Editorial

UAE puts ID at the heart of its Smart City push

With UAE Pass, residents will get smartphone-based Digital Identity that obviates the need to use paper across the City State when accessing with public services

Posted 19 May 2020 by Gary Flood


The already-highly successful UAE Pass – the Emirate’s National Digital Identity and Digital Signature solution – will soon be the only digital ID to access government services residents will require.

That’s the promise of the Strategic Affairs Council, a key part of The Executive Council of Dubai, which has now mandated the smartphone-based ID system as the sole digital identity citizens and residents will need to access government services.

UAE PASS provides an authorised digital ID that includes a digital signature feature allowing users to sign official documents states Smart Dubai, the government organisation leading the local drive to digitisation.

Entities that have implemented UAE PASS in their digital transactions now includes 29 Federal Government entities, 22 Dubai Government entities, and 31 entities from the six remaining emirates, as well as 10 private-sector organisations, we are being told.

“In partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, the UAE PASS project was launched in 2018 to support our wise leadership’s vision to build future-ready smart cities. It is in line with their plans for digital transformation and supports the Dubai Paperless Strategy,” notes Dr. Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai.

“Today, as we launch a policy for the UAE PASS being the official gateway to access all Dubai Government services, we reap the fruits of years of hard work.”

Users can access more than 5,000 government services by using a single username and password, which the body says adds an element of trust to digital government transactions. The service has so far been adopted by 200,000 individuals, it adds.