The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) jointly launched digital bank account opening services for non-resident visitors through the “Tourist Identity” initiative. The service allows foreign tourists visiting the UAE to open a digital bank account within minutes of arrival using a biometric and facial recognition-based digital identity, without traditional documentation or in-person branch visits.
Under the process, ICP issues a Virtual Tourist Identity to visitors upon arrival, leveraging the agency’s UAEKYC biometric identification framework, which incorporates AI algorithms and facial recognition for identity verification. This digital identity is then linked to ADCB’s mobile banking application, enabling the visitor to complete account opening and receive an instant digital debit card. The account connects visitors to the UAE’s national payment ecosystem, including Jaywan, the national card scheme, and Aani, the instant payment platform, enabling cashless transactions throughout their stay.
The Tourist Identity service is an outgrowth of ICP’s move to replace physical ID cards with facial recognition, which laid the biometric infrastructure groundwork for issuing virtual identities at the point of arrival. The instant digital account opening also fits within the UAE’s shift away from OTPs in digital banking, which the CBUAE mandated across licensed financial institutions by March 2026.
H.E. Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE, framed the initiative as part of the country’s push to develop a secure digital financial ecosystem and improve the ease of doing business. H.E. Major General Suhail Juma Al Khaili, Acting Director General of Citizenship at ICP, said the system enables public and private sectors to deliver services using advanced identification technology. ADCB Group CEO Ala’a Eraiqat said the bank’s participation supports innovation in banking and aligns financial services with the UAE’s tourism economy.
The tourist banking service complements Abu Dhabi’s citywide hotel facial recognition check-in program; ICP now covers visitor identity verification for both hotel check-in and bank account opening on a single biometric foundation.
Sources: CBUAE, Khaleej Times, Gulf News
Follow Us