Goodbye Emirates ID! UAE is rolling out new tech with facial recognition, biometrics

The United Arab Emirates has decided to roll out a biometric system in a year which will replace the physical Emirates ID cards. The new ID systems will have facial recognition and artificial intelligence and could be rolled out nationwide in a year, according to reports.

 

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security has confirmed that the systems have been tested and could be launched nationwide within a year. Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, too detailed the new ID system, which he said supports a nationwide digital-first strategy and enables easy identification.

 

This came after a Federal National Council (FNC) member raised a query on the using electronic ID solutions to improve service efficiency. The new system can be accessed through the Authority’s smart app, and will be introduced in phases, starting with key services.

 

The biometric ID systems will be adopted across key sectors such as government, banking, telecommunications, healthcare, hospitality, and insurance industries. These systems apply high standards of technical and procedural verification, while toeing the national data protection laws and risk management frameworks, according to the Gulf News. 

 

It was in 2021 that theSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced during a Cabinet meeting that the UAE would begin trials of facial recognition technology as proof of identity. He said this would be used in some private sector services to verify the personal identity of individuals instead of submitting a lot of documents. 

 

Biometric technology is currently being used in airports across the Emirates. There is also a project in the offing at Abu Dhabi Airport to automate passenger registration at Zayed International Airport that will eliminate the need for travel documents and significantly cut processing time.

Middle East