monitoring cameras, behavioural analysis systems, passenger-flow
monitoring and a digital twin developed with Dubai Airports.
These systems can forecast passenger volumes up to two
months in advance, with predictions refined to 15-minute intervals. The latest
screening equipment can process three times as many passengers as previous
systems, while 98% of passengers at DXB currently wait less than five minutes
at security checkpoints.
Dnata’s Vice President of Airline Services, Ciaran
O’Sullivan, highlighted its “Check-in Anywhere” service, which allows
passengers travelling with Emirates, flydubai and other airlines to check in
baggage away from the airport.
John Dyte, Vice President of Baggage at Dubai Airports,
said: “We are currently exploring the use of electronic baggage tags and the
introduction of off-airport check-in facilities at multiple locations across
the city.”
Amadeus also highlighted how biometrics and integrated data
systems can connect baggage reconciliation with aircraft weight and balance
systems, eliminating manual data entry and helping reduce fuel consumption.
With DXB’s infrastructure largely complete, speakers said
future capacity gains would depend increasingly on collaboration and data
sharing rather than additional construction.
Khurram Qureshi, Head of Portfolio and Stakeholder
Management at Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), said: “Airport
Collaborative Decision Making is a journey towards ensuring that the right
information is shared with all stakeholders across the airport ecosystem.”
The discussions also considered the future of aviation in
Dubai, with DXB handling approximately 100 million passengers annually and Al
Maktoum International Airport expected to accommodate more than 200 million
passengers within the next five to six years.
Ras Al Khaimah plans airport expansion
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is preparing for
further growth as tourism development across the emirate drives demand for air
connectivity.
Binu Gopal, the airport’s Chief Operating Officer, said it
surpassed one million passengers last year and currently serves around 14
destinations, mainly in India, Pakistan and Egypt.
The airport is developing a dedicated private aviation
terminal for business jets, general aviation and VIP passengers, while holding
discussions with airlines about introducing additional routes.
Plans also include a new passenger terminal designed to
accommodate at least two to three million passengers. The project is in the
preliminary design stage, with completion expected by 2030. The existing
terminal will undergo upgrades and modernisation in the meantime.
Gopal said: “Through our participation in Airport Show, we
are exploring advanced technologies that can enhance the passenger experience,
particularly contactless systems and processes, as well as solutions that
provide passengers with greater awareness of their surroundings and journey.
“We plan to introduce some of these technologies in the
existing terminal, while the majority will be incorporated into the new
facility.”
Airports move towards integrated systems
The event also highlighted a shift towards designing
airports as interconnected ecosystems rather than collections of separate
facilities.
Carlotta Godenzoni, Head of Infrastructure and Systems
Design at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport in Italy, said modern airport
development increasingly focuses on maximising existing infrastructure and
improving operational efficiency.
She said: “Airports must be viewed as integrated ecosystems
of interconnected systems, rather than simply collections of separate
facilities or assets. Designers must incorporate modern technologies, systems
for managing high-density air traffic and operational data to enhance capacity
and improve operational efficiency.”
The discussions underscored how digitalisation, automation
and collaboration are becoming central to managing growing passenger volumes
and preparing airports for future demand.