UAE: Soon, submit fingerprints for Emirates ID from your smartphone – News

A new feature – including the use of facial recognition – will allow residents to obtain ID cards from the comfort of their homes

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Residents looking to apply for a new Emirates ID or want to renew their card will soon be able to do so without hassle. The process will be simpler as residents don’t even need to visit the necessary centres to get their IDs.

At Gitex 2022, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security announced the introduction of a technology feature through which residents will be able to perform the necessary steps to obtain an Emirates ID card on their own smartphone at home.

In the near future, the ICP app will be upgraded to allow residents to apply for ID cards with biometric and facial recognition on their mobile phones. Registration can be done using an application number or using a photo of the resident’s passport page. The user will then be taken to the phone camera, which will scan their fingers and palms, as well as their facial features. A spokesperson at the Gitex booth said the algorithm was very accurate at capturing fingerprints and lines on the palm.

However, that’s not all – ID cards can be processed in seconds, meaning how long it takes for residents to receive their cards will depend solely on the courier service. Same-day delivery is also an option for residents who pay an additional fee; they can request it in person at the center.

Last year, in August 2021, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) launched a new generation and improved Emirates ID.

The new card has enhanced protection against invisible data, which can be read via the E-link system with ICA – a high-quality card with a longer lifespan. The use of polycarbonate can extend the lifespan to more than ten years, with comprehensive 3D photos, advanced technical and process features, and additional field and code definitions.

In the last issue of Gitex, ICA presented a form of technology where a person’s face is their identity and is able to provide all the necessary details about the cardholder.

Government and private agencies can use an upgraded digital authentication portal that allows them to verify their identity through facial recognition — a process that takes just three seconds.

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