The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the world's largest biometric database as part of its Emirates ID project. Now the United Nations is coming to the UAE for its expertise in setting up a global biometric database. The apparent goal of the UN is to register every human on the face of the planet.
It’s Eida-UN deal in digital ID realm
ABU DHABI: The Emirates Identity
Authority (Eida) and the United Nations have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) aimed at bolstering co-operation to develop the
infrastructure of the Authority’s digital identity projects. It
also aims at benefiting from the UAE’s experience in developing
advanced identity programmes globally.
Under the MoU, Eida and the UN agreed
to implement joint initiatives and projects in the field of
sustainable development and boost knowledge society on the global
level through organising international conferences and workshops and
conducting specialised researches.
The MoU was signed on Thursday at the
UN headquarters in New York in the presence of Dr. Eng. Ali Mohamed
Al Khouri, Director-General of Eida and Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of
e-Government Branch of the Division for Public Administration and
Development Management (DPADM) of the United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs (Undesa).
In his paper presented on the sidelines
of the MoU signing, Dr Al Khouri reiterated the UAE’s prudent
leadership’s quest to upgrade efficiency of its government sector
and adopt the culture of excellence, pioneering and continuous
development in order to boost the UAE’s global position.
He said that the UAE is determined to
be one of the best countries in the world according to the UAE Vision
2021 and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
Dr Al Khouri said that the UAE
government has set up a comprehensive and integrated vision aimed to
develop the living and service systems of both Emiratis and
residents.
It is diligently working to establish a
sustainable development environment at all levels with people’s
happiness and public welfare as its utmost priorities.
He underscored Eida’s keenness to
represent the UAE in different international events and increase
awareness of its successive achievements and to cooperate with
various leading UN organisations in the field of advanced identity,
government work development and scientific research.
The aim is to build a knowledge-based
society and economy in the UAE which will contribute in reinforcing
the UAE’s competitiveness and leadership in order to become ‘Number
1’ in all fields.
Dr Al Khouri gave a brief on Emirates
ID Strategic Plan 2010-2013 and its new Plan 2014-2016, highlighting
a number of projects carried out by the Authority particularly the
‘Digital Identity’ and ‘e-Link’ with government entities.
He explained the role the Population
Register System plays in supporting decision making. Meanwhile, UN officials commended the
UAE’s vision and praised its leadership’s boundless ambitions to
develop the quality of living of its people and its quest to pioneer
globally in all fields and in the eGovernment Index.
