Abu Dhabi Courts to Use Facial Recognition Instead of Digital Signatures

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has initiated the first stage of a pioneering project to implement facial recognition technology for legal procedures, becoming the region’s first judicial authority to adopt the system as a replacement for traditional digital signatures.

In this initial rollout, the technology will be applied to power of attorney processes for lawyers, allowing approvals to be completed through smart devices without relying on digital signatures. Officials emphasized that the system uses biometric data encryption and real-time verification with official records to ensure maximum security.

Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, stated that the initiative aligns with the vision and directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Judicial Department, to modernize the justice system through advanced technology.

Al Abri described the rollout as a strategic move to simplify customer interactions, shorten processing times, and improve digital government efficiency. The department plans to extend the use of facial recognition to additional services such as notary and authentication procedures in future phases, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a regional leader in judicial innovation and integrated digital services.