News Flash: New Mobile Verification System Live in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rolled out a system to verify smartphone owners’ identities so they can access basic government services and conduct business transactions in all seven emirates. Smartphone owners who download the UAEPASS app are assigned a digital identity, which gives them access to federal and local government databases, as well as a digital signature mechanism to enable high-level financial transactions.

Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, told Gulf News UAEPASS supports two levels of verification. “The first one is for any government entity,” Bishr said. “The next level, you can buy a property, sell a car or extract money.” The new system complements the existing Dubai Pulse, which already gives online users access to Dubai government services. UAEPASS is run by the Smart Dubai, the Telecommunications Authority (TRA) and the Abu Dhabi Smart Solutions and Services Authority.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, told Gulf News now is a good time to launch a national digital identity for smartphone users as fewer people are using computers to conduct transactions.

For more details, see the Gulf News report