ADIB and Visa Bring Biometric Payments to the UAE

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) is collaborating with Visa to enable biometric transactions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The bank will be making use of the Visa Consumer Authentication Service, which allows shoppers to clear high-risk transactions with smartphone biometrics when making purchases online.

The biometric authentication service is the first e-commerce service of its kind in the UAE. In practice, the system takes advantage of the biometric sensors that come built into a standard smartphone. ADIB customers will now be able to go through the ADIB mobile app and verify their identities with face or fingerprint recognition whenever they need to confirm a sale.

Biometric authentication is intended to replace outdated legacy measures like One-Time Passwords, which can be sent via email or SMS text and are vulnerable because they can be intercepted. The newer solution makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to make fraudulent purchases, even if they are able to gain access to someone’s bank account information.

“Due to the pandemic, online security and fraud protection has become more essential than ever,” said ADIB Retail Banking Head Philip King. “A biometric system uses the physical characteristics of an individual to grant account access, ensuring the security of consumers.”

“Because the solution only prompts consumers for verification of the riskiest e-commerce transactions, most consumers will have a streamlined authentication process,” added VISA UAE General Manager Shahebaz Khan. “With more transacting online, Visa’s biometric solution offers [consumers] the safe and optimal online payment experience they increasingly expect.”

ADIB is known for being an early adopter. It was the first bank in the UAE to introduce biometric ATMs, and has also deployed Smart Tellers at its physical branch locations.

The UAE has displayed a similar enthusiasm in biometric technology. Citizens can now use facial recognition to gain access to government services, with Lleida.net stepping up as the country’s first official private UAE Pass Service Provider. Visa, meanwhile, is trying to promote passwordless authentication principles with a recent investment in LoginID.

Sources: PYMNTS, Gulf Business

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June 11, 2021 – by Eric Weiss