ID card deadline and fines still stand

Abu Dhabi: There will be no change to the December 31 deadline, or fines to be imposed on Emiratis who haven't registered for ID cards yet, a senior official of Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) told Gulf News.

The December 31 deadline and Dh1,000 fine for Emiratis were decided upon by the federal government as per the existing law, and EIDA doesn't have the authority to make any amendments in this regard, said Thamer Rashid Al Qasimi, Planning Director and Project Management Director at EIDA.

"We will entertain the registration of Emiratis even after the deadline, but they have to pay Dh1,000 as a fine," said Al Qaimi.

Although 229,000 Emiratis have yet to register, the official doesn't take it as a frightening number.

"It is estimated that at least fifty thousand people might not be in a position to register, such as diplomats and other foreign service employees, students, professionals and businessmen abroad and some people in jails etc," said Al Qasimi.

Emiratis who do not have access to family books or passports for genuine reasons can submit authenticated copies for the registration, he said.

New categories

About 596,000 of 825,000 estimated Emiratis and 107,000 of 600,000 expatriate professionals completed the registration by November 30, said the official.

About 493,000 remaining expatriate professionals can also continue the registration after December 31 deadline but at the cost of certain inconvenience.

"ID card is the only official identification document for expatriate professionals from January 1," said Al Qasimi.

There will be no fines for expatriates for not registering until December 31. New categories of expatriates will be announced by February 1.

Target for December 31:

Registration Completed (By November 30)