UAE Deepens Investment in Biometric Tech for Travel and Payments

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is significantly expanding its use of biometric technologies, particularly facial recognition and palm vein scanning, to streamline services and enhance security across various sectors.

At Dubai airports, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) is launching the “Travel Without Borders” project, which will allow travelers to pass through all terminals without stopping to show any documents. Lieutenant Colonel Khaled bin Madia Al Falasi, Deputy Assistant Director for Smart Services at GDRFA Dubai, announced that AI-powered facial recognition cameras will scan travelers on the move to confirm their biometric data and officially register their arrival or departure.

The system eliminates the need for counters, stations, gates, or immigration officers at passport control, providing a seamless experience for travelers.

The project will be activated soon at all terminals of Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), starting with business and first-class passengers before extending to all travelers. For first-time visitors to Dubai airports, a pre-registration process will be available through an app to match their biometric data upon entry. The effort represents a significant advancement from the current smart gates, where travelers still need to stop and get scanned.

The use of biometric e-gates is expected to increase from 37 to 80 percent, extending to passengers transiting through the emirate. Additionally, Dubai Airports is exploring “one-stop security” measures to reduce security checks for transferring passengers and investing in new accessibility technologies for disabled passengers.

In addition to facial recognition, the UAE is introducing “Palm ID” payments, a retail solution using the unique veins in a person’s palm for transactions. Developed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) in partnership with the Central Bank of the UAE, the technology aims to deliver faster, more seamless services across public and private sectors.

Showcased at Gitex Global 2024 as part of the UAE Vision 2031 initiative, Palm ID allows users to make payments and withdraw cash from ATMs by scanning their palm. Registration requires an Emirates ID and can be completed through the ICP platform. The system is considered highly secure and less intrusive than facial recognition, with potential future applications in public transportation and other crowded places.

These technological advancements coincide with Dubai Airports’ revised annual passenger forecast for 2024, projecting a record 91.8 million passengers, up from the 91 million forecasted in May. The operator is also working with regulators to secure licenses and establish frameworks for air taxis, expected to begin operating in the first quarter of 2026, further modernizing the transportation experience.

Sources: AGBI, Gulf News, UAE Moments

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October 18, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith