Abu Dhabi Police demonstrates the Iris Recognition System during MEITSEC 2004

The UAE is a pioneer, both regionally and internationally, in making use of the security system, one of the most developed and complicated in the world, which tracks and screens visitors to the country by taking an imprint of the iris of their eye - the colored ring that surrounds the pupil in the human eye - using video cameras.

The iris scanning technology uses a picture of the human eye to translate the 266 independent characteristics of the iris into a 512-byte digital code. The scan involves no physical contact, takes only seconds to process and requires a living, pulsing eye.
Supporters of the scans say the technology provides a way to identify people through a unique feature, since no two irises are the same.

Iris Recognitions System was first applied at Al wathba and Al Ain jails, and Abu Dhabi's International Airport in 2002, where it proved to be a great success. Since the introduction of the system there has been a marked decline in the rate of crime, counterfeiting and illegal entry into the UAE.

'We take the iris imprint of all criminals and deportees, and therefore we are able to establish a comprehensive date base about them. If these individuals attempt to reenter the country using fictitious names or different passports we are able to identify them immediately,' said Lieutenant Mohammed Al Muallah, Head of IT Section at Abu Dhabi Police.

Al Muallah went on to say that the application of the system renders the process of entering the country easier for visitors, as well helping in weeding out illegal visitors or those with false identities and forged documents.

On the other hand, the second day of the MEITSEC conference has been marked by the presentation of several important papers on the issue of IT security.

Barnier Rasmussen, Vice President of Technical Services at Computer Associates, inaugurated the second day by presenting a paper on Security Management Beyond the first Line of Defense.

In the paper Rasmussen said: 'Security today is about enabling your system to do secure business and at the same time protecting key data. It is critical to consolidate your security information otherwise you will not be aware of the critical incident arriving from all the data.'

This was followed by a lecture by Steve Collin, Director Security Marketing at CISCO Systems, US in which he predicted that within the coming 3-5 years IT security systems will be developed that will allow IT system to have an inbuilt form 'self-defense' to protect against any incursions.

Other topics covered during the day included a lecture by Abdul Karim Riyaz from Computer Associates focusing on tactical approach to SPMA -Use the correct Fork.

Professor Leo Clarke presented an overview of US Law and Regulations of E-commerce for non US IT Professionals.

Paul Dodd of Boeing spoke about Implementation of Wireless at Boeing Lessons Learned.