The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues 400,000 digital certifications through the “EDAS” system

Abu Dhabi: Imad Eddin Khalil

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it had issued 400,000 digital certifications, without the need for stickers and stamps on documents, within 5 months, since the launch of the electronic document certification system “eDAS” in February until June 2023. Pointing out that the system uses artificial intelligence algorithms to verify documents. Correctness of submitted documents, which speeds up processing time and improves accuracy of information.

Faisal Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs, said that at a time when the world is facing environmental and economic challenges, achieving sustainability has become a primary goal for countries around the world, and with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) a powerful tool to help governments and organizations achieve these goals, it seeks The Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to provide smooth and comprehensive services to customers, in line with the vision of “We Are the Emirates 2031” and the Emirates Government Services Strategy 2021-2025.

And he added, via the UAE government blog on the “Share” platform. Emarat,” that the ministry has worked hard to harness artificial intelligence and advanced technology in consular services, to achieve sustainability and the potential benefits of these innovative initiatives, in implementation of the vision of the wise leadership, and to achieve the goals of the “UAE Centennial 2071”, and in line with the fifty principles.

He explained that the Electronic Document Authentication System (eDAS), which was launched last February, is an advanced digital platform that facilitates the authentication of various types of official, personal and commercial documents in the UAE. The system also allows users to submit their documents and applications electronically, without the need to submit paper documents. The system uses artificial intelligence algorithms to verify the authenticity of submitted documents, which speeds up processing time and improves information accuracy.

He pointed out that by harnessing artificial intelligence and optical character recognition (OCR) technology, the system helps ensure companies comply with legal and regulatory requirements, creating a more transparent and secure environment for stakeholders. The system also features a central database that allows for better coordination between various government agencies, enhancing cooperation, data collection, exchange and analysis. More importantly, it is in line with the goals set by the UAE for the Sustainability Year, by implementing certification procedures, using a reduced use of paper documents, and reducing the carbon footprint.

He added that since the launch of the system, it has issued 400,000 digital certifications, without the need for stickers and stamps on the documents, and this has led to saving time for the customer and reducing paper consumption, which had a significant impact on the carbon footprint of the service, and contributed to achieving economic, environmental and social sustainability, and supporting The UAE’s commitment to reducing emissions and fulfilling its obligations to limit the impact of climate change.

Faisal Lutfi said that the UAE Smart Mission is an initiative recently launched with the aim of improving the efficiency of consular services provided by the country’s missions, and their accessibility using advanced technology.

He added that with this project, the ministry also seeks to contribute to the government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, by ensuring that all UAE citizens have access to services based on artificial intelligence.