UAE | General
Identity card registration to be made easier, authority says
Although 90 per cent of Emiratis across the country have obtained the ID card, a large chunk of expatriates have not applied for it.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 December 30, 2009
- Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
- Residents applying for their identity card at the EIDA Centre in Karama, Dubai in November 2008. Although 90 per cent of Emiratis across the country have obtained the ID card, a large chunk of expatriates have not yet applied for it.
Abu Dhabi: The recent move by the Ministry of Interior making it mandatory for all residents in four northern emirates to have an ID card to seek its services — except for visa renewal, was a wake-up call for everyone who has not yet applied for an ID card.
Although 90 per cent of Emiratis across the country have obtained the ID card, a large chunk of expatriates have not applied for it.
The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) is opening new channels of registration to make the process easier as part of a new strategy for 2010, according to a top official.
Expatriates will be able to register for ID cards while renewing their visas as the registration process will be linked to visa renewal by next year, Dr Ali Al Khouri, Acting Director-General of the EIDA told Gulf News in an exclusive interview. Applicants will be easily able to prepare the application form at typing centres due to open soon, which will minimise the burden at registration centres, he said.
Increasing the daily registration capacity by at least three times (from the current 5,000 a day to 15,000 a day) and card production capacity by several times will also speed up the process, Al Khouri said.
Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Vice-Chairman of the EIDA, is very keen that applicants do not endure a lengthy waiting time and difficult process to obtain the ID card, the official said, adding that was why he envisaged an independent organisation to issue ID cards.
Our modified business process also envisages that all applicants be given appointments for registration centres so they don't have to wait in a queue, Al Khouri said.
Apart from the existing 23 permanent registration centres across the country (several temporary centres also exist), new registration centres will be opened in 25 primary health care centres which conduct visa medical tests.
"ID card registration will be a part of the visa renewal by the second quarter of 2010," he said. "Our strategy is to cover large numbers of expatriates who will be renewing their visas every three years," the official said.
The pilot project will be implemented in Abu Dhabi emirate and extended to other emirates in phases. During the next stage, labour cards will be integrated with ID cards, so people don't need to carry a separate card.
Figures
- 23 permanent registration centres across the UAE.
- 25 more centres will be opened in medical centres conducting visa medical tests
- 90 per cent of Emiratis all over the UAE have completed registration.
- 5,000 - Present registration capacity across the country per day.
- 15,000- increased capacity a day after revamp
Rule in place
As per the law, all Emiratis must have made an ID card on April 1, 2009 and several government institutions have made the ID card mandatory for Emiratis to access the services.
Ministry of Interior made it mandatory for all residents (both Emiratis and expatriates) in four northern emirates to have an ID card from November 22, 2009 to seek its services except visa renewal.
Except renewal and issuance of residence visas ID card is mandatory for other services such as driving license application, vehicle registration, renewal, certificate of good conduct from the police, licensing of private security companies, issuance of arms licenses, certificate from civil defense to certify that safety and security conditions are met at office facilities, etc in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. .
Residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been temporarily exempted from the rule.
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