Abu Dhabi has introduced the Gulf region’s first blockchain-authenticated Digital Skills Card, creating a secure and digitally verifiable way for professionals to demonstrate their skills, qualifications and certifications.
The initiative was launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) in collaboration with Union Assessment and Quality Accreditation (UAC). It is designed to strengthen trust in professional credentials while supporting greater workforce mobility across the GCC and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.
The Digital Skills Card connects each professional’s record to a certification issued through personnel conformity programmes accredited by QCC and administered by UAC. Employers, regulators and other authorised stakeholders can verify a credential by scanning the card’s QR code, which provides access to its certification details through ADI Chain, the regulation-compliant blockchain infrastructure developed by ADI Foundation.
The launch event was attended by government officials, regulators, industry representatives and certified professionals. The ceremony also recognised professionals from different fields who became among the first recipients of the new Digital Skills Cards.
Badr Khamis Al Shumaili, Executive Director of the Conformity and Standards Services Sector at QCC, said digitalisation is increasingly becoming a foundation for developing transparent and interconnected systems based on reliable data.
He said the Digital Skills Card represents a practical application of that approach by offering a secure method for verifying professional credentials and skills. According to Al Shumaili, the initiative can strengthen confidence in accredited competencies while benefiting employers, regulators and professionals.
Shahbaz Muhammad Khan, Director and Chief Executive Officer of UAC, said the value of accreditation ultimately comes from the skills and achievements demonstrated by professionals.
He noted that digitally verified credentials can remain connected to individuals as they move between organisations and countries, helping their qualifications gain recognition across different institutions and labour markets.
Khan also said UAC plans to broaden the Digital Skills Card in the future to cover additional certifications, qualifications and professional achievements.
QCC said it will continue collaborating with government bodies, regulators, employers and industry stakeholders to develop digital credential solutions across Abu Dhabi. The council aims to use these initiatives to improve professional recognition, workforce quality and service standards throughout the emirate.
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council is responsible for supporting Abu Dhabi’s quality infrastructure through activities including standardisation, conformity assessment, testing, inspection and accreditation.
UAC focuses on assessing and accrediting workforce skills, particularly across industrial sectors, with its programmes designed to meet regulatory requirements and respond to labour market needs.
The launch marks another step toward the digital transformation of professional credentials in the Gulf, potentially making it easier for employers and regulators to verify qualifications while allowing skilled workers to carry trusted records of their professional achievements across borders.
