Daijiworld Media Network - Dubaisharmila_090321_passport123.jpg

Dubai, Mar 9: Amid the ongoing pandemic to avoid human contact, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its latest artificial intelligence programme has launched contactless technology. Dubai has already started providing the facility last month, where travelers stepped up to an iris scanner after checking in and breezed through the passport control within seconds.

Authorities said Dubai's iris scan improves on the more commonplace automated gates seen elsewhere, connecting the iris data to the country's facial recognition database so the passengers need no identifying documents or boarding pass.

The unusual partnership between long-haul carrier Emirates and the Dubai immigration office integrates the data and carries travelers from check in to boarding in one fell swoop, it added.

The technology has faced international criticism which said that the programme adds to the fears of vanishing privacy in the country which also targets journalists and human rights activists. However, Dubai's immigration official said that it completely protects passengers' personal data and no third party can view it.