Travelers moving through Dubai International (DXB) will increasingly find that the familiar security ritual of shedding footwear and unpacking bags no longer applies, as Dubai Airports pushes forward with a fresh generation of screening equipment.
The upgraded scanners generate high-resolution 3D images, which means electronics and liquids can stay tucked inside carry-on luggage. That capability trims the time each passenger spends at the checkpoint and eases the flow through the terminals.
Paul Griffiths, who heads Dubai Airports, framed the shift as a departure from long-standing habits. “We are reinvesting in new technology security machines, so you don’t have to take liquids or laptops out of bags. The whole process is getting slicker, quicker, faster, and more convenient. The old days of take your belts off, take your shoes off, and all that sort of intrusion is going to be a thing of the past,” he said in a Khaleej Times report.
The technology first appeared at DXB last year as a way to speed up how quickly people clear security. Griffiths noted that travelers can already spot the difference. “It’s already started. You’ll see, when you travel, the new machines already in, and the flooring’s being changed here. It’s just a gradual, ongoing programme of continuous upgrade,” he said.
Two suppliers are behind the overhaul. EmaratTech is handling the immigration systems, while Smiths Detection provides the checkpoint screening machines. That arrangement traces back to May 2025, when Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects contracted Smiths Detection to fit advanced screening equipment throughout all three of DXB’s terminals, with the aim of tightening security while making operations run more smoothly.
Griffiths said the intention is to phase out every piece of older equipment so that no passenger is left with a slower experience than anyone else.
Beyond security, a redesigned hammerhead at Terminal 1 is set to open soon. Griffiths pointed to a new retail zone as part of that investment. “We are opening a brand new retail area, which will just blow you away. The fashion that’s going to be on offer there is going to be amazing. We’re continuing to invest in DXB very heavily, and the business case to do that is incredibly solid. Those projects will pay themselves back very, very quickly indeed,” he added.
