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Robots Are Coming To Dubai Airport For Speedier Check-Ins

Emirates will deploy over 200 robots to help with everything from check-ins to hotel bookings.

Published

2 years ago

March 10, 2023

robots are coming to dubai international airport for speedier check-ins

As part of an extensive investment in the latest groundbreaking technologies, Emirates will employ a team of multilingual robots to assist with passenger check-ins at Dubai’s International Airport. The new additions to the Emirates workforce will reduce wait times and help to funnel more travelers through the world’s busiest international airport hub.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ chief operations officer, confirmed that the airline would roll out the domestically-designed check-in robots in two months, with more than 200 units eventually planned for service.

“We are the first airline globally that has introduced — or plans to introduce — portable check-in robotics. A robot that can complete all your check-in processes, including issuing a boarding card that will be sent to your registered number or email, and facial recognition by scanning your passport,” said Al Redha.

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Al Redha noted that the robot employees wouldn’t force passengers to present their documentation for a second time after passing through passport control. Instead, they would be used in transfer and transit halls in cases of disruption or flight changes.

Taking things a step further, the robots will also be able to connect with immigration authorities to determine whether travelers are authorized to enter the country, and using biometric identification at the airport, the digital assistants will also be able to complete speedy check-in and booking services, and even accept baggage.

Related Topics:Aviation Dubai Emirates Airline

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Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

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However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.