During an unscheduled walk-through of Arabian Travel Market on 14 September, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum underscored Dubai’s commitment to innovation-led, sustainable tourism growth. Accompanied by senior ministers, the UAE Vice-President reviewed biometric-border solutions, AI-driven hotel platforms and electric-vehicle airport transfers showcased by exhibitors. The Ruler’s messaging centred on openness and collaboration: Dubai, he said, will remain a test-bed for next-generation mobility—from autonomous taxis to seamless visa processing—provided industry stakeholders work in concert. That language resonates with multinationals basing regional headquarters in the city, where friction-free movement of people is a board-level priority. Officials from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs briefed Sheikh Mohammed on the rollout of ‘Click and Travel’, a roving passport-control service that can clear passengers in queues or boarding areas in as little as 15 seconds. The pilot complements Dubai’s smart-gate network and is expected to be extended to Terminal 2 before year-end. In sustainability terms, Sheikh Mohammed paid particular attention to low-emission ground-transport concepts—including hydrogen shuttle buses—that align with the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 pledge. He also stopped at the Spain pavilion to discuss bilateral tourism flows that have rebounded to 120 % of 2019 levels. The high-profile visit sends a clear signal that federal and emirate-level leadership view travel facilitation and smart-mobility infrastructure as strategic levers for diversified economic growth.
Source: Dubai Government Media Office
