The UAE is ending the era of handwritten signatures and SMS passwords in banking. All banks are moving to fully paperless and digital verification processes following Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) rules. From January 6, 2026, SMS one-time passwords (OTPs) for online card payments will stop. By March 2026, all banks must phase out SMS and email OTPs completely. Instead, customers will approve transactions inside their bank’s mobile app using biometrics like fingerprint or face recognition. This change is designed to prevent fraud risks such as SIM swapping and message interception. In a fresh digital handshake, customers will simply tap and verify payments right in the encrypted app environment, removing the hassle of typing codes. Banks have warned customers to update apps, activate notifications, and set up biometric logins to avoid payment declines after the SMS OTP shutdown. This new biometric approval system is stronger and faster but introduces the need to guard against malware and phishing targeting banking apps. For UAE residents, this means smoother and safer banking with no paper forms or branch visits. Mobile apps will become the hub of secure identity and payment approval. The move is part of the UAE’s plan to build a fully digital financial ecosystem, embracing projects like digital KYC and biometric payments. In short, ink signatures and SMS passwords are making way for smart, app-based biometrics – a secure leap into the future of UAE banking.