The Central Bank of the UAE has launched the Middle East’s first nationwide biometric payment system, allowing shoppers to approve transactions using facial recognition or a palm print instead of cards or phones. The pilot, announced on 28 January 2026, is currently active at select retailers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with plans for expansion across the Emirates in the coming months.
Officials highlighted the system’s potential cross-border implications, noting that the same biometric templates are interoperable with the Ministry of Interior’s Smart Travel initiative, which powers automated e-gates at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH). As a result, one enrolment could streamline payments, lounge access, and immigration clearance for both residents and visitors.
Benefits for Business Travel and Corporate Programs
For business travellers, reduced reliance on physical wallets mitigates fraud risks and foreign-exchange fees, while employers gain cleaner expense reporting through digital receipts. Early adopters include Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank, both of which plan to integrate the system with their existing corporate card programmes. Mobility managers are advised to monitor updates and consider pilot enrolment for executives once the public rollout begins in Q2 2026.
Data governance remains a priority. The Central Bank confirmed that biometric templates are encrypted and stored on sovereign servers within the UAE. Companies are advised to update travel-risk disclosures, obtain employee consent for tokenised corporate cards, and assess the applicability of extraterritorial privacy regulations, including EU GDPR, for staff travelling on UAE assignments.
Seamless Travel Experience on the Horizon
The interoperability of payments and e-gates could enable a curb-to-gate experience, offering automated lounge access, duty-free payments, and streamlined immigration. Services such as VisaHQ support travellers during enrolment, providing guidance on visa requirements, document uploads, and tracking submissions while biometric profiles are being set up.
The initiative positions the UAE at the forefront of digital payments and travel mobility, creating a model that could redefine convenience for both retail and corporate sectors.
