UAE central bank develops e-KYC platform

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UAE central bank develops e-KYC platform

April 15, 2026

ABU DHABI,— The Central Bank of the UAE has announced plans to build a unified electronic Know Your Customer KYC platform across the country, after signing a technical partnership agreement with Swedish technology firm Norbloc AB.

The CBUAE said in a statement the initiative is a core component of its Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme.

The programme seeks to build an integrated financial ecosystem and strengthen operational efficiency. It also aims to advance the modernization of regulatory frameworks through digital solutions.

The platform is designed to eliminate the duplication of customer due diligence processes, cut compliance costs, and boost financial stability across the banking sector, the central bank said.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of CBUAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and Ahmed Saeed Al Qamzi, Assistant Governor for Banking and Insurance Supervision.

The agreement was signed by Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the CBUAE, and Astyanax Kanakakis, Chief Executive Officer of Norbloc AB, with senior officials from both organizations attending.

The platform will improve Know Your Customer and Know Your Business processes through automated workflows and connections to verified data sources, the bank said.

It will also support compliance with anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism frameworks.

Built on a privacy-by-design architecture, the system allows data sharing only with explicit customer consent, maintaining high standards of confidentiality across the financial sector.

The platform will serve both traditional financial institutions and fintech companies, offering faster digital onboarding for individuals and businesses and reducing processing times and operating costs, according to the statement.

Al Dhaheri said the platform marks a shift from traditional resource-heavy processes to digital models that speed up access to financial services.

He said the CBUAE aims to build a financial environment defined by transparency and customer privacy protection, reinforcing the UAE’s standing as a global financial center.

Kanakakis said the platform will allow financial institutions to access verified data from multiple sources in real time while giving users direct control over who can access their information.

Future phases of the project will expand the platform’s capabilities and deepen its connections with industry stakeholders, the bank said, supporting the continued development of the UAE’s digital financial infrastructure.

(With files from Central Bank of the UAE)