Abu Dhabi Digital Skills Card: What it is, who can get it and how to apply in 2026
The Gulf region’s first blockchain-verified professional credentials card was launched by Abu Dhabi QCC last week - here's how it works, which sectors it covers and what it costs to get certified
Dubai: Abu Dhabi is making professional credentials easier to verify, thanks to the newly introduced Digital Skills Card.
What is this card and how do you acquire it? Find out below.
What is the Digital Skills Card?
Last week, the UAE saw the launch of the Gulf region’s first Digital Skills Card.
It was introduced by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), an Abu Dhabi government entity that leads and improves efficiency in quality standards, conformity, and measurement systems across industries, in partnership with Union Assessment and Quality Accreditation (UAC), an organisation that tests and certifies the job skills of workers in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi government.
The Digital Skills Card provides a secure, digitally verifiable record of an individual’s professional skills and qualifications, making it easier for employers, regulators and government entities to corroborate this information.
How does it work?
The initiative uses cutting-edge blockchain technology to verify workforce credentials.
According to the QCC, each card is linked to a certification that has been awarded through personnel conformity programmes that are accredited by QCC and delivered by the UAC.
When required, employers or other authorities can scan the card’s QR code to verify the certification’s validity and authenticity.
Why the need for a Digital Skills Card?
The Digital Skills Card has several benefits, according to UAC:
- It ensures a quick, convenient way to confirm a professional’s credentials.
- It improves transparency.
- It removes the need for paper certificates through digitisation.
- It ensures verified skills travel with the individual, improving workforce mobility across the GCC.
- The skills are recognised across institutions and borders.
- Workforce credentials retain their value wherever the professional’s career takes them, regardless of time passed.
Although it was launched just last week, the UAC expects to expand the scope of the Digital Skills Card, and add a broader range of certifications, qualifications, and professional achievements.
Who can get a Digital Skills Card?
The Digital Skills Card is for certified professionals from diverse industry backgrounds, who have completed accredited personnel conformity programmes.
Some examples include workers in regulated sectors, such as oil and gas, electrical services, building, school transport, and public health.
What are personnel conformity programmes?
The Abu Dhabi QCC manages personnel conformity programmes in the emirate, with the aim of certifying that individuals who offer professional services meet mandatory emirate and industry standards.
The QCC provides conformity programme services in four main fields: products, personnel, production systems and administrative. For the Digital Skills Card, you are required to undergo a personnel conformity programme – the QCC will assess you to ensure your competencies, abilities and skills meet the emirate’s standards required to practice your occupation or profession.
A Personnel Conformity Certificate is granted to individuals who pass the necessary tests, according to the conformity programme for their occupation or craft. This is reflected in your Digital Skills Card, and is made visible to any regulators or employers who access it via your QR code.
How do I access personnel conformity programmes?
Follow these four steps to receive a Personnel Conformity Certificate:
- Visit Abu Dhabi QCC’s website – qcc.gov.ae – and log in with your UAE PASS.
- Select ‘E-Services’. Choose a service, based on your industry. For instance, if you are an electrical engineer, you could choose ‘Issue certificate of conformity for personnel working in electrical professions’. In this section, you can also review the expectations for your upcoming assessment, as well as fees based on your specific profession.
- Select a designated assessment centre, and select the time and date of your assessment.
- Arrive at the assessment centre on the appointed date with the following required documents, as well as any others mentioned on the QCC website for your specific profession:
Valid passport
Valid Emirates ID
Your Bachelor’s degree or diploma in your chosen profession, or equivalency certificate
Experience certificate in the same field
- Pay the fees.
- Complete the assessment.
The QCC will review your assessment and documents, and if approved, you will receive a certificate of conformity, which affirms that the certificate-holder has fulfilled the relevant professional standards approved by the regulatory bodies in the emirate to practice their profession or craft.
Fees: Fees differ based on your industry, but range from Dh650 to Dh1,500.
Once you earn your certification, the results will be updated on your Digital Skills Card and you will receive it electronically, along with a QR code.