Dubai rolls out ontactless check-in as part of city’s digital transformation

Smart tourism advancements to improve experience

Smart tourism advancement ensures a seamless, convenient experience by allowing hotel guests to bypass front desk check-in after a one-time ID and biometric upload.

Securely-held data will remain valid until expiration of ID, meaning faster check-in on subsequent visits, further enhancing the visitor experience for repeat guests. 

Dubai has announced the citywide introduction of a one-time contactless hotel guest check-in solution.

The Middle East destination hopes to set a new "global benchmark for guest convenience, safety and innovation in the hospitality sector".

Biometric and digital technology, developed by Visit Dubai, is available through several independent providers for immediate integration at hotels and holiday homes across Dubai.

The system allows guests to complete check-in from their mobile phones. Securely held data then remains valid until the identification document expires, meaning only a quick authentication, such as through facial recognition, would be required on subsequent visits. 

Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “The rollout of this guest-centric innovation will minimise friction from the moment travellers land, providing them a seamless, efficient start to their stay and maximising their time to enjoy our destination. 

"It further enables efficient return visits for our loyal repeat guests and allows Dubai’s hotels and holiday homes to focus on delivering more meaningful, high value guest interactions. 

"This technology offers immense potential for hotels to further elevate their services, and we invite more owners and operators to integrate the capability into their systems, to optimise the guest experience.”

The solution is designed for easy integration into existing hotel apps or web platforms, ensuring a smooth transition for participating establishments. 

The technology is said to have potential to be leveraged across other tourism touchpoints, including car rentals.

It also builds on the incorporation of smart technology across the destination, including the introduction of smart tunnels at Dubai International Airport, which have reduced processing times at passport control to just seconds.