Passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) can now check if they’re eligible to use Smart Gates before reaching passport control.

Dubai Airports has introduced the new Smart Gates Pre-Eligibility Verification service in partnership with the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to make immigration faster and reduce waiting times.

How it works

Travellers can instantly verify their Smart Gate eligibility through the Pocket Flights platform or by scanning QR codes placed across airport terminals and boarding gates.

The service lets passengers know in advance whether they can use the automated passport gates, helping them avoid uncertainty at immigration.

Faster airport experience

Dubai Airports says the new feature is part of its ongoing efforts to streamline passenger journeys and improve the overall airport experience.

By allowing travellers to confirm eligibility before reaching passport control, the airport aims to speed up immigration processing and make travel through DXB more seamless for millions of passengers each year.

Thinking of convincing your family or friends to visit Dubai?

Now you have an extra incentive.

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched A Dubai Invite, a new programme that rewards UAE residents and citizens for inviting loved ones from overseas to visit the emirate.

If your guests arrive in Dubai between July 20 and October 31, you could unlock more than Dh3,000 worth of rewards, including hotel stays, dining vouchers, attraction tickets and exclusive lifestyle offers.

How to claim the rewards

Getting started is simple.

Before your guest travels, register their details through the A Dubai Invite online nomination form.

Once they arrive in Dubai, their entry is verified automatically, so there’s no extra paperwork or check-in required.

Within 72 hours, you’ll receive an email with details of your reward package and instructions on how to redeem it.

Who’s eligible?

You can take part if you:

• Are a UAE resident or citizen aged 18 or above
• Have a valid Emirates ID
• Invite friends or family who live outside the UAE
• Register their visit before they arrive

Visitors must enter Dubai between July 20 and October 31, whether by air, land or sea.

The programme doesn’t include visas, so visitors must arrange their own travel documents if required.

What’s included?

Each successful nomination unlocks a reward package worth more than Dh3,000.

Offers cover:

• Hotel stays
• Restaurants
• Tourist attractions
• Lifestyle experiences

Participating brands include Careem, Hala, W Dubai Mina Seyahi, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Waterpark, Meliá Desert Palm, and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

A few rules to remember

There are a few conditions before you start sending invites:

• You can nominate up to five visitors per submission.
• Each resident can receive up to three reward packages during the campaign.
• Each visitor can only be nominated once. If someone has already registered them, another nomination won’t qualify.

The rewards will be available until December 31, 2026, unless stated otherwise.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect excuse to bring friends and family to Dubai, this could be it, and you’ll be rewarded for it too.

India will increase passport issuance and renewal fees by as much as 75% from 1 July, according to amendments to the Passport Rules notified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The revision, announced through a gazette notification issued on 20 June, marks the first major increase in passport fees since 2012. The move comes a day after the Indian government clarified that a passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as proof of citizenship.

How much will a new passport cost?

Under the revised rates, a standard 36-page passport will cost Rs2,500 under the normal scheme, up from Rs1,500. Applications under the Tatkaal (expedited) scheme will rise from Rs3,500 to Rs5,000.

A 60-page passport will now cost Rs3,500 under the normal process and Rs6,000 under Tatkaal, compared with the current Rs2,000 and Rs4,000 respectively.

For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), fees will also increase significantly, with a standard 36-page passport rising from $75 to $125 and a 60-page passport from $100 to $175.

Higher charges for lost or damaged passports

Applicants seeking a replacement for a lost or damaged 36-page passport will have to pay Rs5,000 under the normal scheme and Rs7,500 under Tatkaal, up from Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 respectively.

For a 60-page passport, the fee will rise to Rs6,000 under the normal process and Rs8,500 under Tatkaal.

What about children’s passports?

Passport fees for minors have also been revised upward.

For applicants below 18 years of age, a fresh 36-page passport will now cost Rs1,750 under the normal scheme and Rs4,250 under Tatkaal, compared with the current rates of Rs1,000 and Rs3,000.

The cost of replacing a lost or damaged passport for minors has also increased, with fees now set at Rs4,250 under the normal scheme and Rs6,750 under Tatkaal.

Changes to other passport-related services

The government has also increased charges for services such as Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs), Surrender Certificates, Global Entry Programme verification and other passport-related certificates.

The fee for these services will now be Rs750 under the normal scheme. For NRIs, the charge will be $40.

Any relief for applicants?

The revised framework introduces a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens aged above 60.

However, the concession will apply only to new passport applications and not to passport reissues.

Why does it matter?

The increase represents the first passport fee revision in 14 years and will affect millions of applicants in India and abroad. With fees rising across nearly all categories, the cost of obtaining or renewing a passport is set to become significantly higher from July 1.