UAE | Government
Hassle-free registration for ID
Expatriate professionals will get two more months for "hassle free" ID card registration after the December 31 deadline, according to the new schedule which was announced by the Emirates Identity Auth-ority (EIDA) on Tuesday.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 15:09 December 16, 2008
- According to the new schedule, the registration of expatriates working in the government sector and all professional expatriates (Category 1) will continue till February 28, 2009.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Abu Dhabi: Expatriate professionals will get two more months for "hassle free" ID card registration after the December 31 deadline, according to the new schedule which was announced by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) on Tuesday.
The schedule means that people will not face the inconvenience of long queues in January and February as registration for the next category will begin on March 1.
"It is not an extension of the deadline but we would like to refer it as 'a transition period' to begin with a new category," a senior EIDA official told Gulf News.
Earlier the EIDA granted a reprieve to expatriate professionals, saying no fines would be imposed or bank accounts blocked and they could register even after the December 31 deadline but at the cost of certain inconveniences.
"They will have to bear with the long queues of other categories of professionals and if an ID card is demanded for any official transactions, it will be their responsibility," the EIDA said at that time.
Students and administrative staff in the private sector who fall under Category 2 can register from March 1 to June 18. From June 20 to September 30, Category 3 can register.
Construction workers in the private sector under Category 4 have been allotted the longest timeframe, from October 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.
The EIDA will hire new staff during the "transition period" to cope with the pressure of the new categories, said Thamer Rashid Al Qasimi, planning director and project management director at the EIDA.
"On reviewing the work so far, we can rectify any mistakes and improve the strategic initiatives."
Plan ahead: Dates to remember
- Category 1
Until February 28, 2009
Expatriates working in the government sector and all professional expatriates
- Category 2
From March 1 to June 18.
Students and administrative staff in the private sector (translators, secretaries, typists, storekeepers, receptionists).
- Category 3
From June 20 to September 30
Private and public transport drivers, and unskilled or semi-skilled workers in the private sector like housemaids, cleaners, farmers, fishermen, security guards, watchmen and all other unannounced workers except Group 4.
- Category 4
From October 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010
Construction workers in the private sector
Print snag: Hennaed hands
The EIDA had to reject the registration of many women who has decorated their hands with henna which prevents smooth fingerprinting, said Al Qasimi.
"We tried our best to do the rest of the process for such women, except fingerprinting and told them to come back again later."
Another problem was coloured contact lenses which prevent proper photographing as per international standards, he said. Ordinary contact lenses are acceptable but not coloured lenses. "We tell them to remove them," he said.
Share this article
More from UAE Government
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- 287 street vendors, beggars, illegal car washers caught
- Call for entries to the third AUS Model United Nations
- Talk your way to the top
- Notes in Brief
- Man jumps to death from moving car in Dubai
- Burst pipe on SZR causes Metro station closures
- No step backward in diabetes fight
- Dubai Taxi to honour honest drivers
- Man in coma for 11 years after car accident dies
- Dubai hosts prosecutors conference
- Youth theatre festival takes stage
- Work resumes on community hall project
- Dubai promises support to fight silent killer
- Publishing body eyes reading scheme
- Police officer calls for curbs on bribery
Community Reports
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
-
Be kind to animals
Mistreated Labrador and puppy need new home filled with love
-
Help me find my precious cat
Raif, my cute eight-month-old ‘fur ball', went missing in Abu Dhabi's Al Bateen area last month
-
Pavement parking irks pedestrians
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to step in and stop car owners from invading pathways meant for safe walking
