UAE central bank pilots palm and face biometric payments #
The Central Bank of the UAE has launched a pilot programme testing palm and facial biometric payments, allowing consumers to authorise transactions without cards, phones, or PINs. The initiative aims to evaluate how biometric authentication can be used securely for everyday payments, with a focus on reducing fraud and improving convenience at the point of sale
The pilot forms part of the UAE’s broader digital payments and financial infrastructure strategy. Authorities said the trial will assess security, privacy safeguards, and interoperability with existing payment systems before any wider rollout. The move reflects growing global interest among regulators in biometric technologies as an alternative to traditional payment authentication methods.