Bye-Bye Emirates ID, Hello Digital Card! UAE To Roll Out Electronic Version With Biometric & Facial Recognition

Still fumbling through your wallet to find your Emirates ID? You won’t have to for much longer. The UAE is on a mission to retire the physical ID card and swap it for a sleek, digital version that’s smarter, faster, and frankly, harder to lose. Shortly, within a year to be precise, residents will start using the electronic Emirates IDs powered by biometric and facial recognition tech.

Electronic Emirates ID Is Coming To UAE

No more queues to photocopy your card. Just your face and fingerprints are doing the talking. The system will live inside secure apps like UAEPASS and ICP UAE, where your official documents, including your digital ID, are neatly stored and ready for action.

Where Will It Work?

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) is rolling out this tech makeover across several key sectors. Expect to use your digital ID in:

• Banking (because your face doesn’t forget its PIN)
• Healthcare (finally, a stress-free hospital visit)
• Hospitality (check-in minus the card panic)
• Telecom services (even your SIM will recognise you)

This announcement came during a Federal National Council (FNC) session where Member Adnan Al Hammadi informed that despite all this tech, we’re still being asked for plastic ID cards. Minister Abdul Rahman Al Owais, speaking for the ICP, reassured everyone that this digital shift is already in motion. Expansion into more sectors will soon be in execution.

Also Read: Applying For Emirates ID? All You Need To Know About The New Registration Form

Biometric And Facial Recognition To Access Key Services

Remember GITEX 2021? That’s when the ICP first flexed its digital tech by launching face recognition for UAEPASS, the UAE’s national digital ID app. This app now acts as your all-access pass to government and private services.

Soon, this digital ID will allow users to request everything from official documents to telecom access, without the need to flash a physical card. The tech uses advanced biometric ID systems, which are currently being tested and fine-tuned with help from various partners.

Yes, there are a few bumps on the road (identity verification can be tricky), but the ICP has a game plan. It’s working with industry players to iron things out while keeping things airtight on the data protection front.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Stock Images, UAE ICP/Website