Abu Dhabi has introduced what its organisers describe as the Gulf region’s first Digital Skills Card, a blockchain-verifiable credential that gives professionals a portable, tamper-resistant record of their qualifications.
The card is a joint initiative between the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) and Union Assessment and Quality Accreditation (UAC).
Each card is tied to a certification issued through personnel conformity programmes accredited by QCC and delivered by UAC. Employers, regulators, and other stakeholders can scan a QR code to check a credential’s validity through ADI Chain, the regulation-compliant blockchain infrastructure operated by ADI Foundation.
“Digitalisation is no longer merely a means of streamlining procedures; it has become a fundamental pillar for building more connected and transparent systems, grounded in trusted data. The launch of the Digital Skills Card is a practical step in support of this direction. It provides a secure and reliable digital means of verifying professional skills and credentials, and reinforces confidence in accredited competencies in a way that serves regulators, employers and professionals alike,” Badr Khamis Al Shumaili, Executive Director of the Conformity and Standards Services Sector at QCC said in a statement.
“Verified skills can travel with the individual, be recognised across institutions and borders, and retain their value wherever a professional’s career may take them. Over time, we intend to expand the scope of the Digital Skills Card to encompass a broader range of certifications, qualifications and professional achievements,” Shahbaz Muhammad Khan, Director and Chief Executive Officer of UAC added.
The launch brought together government representatives, regulators, industry stakeholders and the first cohort of professionals to receive their cards.
QCC said it would continue working with government entities, employers and industry partners to expand digital credential solutions and raise workforce quality standards across Abu Dhabi.
