The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has introduced a biometric payment solution that uses facial and palm recognition.

The project sits within the CBUAE Sandbox Programme and Innovation Hub at the Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF).

In a statement, CBUAE said that this is a first initiative of its kind in the Middle East.

The central bank working with fintech firm Network International on the initiative, which is currently in a proof-of-concept phase.

The solution, powered by PopID, is being demonstrated at the Dubai Land Department, which is part of the Dubai Government.

Under the pilot, customers can make payments by authenticating their identity using face or palm biometrics.

The flow removes the need to use a physical payment card or a mobile device at checkout.

CBUAE Banking Operations and Support Services assistant governor Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri said: “The Central Bank of the UAE reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and supporting the nation’s digital transformation.

“The introduction of biometric payment solutions represents a strategic step to delivering more secure and seamless payment experiences, setting 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.”

The central bank added that the initiative aligns with the UAE Digital Economy Strategy and the UAE Digital Economy Agenda. It also positioned the project as part of its work to advance a national payments ecosystem focused on security, inclusion, and innovation.

Network International Group CEO Murat Cagri Suzer said: “Network International is proud to lead the way in facilitating biometric payments, 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.”