UAE Minister of Interior to speak at the Citizen ID Forum in Abu Dhabi

Wise Media's summit brings together a world-class panel of government representatives, border control and law enforcement authorities, system integrators, state printers, technology vendors and end-users.

Wise Media is honored to announce that H.H. Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Interior, will participate in the Citizen ID Forum, the world's premier summit on the digitalization of citizen ID documents.

Following outstanding successes in Berlin and Rome (2005), Paris and Milan (2006), Istanbul and Milan (2007) the seventh event will open its doors as Citizen ID Forum 2008 building on the wealth of experience of Wise Media's Electronic Passport Forum and Citizen ID Forum initiatives. In 2008, the event will take place on February 25th and 26th under the patronage of the Minister of Interior of the UAE, H.H. Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and with the endorsement of the European Commission, Emirates Identity Authority and Abu Dhabi Police.

'Today the United Arab Emirates offer probably the most fascinating example of rapid infrastructure deployment and the roll-out of services to a highly international community,' says H.H. Sheik Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Interior.

'With over 5 million inhabitants of which 4 million foreigners, the United Arab Emirates are building a model community that offers on one hand prosperity for citizens and residents, and on the other keeps attention focused on the issue of security.'

'While most people associate the UAE with a thriving economy and futuristic architecture, security experts know well that the country is also pioneering state-of-the-art biometrics-based homeland security and eGovernment solutions,' comments Sophie B. de la Giroday, president of Wise Media S.p.A.

'The focus of our February 2008 summit will be on government-driven citizen ID projects in the Middle East and state-of-the-art implementations worldwide.'

The Citizen ID Forum discusses the issues and opportunities related to the digitalization of citizen ID documents. The issuing of machine-readable passports is just the first of three subsequent digitalization waves - after ePassports, National IDs, Driver's Licenses, eHealth and Social Security Cards, 'Green Cards', and even Visas become digital documents. Such a revolution paves the way to a broader market penetration of card and biometric technologies in the public and private domains.

The two-day conference and exhibition welcomes the key players behind the success of citizen ID programs and secure ID projects including high-level government representatives, border control and law enforcement authorities. Among the confirmed speakers, the Citizen ID Forum will see the active participation by government representatives from the European Commission, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and the USA.