UAE residents will soon be able to apply for new Emirates IDs or renew their cards without hassle. Residents will be able to get their identity cards without visiting any centers, making the process even more convenient.
As part of Gitex 2022, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports security announced the introduction of a technological feature that will enable residents to obtain an Emirates ID from the comfort of their own homes through the use of their smartphones.
ICP will soon upgrade its app to allow residents to apply for IDs using biometrics and facial recognition on their phones. Registration can be done either using an application number, or by using photos of a resident's passport page. The user will then be taken to the phone camera, which will scan their fingers and palm, along with their facial features. A spokesperson at the Gitex booth said that the algorithm is highly accurate in its capturing of fingerprints and lines on the palm.
The IDs can be processed within a few seconds, so the time it takes residents to receive their cards depends only on the courier service. Same-day delivery is also an option for residents who need it at an extra cost; they may request it in person at the centre.
In August 2021, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) introduced new generation and improved Emirates ID cards.
E-link with ICA - a high-quality card with a longer service life - provides enhanced protection of non-visible data. The increased lifespan is made possible using polycarbonate, which increases its service life to over ten years, along with a consolidated 3D photo, advanced technical and technological characteristics, and additional fields and codes definition.
A form of technology presented by the ICA at Gitex last year used a person's face to provide all the necessary information about their identity.
Using the upgraded version of the Digital Certification Portal, government and private institutions can verify identities through facial recognition in just three seconds.