Successful test of Emirates ID cards as payment tool

Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) has announced that Network International, a leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East, has successfully showcased the use of the UAE’s national identity cards in mainstream financial applications, and described the move as a major step towards maximising their benefits for the financial sector in line with UAE’s vision for achieving greater financial inclusion in the country.

This was one of the few demonstrations worldwide where government-issued identity cards were used to enable financial transactions. It also marked a significant step forward in achieving financial inclusion in UAE by enabling cash withdrawals at ATMs and payments at domestic point of sale (POS) terminals, using the national ID card.

Emirates Identity Authority and Network International also affirmed that the security of transactions will be ensured through foolproof cardholder authentication that includes the user’s biometric details.

During the demonstration, a specimen Emirates ID card was successfully used to make a purchase transaction at a POS terminal, exhibiting the dual use of the card. In addition, the capability to link the national ID to the UAE’s Wages Protection System (WPS) was also showcased. Emirates Identity says this landmark development comes close on the heels of a Memorandum of Understanding it previously signed with Network International.

The demonstration of the Emirates ID card’s capability as a payment tool was conducted in the presence of Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority, and Abdulla Qassem, Chairman of Network International, Bhairav Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Network International, and other senior officials from both organisations.

Dr Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority, said the success of this innovation paves the way for the UAE’s transition into a secure digital economy. “This innovation means that it will soon be possible for users to use their ID cards for withdrawing money from ATMs and complete other financial transactions. We are working with a number of organisations to operationalise the identity card’s use in electronic payments, including the UAE Central Bank and the ministries of Finance and Labour. These partners will play a leading role in disseminating this initiative and preparing the ground for the actual implementation.”

Abdulla Qassem, Chairman of Network International, said, “UAE is known for setting new benchmarks in various fields and creating exemplary standards that are being emulated across the region. The imminent use of the Emirates ID card for financial applications is another excellent example of the major strides being taken by our country in an effort to achieve greater financial inclusion, which could be a catalyst to sustained economic growth. Network International will be playing a pivotal and constructive role in promoting financial inclusion through our partnership with Emirates Identity Authority.”

Bhairav Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Network International, said, “The Emirates ID Card is already recognised nationwide as a unique identification tool to regulate and standardise the resident population of this country, and today we have taken the first step towards enabling its use for the financial services sector. The successful demonstration is an important milestone for UAE, and a significant achievement in the country’s vision of financial inclusion for everyone. Network International is delighted to partner with Emirates ID Authority in this landmark project.”