Digital Identity & Authentication

Unified Digital Identity Framework

Executive Summary: Our audit confirms that both TAMM and ICP rely entirely on UAE PASS for digital identity authentication. While UAE PASS is described as "a single trusted digital identity," no biometric features are visible on the government portals themselves. This presents an opportunity for MOEI to enhance the authentication experience with visible, innovative biometric options while maintaining UAE PASS integration.

Key Findings: TAMM and ICP both use UAE PASS exclusively. ICP offers alternative email login. No facial recognition, fingerprint, or other biometric options visible on any platform. All biometric features appear to be backend capabilities within UAE PASS system.

Authentication Evolution

Progressing from basic username/password to advanced biometric and behavioral authentication

Current State

Username & Password

✗ Multiple accounts needed
✗ Password fatigue
✗ Security vulnerabilities
✗ Poor user experience

Security Level: Low

Phase 1: MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication

✓ SMS/App OTP
✓ Push notifications
✓ Hardware tokens
⚡ Enhanced security

Security Level: Medium

Phase 2: UAE Pass

National Digital ID

✓ Single sign-on
✓ Cross-government access
✓ Verified identity
✓ Mobile integration

Security Level: High

Future: Passwordless

Biometric & Behavioral

✓ Face/Voice recognition
✓ Behavioral biometrics
✓ Zero-knowledge proofs
✓ Continuous authentication

Security Level: Maximum

Comprehensive Digital Identity Framework

Planned

Biometric Enrollment

Advanced biometric capture and verification system

Facial recognition with liveness detection
Voice print authentication
Behavioral biometrics (typing, swiping)
Multi-modal fusion for highest accuracy

Not Started

Blockchain Identity

Self-sovereign identity on distributed ledger

Citizen-controlled identity attributes
Selective disclosure of information
Cross-border identity verification
Tamper-proof audit trail

Q1 2026

Privacy Preservation

Zero-knowledge proofs and privacy-enhancing tech

Age verification without revealing birthdate
Attribute-based access control
Homomorphic encryption for data processing
Consent management dashboard

Future

Cross-Border Identity

International identity federation standards

GCC unified digital identity
EU eIDAS compatibility
Global identity networks
Travel credential integration

UAE Pass Integration Strategy

Leveraging the national digital identity platform for seamless government services

Single Sign-On (SSO)

One identity for all MOEI services with automatic session management

Verified Attributes

Pre-verified personal data eliminates manual form filling

Digital Signatures

Legally binding digital signatures for all documents

Mobile-First Access

Biometric authentication via UAE Pass mobile app

Real-time Updates

Automatic synchronization of citizen data across services

Enhanced Security

Government-grade encryption and security protocols

Biometric Technology Comparison

Biometric Type	Accuracy	User Experience	Implementation Cost	MOEI Status	Competitor Usage
Facial Recognition	99.97%	Excellent	Medium	Not Implemented	Not Visible*
Fingerprint	99.60%	Good	Low	Planning Phase	Not Visible*
Voice Recognition	98.50%	Good	Low	Not Implemented	Not Visible*
Iris Scan	99.99%	Fair	High	Not Planned	Not Visible*
UAE PASS Integration	N/A	Good	Low	Required	TAMM, ICP

Privacy & Security by Design

Data Minimization

Collect only essential data required for service delivery

Purpose limitation enforcement
Automatic data expiration
Granular consent management

Privacy Preservation

Advanced cryptographic techniques for data protection

Differential privacy for analytics
Secure multi-party computation
Anonymous credentials

User Control

Citizens maintain full control over their digital identity

Identity wallet application
Selective attribute sharing
Revocation capabilities

Future Authentication Journey

Seamless, secure, and invisible authentication experience

Approach

Face recognition detects citizen

Verify

AI confirms identity & intent

Authenticate

Invisible multi-factor verification

Access

Instant service access granted

Competitor Implementation Analysis

TAMM - Abu Dhabi

Advanced digital identity integration

Full UAE Pass integration
Biometric authentication
Single sign-on across services
Digital document wallet
AI-powered identity verification

ICP - Federal Authority

National identity infrastructure

Emirates ID integration
Biometric enrollment centers
Cross-border identity verification
Digital signature services
Identity fraud prevention

Digital Identity Implementation Roadmap

Q4 2026

Foundation Setup

UAE Pass integration, MFA rollout, identity governance framework

Q1 2027

Biometric Enrollment

Face and voice recognition pilots, mobile biometric capture

Q2 2027

Advanced Features

Behavioral biometrics, continuous authentication, risk scoring

Q3 2027

Full Deployment

Passwordless authentication, blockchain identity pilot

2028+

Future Innovation

Cross-border identity, quantum-safe cryptography, DNA authentication research

Digital Identity Audit Note

This digital identity assessment is based on publicly visible features audited on July 28, 2025. Key findings:

TAMM: Uses UAE PASS exclusively for authentication. No biometric options visible on the website. Authentication redirects to UAE PASS system.
ICP: Primary authentication via UAE PASS with alternative email/password option. Multiple user categories supported. No visible biometric features on the portal.
UAE PASS: Both platforms describe it as "A single trusted digital identity for all citizens, residents and visitors" but biometric capabilities are not exposed on government portals.

Note: * Biometric features (facial recognition, fingerprint, etc.) may exist within UAE PASS system or at service centers but are not visible on public web interfaces.

MOEI Opportunity: While competitors rely solely on UAE PASS integration, MOEI can enhance user experience by implementing visible biometric options, behavioral authentication, and next-generation identity features directly on the portal while maintaining UAE PASS compatibility.