Hyderabad, April 16 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to launch a next-generation digital identity system that will eliminate the need for residents and visitors to present physical Emirates ID cards when accessing essential services.

Slated for implementation within the coming year, the system will leverage facial recognition and biometric authentication technologies, enabling seamless and secure identity verification across key sectors, including healthcare, banking, hospitality, telecommunications, and government services.

The announcement was made during a recent session of the Federal National Council (FNC), where Dr Adnan Hamad Al Hammadi, a member of the FNC, raised concerns about the ongoing dependence on physical ID card...