Smart Dubai, in partnership with the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA), has inaugurated UAEPASS, a National Digital Identity and Signature Solution for all citizens, residents and visitors, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Smart Solutions & Services Authority; and the Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC), as strategic partner providing the underlying Digital Certificates contributing to safeguard UAEPASS, as well as DarkMatter Group.
The launch took place at a press conference held today (Tuesday, October 16, 2018) at Smart Dubai’s pavilion during GITEX Technology Week 2018, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 14-18.
Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, attended the press conference, along with H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), H.E. Dr Rauda Saeed Al Saadi, Director General of Abu Dhabi’s Smart Solutions & Services Authority, and Faisal Al Bannai, Founder and Managing Director of DarkMatter Group.
UAEPASS provides a single digital identity that allows the user to access services for both local and federal government entities, in addition to other service providers. The solution introduces mobile based authentication to users who can simply validate their identity using their smartphone. It also allows users to digitally sign and validate documents, in order to minimise their visits to service centres to sign important and time-sensitive documents.
UAEPASS addresses the need to unify login credentials to access different federal and local online services. Moreover, the solution aims to improve user experience by simplifying the digital identity registration and authentication processes to be convenient and intuitive for the user. This collaboration aligns with the UAE’s directive to launch and implement national level projects, contributing to achieving the goals of UAE Centennial 2071, UAE Vision 2021, and future sustainable development. It also contributes to realizing Dubai’s Paperless and Blockchain Strategies, in addition to accelerating digital transformation.
Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, said: “Eliminating paper transactions has been a leading objective for our strategies and initiatives at Smart Dubai. From Blockchain-powered systems to the Dubai Paperless Strategy to the Week Without Service Centres initiative, it is our unwavering conviction that the future is paperless, and seamless digital and electronic services are a hallmark of all successful smart cities.”
“A secure and universal digital identity is essential for implementing ongoing smart transformation initiatives,” H.E. Dr Aisha said. “UAEPASS not only helps centralise users’ logins and credentials, which eliminates the hassle of creating and remembering a multitude of usernames and passwords, but it also improves security and confidentiality when conducting online transactions. This effectively removes one of the biggest hurdles to large-scale automation and digitisation and drives forward our plans to transform Dubai into a leading smart city, all the while making people’s lives easier and happier.”
H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the TRA, said: “The vision of Smart Dubai and the expertise of TRA is a strong combination that has made the mission of integrated government services a reality, thereby benefiting the citizens, residents and visitors of the UAE. The launch of the UAEPASS service is a special moment for us, as it exemplifies our efforts in line with the directives of our great leaders to make the UAE the most digitally advanced nation of the world.”
H.E. Al Mansoori stated that the TRA is accelerating its march towards smart transformation in the UAE to deliver its advantages to the public.
“Enabling the vision of smart government at the federal level and using digital technology to enhance the lifestyle of people are integral parts of the Authority’s strategic objectives. We hope the UAEPASS service, apart from providing a unified service to the customers, regardless of their physical location, will also promote the idea and benefits of having an integrated work environment on local and national levels,” H.E. concluded.
H.E. Dr Rauda Al Saadi, Director general of Abu Dhabi’s Smart Solutions & Services Authority (ADSSSA), said: “We commend the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority and Smart Dubai on their efforts in leading the implementation of the UAEPASS. To align to this initiative, we will be adopting this platform across the digital journeys available for citizens, residents, visitors and businesses under the TAMM programme. This step reinforces our adoption of innovative technologies and our intentions to continue to collaborate with federal and local government entities.”
Faisal Al Bannai, Founder and Managing Director of DarkMatter Group, said: “Aligned with the UAE leadership’s vision to accelerate the digital transformation of the nation, DarkMatter Group is proud to be the partner bringing this solution to its government customers.”
“Digital ID platforms are essential elements of an overall digital transformation strategy. This platform is built on robust cryptography techniques with authentication and verification methods that meet international standards,” Al Bannai added. “The UAEPASS will be a digital enabler that automates many government and private-sector services, while reducing cost and putting services at the fingertips of all citizens, residents and businesses across the UAE.”
To register for UAEPASS, users can download the application from iOS and Android app stores and sign up in three steps: Scan their Emirates ID card, verify their mobile number and email address, and set their UAEPASS PIN. Existing DubaiID and SmartPass users can migrate their existing account easily through the app. To complete the verification process and obtain digital signing capabilities, users can visit the nearest UAEPASS kiosk.