UAE Central Bank Launches Region’s First Biometric Payment Solution Using Facial and Palm Recognition
In line with the UAE National Digital Economy Strategy and the Central Bank of the UAE’s efforts to develop a secure, inclusive, and innovative national payments ecosystem, the Central Bank, through its Regulatory Sandbox and Innovation Hub at the Emirates Institute of Finance, and in collaboration with Network International, the leading fintech company in the Middle East and Africa, has announced the launch of the region’s first biometric payment solution using facial and palm recognition technologies.
The initiative is currently in the proof-of-concept phase and is being implemented at the Dubai Land Department, enabling customers to make payments seamlessly by verifying their identity through facial or palm biometrics, without the need for cards or smart devices. The solution is powered by Network International’s payment technologies, with support from PopID.
Commenting on the initiative, Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the Central Bank of the UAE and Vice Chairman of the Emirates Institute of Finance, reaffirmed the Central Bank’s strong commitment to fostering innovation and accelerating digital transformation across the country. He noted that biometric payment solutions represent a strategic step toward delivering safer and more seamless payment experiences while setting new standards of trust and flexibility in financial transactions, in line with the UAE’s vision to build a leading innovation-driven digital economy.