Latest news with #AdnanAlHammadi
Web Release
22-04-2025
- Business
- Web Release
UAE Set to Introduce Facial Recognition ID System
News Business and Economics By Editor_wr Last updated Apr 21, 2025 The UAE is preparing to introduce a new digital identification system that will remove the need for individuals to carry physical Emirates ID cards to access essential services. Scheduled for launch within a year, the system will rely on facial recognition and biometric data to facilitate access to services across multiple industries. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) is currently working to broaden the application of e-Emirates IDs within sectors including banking, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications. This development was disclosed during a Federal National Council (FNC) session, where council member Adnan Al Hammadi voiced concerns about the continued dependence on physical Emirates ID cards, despite the country's progress in digital transformation. Al Hammadi remarked that this ongoing requirement remains problematic for residents. Physical ID cards are still needed to obtain medical care, carry out banking transactions, and check in at hotels, where original cards are often mandatory. 'There is a pressing need for swift and efficient solutions to simplify identity verification across these vital sectors,' he stated. Responding on behalf of the ICP, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, confirmed that the e-Emirates ID has already been adopted in many services. He further noted that the authority will focus on extending its usage to the sectors identified by the FNC. UAE Set to Introduce Facial Recognition ID System Next Post Enish Dubai Redefines Ladies Night with an African Twist Comments are closed.
Hi Dubai
17-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE to Replace Physical Emirates IDs with Biometric-Based Digital System
The UAE is set to eliminate the need for physical Emirates ID cards by rolling out a new digital identification system within a year, authorities announced during a recent Federal National Council (FNC) session. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) confirmed it is expanding the use of e-Emirates IDs in key sectors such as banking, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications. The upgraded system will rely on biometric and facial recognition technologies to streamline identity verification, reducing reliance on physical documents. FNC member Adnan Al Hammadi raised concerns over the continued demand for physical Emirates IDs, highlighting issues faced by residents across essential services. 'There is an urgent need for fast, effective solutions,' he said, citing difficulties in hospitals, banks, and hotels that still require original ID cards. Responding to the concerns, Minister of State for FNC Affairs Abdul Rahman Al Owais stated that e-Emirates ID is already active across various services and will be prioritised in the sectors highlighted by the FNC. The digital identity initiative will be powered by the UAEPASS app, which allows residents to securely access a range of government and private services. Launched during GITEX 2021, UAEPASS already supports facial recognition and offers access to digital documents, including Emirates IDs. ICP emphasized that the rollout will be guided by robust data protection standards and inter-agency collaboration to ensure secure and reliable identity verification across platforms. The move marks a major step in the UAE's digital transformation agenda, aimed at simplifying and securing service access for all residents. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
16-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
No more Emirates ID cards? UAE to launch digital ID system using facial recognition
The UAE is set to roll out an alternative digital identification system that will eliminate the need to present physical Emirates ID cards to access key services. The system, expected to launch within a year, will use facial recognition and biometric identification to streamline service access across various sectors. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) is currently working to expand the use of e-Emirates IDs in sectors such as banking, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications. This came during a Federal National Council (FNC) session, where member Adnan Al Hammadi raised concerns over the continued requirement for physical Emirates ID cards, despite the country's significant strides in digital transformation. Al Hammadi noted that this requirement continues to pose challenges for residents. Patients still need to present physical ID cards to access healthcare services, while banks demand them for financial transactions. Additionally, hotel guests are often unable to check in without showing their original Emirates ID. 'There is an urgent need for fast, effective solutions to streamline identity verification in these essential sectors,' he said. Responding on behalf of the ICP, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, confirmed that e-Emirates ID has already been successfully implemented across many services. He added that the authority will prioritize expanding its use in the sectors highlighted by the FNC.
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
‘460 hours lost a year': How Dubai-Sharjah commuters try to beat peak-hour traffic
Some rejig their schedules; some leave home before dawn; while there are those who wait out in cafes, mosques, or gyms after work. Travelling between Dubai and Sharjah is a struggle for thousands of commuters who resort to various ways to avoid peak-hour gridlock. The issue was recently highlighted by Federal National Council (FNC) member Adnan Al Hammadi, who revealed that an employee commuting between the two emirates spends approximately 460 hours annually — equivalent to 60 working days. Responding to Al Hammadi's concerns, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stated that the ministry would conduct an in-depth study and work closely with local authorities to develop a comprehensive plan. Khaleej Times reached out to several residents who commute between Sharjah and Dubai every day to their workplaces to know about the measures they are taking to work around the traffic congestion and the toll that the grave traffic situation is taking on them. Waiting in a mosque Reem Al Qaidhi, an advertising professional, leaves her home in Al Noaf at 6:30 am to reach her office in Media City by 8 am. For the Emirati, the return journey is, however, a different story, as she often chooses to go a mosque to beat traffic congestion. 'Sometimes, it takes me more than two hours to get home,' she said. 'I always check Google Maps to find the least congested route. If the roads are packed, I stop by a mosque to pray Asr and wait for traffic to ease before continuing my drive.' 'There have been days when I just sit in the mosque, waiting for the traffic to ease. I lose so much time daily,' she added. 'Hitting the gym before heading home' Zaheer Hussain, an Indian expat living in Muhaisinah, says: 'On regular days, I log out at 6 pm, but I don't even think about leaving then.' 'I go to a nearby mosque for Maghrib prayers, then hit the gym for an hour. By the time I leave around 9 pm, the roads are much clearer, and I get home in about an hour.' Hussain finds the situation frustrating. 'I would rather be home earlier, but this is the only way to avoid sitting in my car for two hours straight. Traffic between Dubai and Sharjah has worsened over the months,' he said. 'I return home exhausted' Noura Al Mandous, a Ras Al Khaimah resident, said: ' Everyday I leave home at 5:30 am and reach work around 8 am. During Ramadan, the congestion has become worse, and I often get home around 6 pm, completely exhausted. The unpredictability of traffic adds to her stress. 'Some days, there's no clear reason for the congestion, yet you still find yourself stuck for hours. It's draining, both mentally and physically.' 'No time left for family' Shamsa Darwish, who lives in Al Awir near the Sharjah border, often gets caught in congestion despite working in Dubai. 'I reach home around 4 pm during Ramadan, and by the time I break my fast, I'm too tired to do anything else,' she said. Even outside Ramadan, she feels the long hours in traffic have taken a toll on her personal life. 'I hardly get quality time with my family. It affects my mental well-being, and there's no real solution in sight.'
