UAE | Government

ID card to be linked with labour and health ministries

Work is in progress to integrate the UAE national identity card with Ministry of Labour and Health sector which will enable the holders to use it for Labour card, e-signature service for companies, health card and health insurance card, said a senior official.

  • By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 22:11 February 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Work is in progress to integrate the UAE national identity card with Ministry of Labour and Health sector which will enable the holders to use it for Labour card, e-signature service for companies, health card and health insurance card, said a senior official.

Darwish Al Zarouni, Director General of Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) said integration of ID card with Ministry of Interior had already been done which enables UAE citizens to use the card as e-passports while travelling to GCC countries.

He was speaking on the first day of Citizen ID Forum, a two-day international summit on ID Programmes organised by Wise Media under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Interior and endorsed by Eida, Abu Dhabi Police and European Commission. Al Zarouni said Eida has been entrusted a project worth $55 million (Dh202million) to issue about 5 million ID cards and 285,000 cards have already been issued.

"The card will eventually enable the holders to use it for labour card, driving licence, health facilities, travelling to GCC countries [for citizens only], e-payment, e-purse, e-gate, family book of citizens and transportation."

Delegates from about 35 countries are participating in the summit in Abu Dhabi.

Lt General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior in his message offered his support to the summit and said the UAE population registry and ID programme reflects the country's ambition to build a strong system providing modern and advanced life for the identity card holders.

Sophie B. de la Giroday of Wise Media said secure ID cards will check terrorism and human trafficking. "It can create foundations of trust between governments and citizens so prosperity will follow". She said the advanced ID cards will root out laxity in government offices as finding and giving the data will be easier.

Dr Khalid M. Al Tawil, Director General of National Information Centre of Saudi Arabia presented the Saudi experience of ID card projects with technological advancements in the sector. He warned companies against the monopolisation of advanced technology in the field. "Those who insist on monopolisation will finally end up with loosing their own market share", said Dr Al Tawil.

Qatar issued 10,000 identity cards within two months, said Col Saleh Al Kubaisi, Director of Information System Department at Qatar Ministry of Interior. "Identity cards to expatriates in Qatar will be issued by next year," said Al Kubaisi.

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