Dubai airport has approved a series of new security measures including buying new Chinese-made explosive detection machines that apparently can identify more types of explosive materials.

They’re also introducing new facial recognition technology. You walk through an aquarium and your face is scanned on departure. No more stepping up to a counter and dealing with a person, even though the airport claims their current processing time is 5 seconds per person. This is about preparing for continued growth.

قريبا في #دبي.. ممر ذكي لإنهاء إجراءات السفر في المطارات في 10 ثوان فقط #أسبوع_جيتكس_للتقنية #البيان @GDRFADUBAI @GITEXTechWeek pic.twitter.com/c9cGB1OA76

— صحيفة البيان (@AlBayanNews) October 9, 2017

And why an aquarium, why fish? Because that encourages you to look around, which gets them better facial imaging.

The first machine will roll out in terminal 3 this summer and come 2020 they’ll be airport-wide.

Travellers departing from Dubai will no longer need to pass through any sort of security clearance counter or e-gate, they will simply walk through a virtual aquarium tunnel that will scan their face or iris using hidden cameras while they’re in motion.

The tunnel, which will display high-quality images of an aquarium, will be equipped with about 80 cameras set up in every corner …

Dubai Airport

The tunnel doesn’t have to display fish, since it’s all electronic rather than a real aquarium, and can instead be programmed to “offer other natural settings, such as the desert, or even to display adverts.” (Emphasis mine.) Of course advertising in TSA bins in the States isn’t new.

Think of it as a smart e-gate, and one that may eventually pre-sell you duty free.

(HT: Paul H.)