Dubai travellers will soon be able to complete their airport check-in at locations across the city and proceed directly to their departure hall — skipping the queues entirely. The Dubai City Terminal Project, approved under the Dubai 10X Initiative, is set to transform how residents and visitors experience air travel from Dubai.
What Is the Dubai City Terminal Project?
The City Terminal Project allows passengers to carry out airport check-in procedures — including baggage drop, document verification, and boarding pass collection — at designated locations throughout Dubai. After checking in, travellers are transported directly to the airport departure hall via secure, pre-arranged vehicles.
By shifting key pre-flight steps away from the airport, the project aims to reduce congestion at terminals, streamline travel operations, and save passengers significant time.
Approved by Sheikh Hamdan Under Dubai 10X
The initiative was approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation.
It forms part of Dubai's strategy to place the city ten years ahead of others through future-focused government services — the central goal of the Dubai 10X Initiative.
Sheikh Hamdan stated: "Accelerating government performance is central to our future vision. We will continue to empower government entities to pioneer bold, high-impact projects that redefine excellence in public service."
Who Is Developing the Project?
The City Terminal Project is being led by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) in collaboration with a wide range of government and aviation stakeholders:
- Dubai Civil Aviation Authority - Dubai Police - Emirates - Dubai Airports - GDRFA Dubai (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) - e& Group
The breadth of collaboration reflects the scale and cross-sector ambition of the initiative.
Part of Three Major Dubai 10X Projects
The City Terminal Project is one of three initiatives approved during the third phase of the Dubai 10X Initiative. The other two are:
- 20 Minute City, led by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) — ensuring residents can access 80% of essential services within 20 minutes using walking, cycling, or sustainable transport. A pilot has already launched in Al Barsha 2. - Disease Early Detection System, led by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) — focused on proactive and predictive healthcare, with the pilot phase targeting diabetes, which currently costs Dubai an estimated Dh2.78 billion annually.
Selected From 79 Proposals
The three approved projects were chosen from 79 proposals submitted by more than 120 employees representing 33 government entities. Each proposal was evaluated on impact, implementation timelines, cross-government collaboration, and quality-of-life benefits for residents.
Why It Matters for Travellers
The City Terminal initiative reflects a broader shift in how Dubai is rethinking the travel experience. Concepts already being explored include secure shuttles from malls, free-zone campuses, and conference venues that deliver passengers directly to departure gates — making the airport queue a thing of the past.
Emirates and flydubai are expected to be among the first airlines to roll out city check-in as part of an early pilot, covering both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
The Dubai 10X Initiative was launched in 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and continues to shape Dubai's future through innovation, technology, and forward-thinking governance.
