The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs examined over 20,000 documents during an intensive 18-month security operation.
DUBAI, July 3, 2026 – Dubai authorities have detected and seized more than 900 forged and altered travel documents over the past 18 months, leveraging world-class digital verification systems and specialized forensic experts to safeguard national borders. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) revealed that a total of 902 irregularities were uncovered during 2025 and the first half of 2026.
The high-stakes security operations were spearheaded by the GDRFA’s Document Inspection Centre, an internationally accredited facility recognized globally for its advanced travel document verification capabilities. Amid a global rise in sophisticated digital identity forgery and document counterfeiting, the center meticulously scrutinized 20,307 travel documents—including physical passports, printed visas, and electronic visas—over the 18-month period.
A breakdown of the data shows that 15,746 documents were verified in 2025, leading to the discovery of 689 fraudulent cases. In the first six months of 2026, an additional 4,561 documents were thoroughly inspected, exposing 213 violations. The detected infractions comprised entirely fabricated documents, illegally altered data, and digitally manipulated photographs. According to the GDRFA, its implementation of data-driven advance security protocols and real-time verification tools allows border control to neutralize potential security threats before they can enter the country.
The Document Inspection Centre holds the prestigious ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, cementing its status as a premier regional and global reference point for document security and forensic examination. The center’s cutting-edge operations have drawn international interest, with delegations from South Korea, the German Federal Police, European Union embassies, and various Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states visiting the facility to study its advanced detection techniques.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, emphasized that digital transformation is a cornerstone in sustaining global trust in Dubai’s aviation and travel infrastructure. He noted that integrating advanced tech and predictive digital systems is no longer optional but an absolute necessity to ensure peak security and operational efficiency. Lt. Gen. Al Marri added that the center’s landmark achievements reflect the success of utilizing top-tier national talent to build a forward-looking border security framework.
To counter evolving forgery methods, the center utilizes a robust global electronic database featuring passport specimens from more than 80 countries. This database is continually updated, allowing analysts to instantly cross-reference the latest security features and detect highly sophisticated counterfeits.
Furthermore, the GDRFA maintains close strategic collaboration with the German Federal Police’s Document Examination Laboratory at Frankfurt Airport. This partnership focuses heavily on training world-class document verification experts and forensic analysts. Aquil Al Najjar, Advisor at the Document Inspection Centre, stated that 122 hours of specialized technical training were conducted over the past 18 months—consisting of 81 hours in 2025 and 41 hours in the first half of 2026—to keep pace with global shifts in security printing and digital identity systems.
Demonstrating its proactive global footprint, the center has actively participated in major international security forums, including Identity Week Europe in the UK and the Netherlands, the Security Printing EMEA Conference in Abu Dhabi, and Seamless Middle East in Dubai. The facility constantly tracks updates via the EDISON Global Document System and has initiated extensive preparations to showcase its next-generation security models at the upcoming GITEX Global 2026 exhibition in Dubai.
