All 195 countries · Western Asia
United Arab Emirates
The UAE uses Emirates ID and UAE Pass. The central bank's Digital Dirham is legal tender issued from January 2024 and described as soon to launch in phases; a March 2026 report said launch was planned by year-end.
Digital ID · Goal 16.9
Digital ID in United Arab Emirates
- Program
- Emirates ID; UAE Pass
- Status
- Used by most adults
- National ID card
- ID card compulsory
- Biometrics
- Yes
UAE Pass national digital identity used for most government services.
Digital money · Goal 8.10
Central bank digital currency
- Status
- Pilot
- Name
- Digital Dirham
The Central Bank said the Digital Dirham is legal tender and will work alongside cash and bank deposits. A July 2025 article said it would launch in phases; a March 2026 report said a launch between October and December 2026 was planned.
On the record
What has happened, newest first
- 2026-03Rolling it out
A report said the Digital Dirham was planned to launch by the end of 2026. MEA Tech Watch ↗
UN and WHO
How United Arab Emirates has voted
- WHO
- Accepted the 2024 rule changes
- Pandemic Agreement (May 2025)
- No recorded objection
- Migration compact (Dec 2018)
- Voted yes
- Paris climate deal
- Party
- SDG Index 2026
- 71.5 · rank 71 of 169
- Progress reports to the UN (VNRs)
- 3
Sovereignty score
How the -2 adds up
Points come only from public, sourced actions we track, scored the same way for every country. It isn't a grade of a whole government. How scoring works →
Nobody runs this from the top
Start a group in United Arab Emirates
A free, self-run kit: your first meeting, your first 30 days, ten campaigns and copy-ready letters. Bring this page to your first meeting.
Country research checked Oct 2026. Tracker data checked 11 Oct 2026. Every claim links to its source.