GDRFA Dubai announces milestone project: Facial recognition technique to be used in all transactions

GDRFA Dubai announces milestone project: Facial recognition technique to be used in all transactions

Facial recognition

 

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) has announced that the “Facial Recognition Technique” will soon be used in processing all transactions.  

In yet another huge AI-powered project unveiled on the first day of the 42nd Edition of GITEX Technology Week, GDRFA Dubai stressed that its technical team is making final arrangements to put this system into action.

GITEX Global is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event will run until October 14.

H.E. Lieutenant-General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of GDRFA Dubai, stressed that the directorate has developed a smart system that is constantly being upgraded to ensure its effectiveness and better serve customers. This system stores all the biometric data of passengers for use when entering or departing any of Dubai’s air, land, or sea ports.

“We will use the facial recognition technique in all transactions in order to enhance our services and incorporate the latest digital innovations into our systems. This means the facial print will act as a passenger’s passport through Dubai ports," Al Marri said.

For his part, Lt. Colonel Khalid bin Madiyah Al Falasi, Deputy Assistant Director for Smart Services, emphasized that GDRFA is making every effort to provide passengers with an unforgettable experience. "Before being utilized in the near future, travellers' data will be thoroughly examined to assure its quality using stringent security methods.”

Al Falasi added that the biometric data includes the number of fingerprints recorded in Dubai from 2019 to 2022, which is estimated at 18,000,000. During the same time period, the total number of passengers who entered/exited Dubai was estimated to be 1,564, 889 via land ports, 7,617, 144 via sea ports and 118, 827, and 721 via airports.