Digital Identity Systems in the Middle East and Africa: A Growing Trend

National governments and companies in the Middle East and Africa are pushing for more widely available digital identity systems to enable citizens to connect and authenticate to digital government services and commercial services.

Morocco Leads the Way

In Morocco, the government has issued over 4.6 million electronic identity cards in 2024 and expanded its digital infrastructure with a trusted third-party authentication platform to offer new services and cut cybercrime rates. More than 7.2 million people are now enrolled in the United Arab Emirates’ official digital ID, known as UAE Pass, and can authenticate to web services, admin centers, and other digital platforms.

UAE Pass: A Secure Authentication Platform

The UAE Pass is a secure authentication platform that allows users to authenticate to web services, admin centers, and other digital platforms. According to Microsoft, the UAE Pass is a mandatory authentication platform for the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Saudi Arabia Establishes Strong Identity Standards

Saudi Arabia has established strong identity standards through its National Cybersecurity Authority’s Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018). The UAE has implemented similar requirements through the Information Assurance Regulation (IAR), according to FTI Consulting’s Murphy.

The Future of Digital Identity: AI-Augmented Platforms

The future of digital identity systems will likely involve AI-augmented platforms, including liveness detection and real-time facial recognition. As digital identity ecosystems expand, AI-based authentication and real-time identity verification will become critical components of cybersecurity, ensuring both security and usability across industries.

Key Takeaways

• National governments and companies in the Middle East and Africa are pushing for more widely available digital identity systems.
• Morocco has issued over 4.6 million electronic identity cards and expanded its digital infrastructure with a trusted third-party authentication platform.
• The UAE has implemented a secure authentication platform, UAE Pass, which allows users to authenticate to web services, admin centers, and other digital platforms.
• Saudi Arabia has established strong identity standards through its National Cybersecurity Authority’s Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2018).
• The future of digital identity systems will likely involve AI-augmented platforms, including liveness detection and real-time facial recognition.