  The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the PKI project
initiated part of the UAE national ID card program. It primarily shows the
operational model of the PKI implementation that is indented to integrate the
federal government identity management infrastructure with e-government
initiatives owners in the country. It also explicates the agreed structure of
the major components in relation to key stakeholders; represented by federal
and local e-government authorities, financial institutions, and other
organizations in both public and private sectors. The content of this article
is believed to clarify some of the misconceptions about PKI implementation in
national ID schemes, and explain how the project is envisaged to encourage the
diffusion of e-government services in the United Arab Emirates. The study
concludes that governments in the Middle East region have the trust in PKI
technology to support their e-government services and expanding outreach and
population trust, if of course accompanied by comprehensive digital laws and
policies.
