Through the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE)‘s Sandbox Programme and Innovation Hub at the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF), and in collaboration with Network International, the CBUAE has introduced a biometric payment solution using facial and palm recognition.

The system is currently in a Proof-of-Concept phase at the Dubai Land Department. It allows customers to make payments by authenticating their identity with facial or palm recognition.

This removes the need for physical cards or mobile devices. The solution is provided by Network International and powered by PopID.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE and Vice Chairman of the EIF Board, said:

“The introduction of biometric payment solutions represents a strategic step to delivering more secure and seamless payment experiences. It sets new benchmarks for trust and convenience in financial transactions, while aligning with the UAE’s vision of building a world-leading, innovation-driven digital economy.”

Murat Cagri Suzer, Group Chief Executive Officer of Network International, said:

“We are working closely with the Central Bank of the UAE to build a future-ready payments ecosystem. Biometric payments represent the next frontier in digital commerce, combining convenience, security, and efficiency.”

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on image by akash_mondal7 via Freepik