The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has launched the region’s first biometric payment solution, incorporating facial and palm recognition technologies to advance the nation’s Digital Economy Agenda.
The project was introduced through the CBUAE’s Sandbox Programme and Innovation Hub at the Emirates Institute of Finance, in partnership with Network International, a leading fintech company active across the Middle East and Africa.
Currently at the proof-of-concept stage, the system is being showcased at the Dubai Land Department, where customers can authorise payments using facial or palm biometrics.
The platform eliminates the need for physical cards or mobile devices, providing a fully contactless and seamless transaction experience.
Network International enables the solution, which is powered by the biometric platform PopID.
The initiative underscores the CBUAE’s commitment to developing a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven national payments framework. By integrating biometric authentication into payment processes, the project seeks to enhance security while improving convenience and speed for users.
It also supports the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to establish the country as a global hub for digital innovation and fintech advancement.
The rollout demonstrates increasing cooperation between regulators and private sector technology providers in promoting next-generation payment systems.
Biometric payments are expected to play a growing role in digital commerce, merging identity verification with effortless customer experiences, and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leader in financial innovation.
