Digital transformation has occurred faster in the last few months than it ever did in the last 20 years. This statement is attributed to an international expert in the digital field, and I think it accurately describes the reality since the emergence of Covid-19.

This statement has reminded me of a similar situation related to the UAE Pass, which is one of the most important digital services of the UAE government. The UAE Pass will gradually replace the regular identification documents needed to avail government services. 

In 2019, the entities that pioneered developing the UAE Pass (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, and Smart Dubai) launched a major marketing campaign to encourage individuals to download the UAE Pass application and benefit from its many advantages. By the end of the year, the number of UAE Pass users barely reached 300,000. It was a good start, but we were aiming for higher numbers.

However, in 2020, in less than three months during the Covid-19 crisis, the number of users increased to 477,000, through the same joint marketing campaign. As for the digital signature through the UAE Pass, its use increased by 211 per cent; more than double in less than a month (March 15 to April 14). It reminded me of the idiom - every cloud has a silver lining.

Life has transformed since Covid-19, and no one should underestimate the importance of digital services, no touch technologies, online communication systems, and other similar technologies, simply because our health is at stake. Our health is important and serves as a new incentive towards adopting unconventional solutions.

From that perspective, UAE Pass is a service that everyone in the UAE - citizens, residents and even visitors - need. Those who have not downloaded yet will definitely need to do so soon. So, I invite all those who have not availed this service to do so now. 

The UAE Pass will enable you to open a bank account with the support of the Central Bank while you are sitting in your home. It will also help you to access any government service and conduct any transaction remotely using your finger print. This feature is supported by Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. 

After registering in UAE Pass, you will neither be required to present documentation in physical form nor have to carry them around with you as they will be available digitally to every government entity or institution linked to the UAE Pass. All you have to do is log on to the application for various services from different governmental and non-governmental entities.

In today's world, the smartphone is the human's constant companion. It is that one tool through which one can conduct many activities and transactions. It is true that today our identity is in our phone. I suspect that the reason for those who have not downloaded the UAE Pass application yet is that either they have not heard of it, or have not had the opportunity to check its benefits; the most important being preparedness in the event of an emergency.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori is the Director General, TRA