Published on
Passengers flying on Qatar Airways from Doha will now be able to breeze through the airport using just their face as their passport following the launch of a new biometric service.
Implemented by Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Qatar Airways, in partnership with technology company SITA, the new “Fast Pass” solution uses facial recognition to support a “more paperless departure journey”, enabling passengers to move through key airport checkpoints with fewer document checks.
According to HIA, the service is “one of the largest biometric passenger rollouts of its kind in the Middle East and globally”, connecting more than 700 touchpoints across the airport.
“A rollout of this scale shows what the standard for paperless passenger processing can look like,” HIA said in a statement. “Fast Pass will continue to expand across additional touchpoints, by working with technology partners to progressively enhance the overall journey with the capability being available in the near future to other interested airlines operating from HIA.”
The use of biometrics is “accelerating” and travellers “like it”, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In its 2025 Global Passenger Survey, IATA’s data found that 50% of passengers have used biometrics at some point in their airport journey, up from 46% in 2024, while 85% say they are happy with the experience.
How does Qatar’s ‘fast pass’ work?
Passengers can register for the Fast Pass through the Qatar Airways mobile app or at HIA’s self-service check-in kiosks, located near row three. If registering via the kiosks, you will need to do it for every single trip and follow the process prompted on the screen. On the Qatar Airways app, however, it’s a one-time registration.
Available for Qatar Airways passengers with eligible flights, they will need to be aged 18 and above, have a valid passport, and a trip starting in Doha. Participation is optional, with “standard processing still available and staff on ground to assist”, according to HIA.
Don’t forget to bring your passport though, because if the biometric cameras are unable to verify it’s you then it will be required at immigration or e-gates.
In terms of data security, the designated checkpoints will only use automated facial detection to “verify enrollment in the biometric programme”, HIA confirmed. “Non-enrolled individuals are not identified, and any biometric data incidentally captured is deleted immediately and not retained.”