The UAE PASS will soon become the only digital identity for all residents of Dubai, including citizens and expats, to access government services within the emirate as well as other parts of the country.
The announcement was recently made by Smart Dubai following the decision was issued by the Strategic Affairs Council – part of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Smart Dubai had put in motion an initiative called ‘The Digital Future’, developed as part of its 100-day plan for the ‘Government Development Track’ – one of the six tracks announced by the Dubai Council, which was inaugurated at the beginning of 2020 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.
The initiative aims to expedite the rate of the adoption of UAE PASS by citizens and residents, which will lay the foundations for a digital future across the government and private sectors.
The Strategic Affairs Council had adopted the UAE PASS policy in the Emirate of Dubai as of May 1, 2020, as one of the Dubai Councils’ initiatives. The decision was motivated by UAE PASS’s potential to drive development across the government service ecosystem; enhance communication between local and federal entities on one hand, and the private sector on the other; and grant citizens and residents access to government and private-sector services.
UAE PASS eliminates the need to physically visit customer service centres and submit paper identification documents. It provides an authorised digital ID through smartphones, and includes a digital signature feature allowing users to sign official documents. Users can access more than 5,000 government services by using a single username and password.
Smart Dubai’s main objective from implementing the Digital Future initiative is to save time and effort for individuals in the city, helping them lead happier lives. Smart Dubai also seeks to keep up with technological advancements, support the emirate’s digital transformation, and drive the transition towards a digital government.
According to the government firm, with its digital signature feature and its ability to provide access to countless government services with a single set of login credentials, UAE PASS adds an element of trust to digital government transactions. The service has so far been adopted by 200,000 individuals.
Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, asserted that the Strategic Affairs Council’s decision to mandate the use of UAE PASS by all individuals and government entities in Dubai will considerably accelerate its adoption across the entire Dubai community, and promote its use for various transactions in the UAE.
“UAE PASS allows users to easily access services, as well as to digitally and remotely sign the necessary documents. This, in turn, supports Smart Dubai’s efforts to establish the emirate as the world’s happiest and smartest city,” she said.
“In partnership with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, the UAE PASS project was launched in 2018 in an effort to support our wise leadership’s vision to build future-ready smart cities. It is in line with their plans for digital transformation, and supports the Dubai Paperless Strategy,” Dr Aisha added.
She further noted that the project demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration between government entities across the country, and its ability to create innovative tools that drive the transition towards fully automated smart systems.
“Today, as we launch a policy for UAE PASSUAE PASS being the official gateway to access all Dubai Government services, we reap the fruits of years of hard work,” Dr Aisha noted. “This project has grown tremendously, setting an example to be followed in the way of joint government cooperation, and working together to develop national projects that serve all segments of the community, be they citizens or residents, and help them save time, effort, and resources.”
The list of entities that have implemented UAE PASS in their digital transactions now includes 29 Federal Government entities, 22 Dubai Government entities, and 31 entities from the six remaining emirates, as well as 10 private-sector entities.
In Dubai, the list consists of Dubai Economy, Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Knowledge and Human Development Authority, General Directorate of Civil Defence in Dubai, Dubai Land Department, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Courts, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Culture, National Bonds Corporation, Dubai Asset Management, Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Maritime City Authority, among many others.
Meanwhile, participating entities outside the Emirate of Dubai include Fujairah Police, Fujairah Municipality, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, and Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, among many others.
Work is also underway to implement UAE PASS in both local and federal systems across the UAE, which will address several challenges in government operations, such as the absence of a digital signature mechanism and the multiplicity of login information to services’ platforms.
