Abu Dhabi Airports and UAE ICP Forge Strategic MoU to Enhance Border Services Amid Unprecedented Growth
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 7 October 2025 — In a significant development to bolster border services and improve the overall passenger experience, Abu Dhabi Airports has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP). This collaborative agreement is designed to create a comprehensive service level framework aimed at enhancing the flow of passengers and fortifying customs services across the emirate’s five airports.
This partnership takes shape at a critical juncture for Abu Dhabi Airports, which has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. The facilities recorded a staggering 44.5% increase in passenger traffic in 2023, followed by a 28% rise in 2024. This impressive trajectory culminated in a remarkable 17 consecutive quarters characterized by a double-digit growth rate, extending into the first half of 2025. The newly established MoU seeks to ensure that the airport operations can manage this influx efficiently, maintaining superior service quality to cater to an evolving, more global passenger base.
The MoU was officially signed during a ceremony at Zayed International Airport on October 6, 2025, featuring notable figures from both organizations. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, and His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Abdullah Al Kuwaiti, Acting Director General of Ports at the ICP, represented their respective organizations in this impactful alliance.
At the core of this agreement lies a commitment to enhanced cooperation in a multitude of key areas, including border control operations, customs facilitation, emergency preparedness, professional training, and service optimization. A landmark initiative that underpins this collaboration is the “Smart Travel” system. This innovative framework allows passengers to clear immigration in an astonishingly brief span of just seven seconds, employing biometric verification and smart gate technology. Recognized recently with the 2025 GovMedia Award for Best Marketing Campaign, the Smart Travel initiative positions itself as a new standard for efficient and tech-enabled travel experiences. This system plays a pivotal role in Abu Dhabi Airport’s vision of delivering an optimal travel experience, with a target of a gate-to-kerb arrival time of under 12 minutes.
Elena Sorlini expressed her enthusiasm regarding this partnership: “We are excited to fortify our collaboration with UAE ICP, whose role as a key partner has been integral to our remarkable growth at Abu Dhabi Airports. Together, our aim is to elevate the standards of efficiency, security, and passenger-centric operations. This partnership is pivotal in ensuring that our operational infrastructure evolves alongside the world-class facilities we provide to our guests.”
His Excellency Mohammed Al Kuwaiti echoed the sentiment, stating: “The integration of government services within airport operations is essential for achieving the UAE’s vision of aviation leadership. Through this agreement, we reaffirm our dedication to maintaining robust border security while facilitating a swift, intelligent, and frictionless travel experience.”
Beyond improving operational efficiency, the MoU also symbolizes the UAE’s broader ambition to assert itself as a global leader in tourism, logistics, and aviation excellence. As the region continues to attract millions of visitors each year, partnerships such as this underscore the importance of delivering seamless travel experiences that enhance the nation’s global reputation.
By harnessing advanced systems and deploying coordinated workflows, Abu Dhabi Airports and the ICP aim to not only increase processing efficiency but also uphold the highest standards of security and service excellence. Joint working groups will oversee operational planning, emergency preparedness, and ongoing performance assessment against internationally recognized benchmarks. These metrics will focus on passenger wait times, levels of satisfaction, customs clearance rates, and overall throughput, particularly during peak periods.
As Abu Dhabi Airports embarks on this new chapter in collaboration with the ICP, the potential benefits for travelers, both local and international, abound. The commitment to excellence in service delivery illustrates the UAE’s dedication to fostering an environment conducive to growth, security, and unparalleled passenger satisfaction.
Through such initiatives, Abu Dhabi positions itself not just as a transit hub but as a beacon of modern, efficient travel, encapsulating the essence of innovation in the aviation domain.
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