UAE PASS has earned the Gold Award in the International General Authority category for the Sixteenth Edition of the Public Sector Transformation Awards (IESE) 2025, a flagship event dedicated to celebrating a culture of innovation and highlighting best practices in the government sector.
The awards, organized by the British non-profit IESE Foundation, seek to gather global expertise, foster the exchange of knowledge, and showcase achievements that fuel development through innovative thinking.
A total of 140 exceptional government initiatives from global public sectors were evaluated. After thorough assessment, the judging panels concluded the Gold Award for the UAE PASS application, developed by Digital Dubai in collaboration with the TDRA and the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi, and in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Electronic Security Centre, and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security.
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori Director General – Digital Dubai
“We are proud that the UAE PASS application is receiving such global recognition as a successful model that can be emulated by other countries and governments. Receiving this prestigious award is the culmination of a sustained journey of excellence and leadership in digital identity, made possible through collaboration and teamwork among local and federal government entities. In particular, we value the significant role of our strategic partners—TDRA and the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi—who have worked alongside us for years on a clear and progressive strategic plan. UAE PASS is aligned with the vision of our wise leadership to build a comprehensive and integrated digital life, facilitating daily city interactions and supporting the digital economy by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, which is essential to verifying users’ identities efficiently and securely.”
Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA, stated that, “We are pleased that the UAE PASS application has achieved global recognition, winning the Gold Award among dozens of initiatives from around the world. It represents a tangible outcome of the UAE’s digital transformation journey, and an example of the many successes we’ve achieved through national collaboration. We are committed to sustaining our progress and achievements in line with the vision ‘We Are the UAE 2031,’ which aims to lead the nation from one milestone to another, toward a brighter future. I extend my appreciation to our partners — Digital Dubai, the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi, and other government entities — for their collaboration in achieving integration and excellence in the pursuit of customer happiness.”
The awards ceremony saw the participation of numerous representatives from government entities, innovators, and project leaders. The Gold Award for UAE Pass was collected by representatives from Digital Dubai and TDRA.
UAE PASS stands out as the first secure national digital identity for citizens, residents, and visitors in the UAE, which enables them to register and verify their identity quickly and effortlessly through facial recognition. Over 340 entities offer services through UAE PASS, including 60 federal, 171 local government, and 118 private sector entities, providing over 15,000 services.
