A unified digital ID system will be established in Qatar as an integral part of a National Digital Authentication and Trust Services Strategy for 2024-2026 which the government launched on Monday January 13.

The initiative which is spearheaded by the Qatari Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is said to be a major component of the country’s digital transformation journey, Gulf Times reports.

The strategy sets the template for the development of a regulatory framework for an integrated system intended to enhance trust in all forms of electronic transactions in the country, with a high premium on the protection of personal and privacy.

According to the strategy, the unified digital ID will be the key aspect of the Digital Authentication component and will serve as the only tool that will enable users get access to a wide range of digital services without the need to have multiple digital identities. This, authorities say, will improve information security and do away with the inconvenience of using different login details to access different government platforms.

For the Trust Services component, the development of regulatory frameworks for aspects like digital signatures, seals, and timestamping are envisaged with a two-phased implementation plan.

The strategy also hopes to ensure smooth collaboration and interaction among government ministries, departments and agencies, individuals, as well as enterprises and organizations of the private sector.

“Through this strategy, MCIT aims to enhance trust in electronic services by developing an advanced technical and legislative infrastructure. We believe that digital innovation is the key to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030,” the Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Government Affairs at MCIT, Mashael Ali al-Hammadi, is quoted as saying.

“This strategy reflects our commitment to providing reliable and secure digital services that improve lives and bolster the national economy’s competitiveness, aligning with the fourth pillar of the Digital Agenda 2030,” he adds.

As explained by the MCIT, the strategy has a four-tier approach – from reinforcing the country’s current authentication system, to improving data sharing and interoperability, drafting of the appropriate legislative frameworks and the operationalization and full switch to a more sustainable and advanced digital government system.

The strategy, MCIT says, also aims at four key impact areas, namely enhancing service delivery across different sectors of the society, boosting the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure, spurring innovation and opening up space for job creation as well as well as propelling Qatar forward on its path towards digital integration with the rest of the world.

Last year, an advanced ID protection system by Resecurity was introduced in Qatar to protect individuals and businesses against the rising identity fraud.

Article Topics

data privacy  |  data protection  |  digital ID  |  digital identity  |  Qatar  |  trust framework