Dubai’s ‘City Terminal’ Plan: Airport Check-in From Anywhere?

Dubai is moving closer to a future where travel begins before you reach the airport, thanks to an ambitious plan under the Dubai 10X initiative called the City Terminal Project. If realised, this innovation would allow travellers to complete airport check-in formalities at designated points across the city and then be transported directly to their departure terminal via secure vehicles with their boarding pass and documentation already processed.The idea aims to streamline travel, reduce congestion at airport counters and improve overall passenger experience, building on Dubai’s reputation as one of the world’s most connected aviation hubs.

What is Dubai’s City Terminal Project?

The City Terminal Project is one of three major initiatives approved under Dubai 10X, a government innovation programme launched to dramatically enhance key sectors in the emirate, including travel, mobility and public services.

Under this project:

This model is similar in concept to off-airport check-in facilities seen in global cities such as Hong Kong and Seoul but Dubai aims to scale and integrate it more deeply with government systems. Dubai International Airport already handles one of the busiest passenger volumes in the world.

Dubai City Terminal Project: Revolutionising Air Travel with Off-Airport Check-in

In 2025, DXB welcomed over 24 million passengers in just Q3 alone, contributing to nearly 94 million annual travellers. These are the figures that strain on-site check-in and security infrastructure. By enabling check-in in downtown locations or neighbourhood hubs:

Officials say this project will likely involve collaboration among key authorities, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, airlines, Dubai Police and identity/immigration departments, demonstrating the integrated nature of the reform.

Where this fits in Dubai’s broader travel strategy

The City Terminal initiative is part of a broader suite of innovations aimed at transforming Dubai into a global reference point for seamless travel. Dubai also pilots off-airport city check-in centres where passengers can drop off luggage and obtain boarding passes hours before their flight. Other related travel enhancements include contactless hotel check-in systems and digital biometric systems to hasten processes from arrival to boarding.Airlines like Emirates already provide off-airport check-in services, including home and hotel check-in for baggage and boarding passes, as part of a high-tech passenger experience strategy. These initiatives reflect Dubai’s ongoing push toward digital, contactless and AI-enhanced travel, aligning with broader smart-city objectives.

Dubai’s City Terminal Project: Will Checking In Before the Airport Truly Transform Your Travel Experience?

While a specific launch date for the City Terminal Project has not been officially announced, its approval under the third phase of the Dubai 10X initiative indicates that testing and phased rollouts could begin in the coming years as partners, including government departments and aviation stakeholders, define operational details and infrastructure requirements.Industry observers expect:

Dubai’s City Terminal Project promises to bring a shift as dramatic to air travel as biometric and contactless systems already in place, turning the idea of “airport check-in” into a citywide service rather than a terminal-only process. By helping passengers check in anywhere in Dubai and reach the terminal directly, the plan could reshape passenger flow, reduce delays and set a new benchmark in global travel convenience.