Hamad International Airport in Doha (Qatar) deploys biometrics across more than 700 touchpoints, making it one of the largest deployments of its kind worldwide
Passengers who choose to enrol can now move from check-in to boarding using their face instead of identity documents, thanks to a system implemented by HIA in collaboration with Qatar Airways and its technology partner SITA.
GENEVA – July 6, 2026 – Passengers departing from Hamad International Airport (HIA) can now check in, drop off their baggage, pass through security controls and board their flight using their face instead of their passport and boarding pass.
In collaboration with Qatar Airways and its technology partner SITA, HIA has launched “Fast Pass”, one of the largest deployments of biometric solutions of its kind in the Middle East and worldwide, connecting more than 700 touchpoints through a single, secure biometric journey.
Using SITA technology, passengers enrol once in the Fast Pass service through the Qatar Airways mobile check-in application or at a self-service kiosk located in the terminal. The process takes only a few seconds and, once completed, their face acts as their boarding pass until they board the aircraft.
SITA’s self-service baggage drop kiosks perform the same facial verification, with the entire system relying on an infrastructure designed to ensure a high level of security and data protection while allowing passengers to remain in control of their identity.
In the near future, Qatar Airways connecting passengers will also be able to use Fast Pass, as will other interested airlines operating from Doha International Airport (HIA), facilitating connections between flights.
Participation is optional, and staff remain available for anyone who prefers to follow the standard procedure.
Passengers are ready for a new travel experience as airports worldwide welcome more travellers than ever before: an IATA study shows that most passengers now prefer biometric identification over physical documents.
Verifying a passenger’s identity only once and recognising them at every touchpoint enables airports to meet growing demand without increasing waiting times.
The aviation industry is at a turning point, and a deployment of this scale provides a glimpse of what the next standard in passenger processing could look like.
For passengers, the departure experience is now changing. Drop off your baggage with a glance at the camera. Pass through security without having to search for your documents. Board with a simple look, without having to look through your bag to find your travel documents. Every step that previously required passengers to stop now takes only an instant.
“The way travellers move through airports is changing, and secure digital identity is at the heart of this transformation,” said Selim Bouri, SITA President for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
“When a passenger is identified once and recognised throughout their journey, airport operations become smoother and travellers remain in control of their data. Hamad International Airport has demonstrated what this looks like at scale, across all major touchpoints. This is the model the industry will build on: faster and simpler journeys, based on trust.”
With a particular focus on mobile technology, HIA plans to progressively extend this service to additional touchpoints, including check-in and verification processes, beyond the airport itself.
Source: SITA
