UAE to trial new 'face ID' in service delivery: Sheikh Mohammed

Dubai - Announcement came at Cabinet meeting.

By Staff Reporter

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Published: Mon 15 Feb 2021, 12:53 AM

The UAE is all set to trial a facial recognition technology to further develop the services provided by private and government sectors. The technology will facilitate services to the public at any time and place without the need for traditional means of identification such as official documents.

This came as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, chaired a Cabinet meeting on Sunday.


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“In a meeting today, we have approved a facial recognition technology to verify the identity of individuals instead of submitting a lot of documents," he tweeted. "The initiative will be expanded if it proves to be successful."


It is a proposal by the Ministry of Interior. The ministry will expand the use of the technology after the completion of the trial period. A set of services using the technology will be launched in some private sector institutions during the pilot phase.

The Cabinet has also approved the formation of a new team to automate government work through "remote communication applications".

“The future of government work will be different in the coming decades,” the UAE Vice-President tweeted.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stressed that the success of the Hope Probe is a result of determination and persistence shown by Emirati youth.

Other decisions

The Cabinet approved the National Standards Manual for Statistical Data, which will serve as a unified framework for methods and procedures for the collection, processing, storage, and presentation of statistical data. The Manual ensures consistency and defines the professional basis and the level of quality expected in all statistical activities.

The Cabinet reviewed a study on premarital screening for genetic diseases and ways to reduce them. The study aims at prevention of mental and physical disabilities and reducing mortality rates among children, as well as reducing the burden on the family.

The study outlines the importance of premarital genetic test as a tool that can predict the risk of developing diseases. A unified digital register of the UAE's genetic diseases will be created, including the results of premarital examinations on recessive diseases. A national laboratory specialising in the science of genetic testing will also be established.

The Cabinet approved the restructure of Etihad Rails' board chaired by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It also approved the formation of the Standing Committee on Conventions. The committee will be headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Cabinet approved adopting the previous daily decline percentage for the shares in the stock markets (a fluctuation limit of 10 per cent).


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