For United Arab Emirates residents, there will soon be an option to use national ID cards like credit/debit cards. This news comes after a successful pilot of national ID cards being used as banking/ATM cards. “The trials have proved that the ID card can be used as bank cards at bank machines at point of sale terminals — retail points where bank cards are used to purchase goods and services — and for online payments, said Dr. Ali Al Khoury, Director General of Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) that issues ID cards.” Al Hilal Bank, which is the largest government-owned bank in the UAE, said that the national ID banking services should be available in about a year. Using national ID as bank cards will be optional for UAE residents; however, it will ultimately depend on the bank and their decision to integrate financial services and national ID cards.
On the subject of security, “the [national ID] trial has also proved that the transaction using ID cards guaranteed maximum security through authentication using card holder’s biometric details.” In other words, it will be more convenient, as well as more secure, to use national ID cards as banking cards. The advantages of using national ID cards solely include cutting down on the amount of cards carried by customers, eliminating the need to remember multiple PIN numbers and a reduction in cost for banks to manufacture their own plastic cards.
Another pretty recent, non-conventional use of ID cards is their ability to be used as proximity cards. These cards are a form of access control and are most commonly used throughout college campuses, especially in dormitories. Because security in most college dormitories are lax, proximity cards allow residents to enter buildings at their own convenience. Doors are locked 24 hours a day–which ensures that no one can enter the building unless they have been issued a student ID. If a student misplaces his/her ID, or if it is stolen, a new card will be issued, rendering the old one useless. The ID/proximity cards offer a new sense of security on college campuses and are even challenging the need for security personnel.
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