UAE | Government

New services to streamline ID card delivery

Dispensers at registration centres set to cut the wait

By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
Published: 21:48 January 21, 2013

Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
The newly installed Emirates ID card dispenser at EIDA's Musaffah office in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi: Two new services offered by the Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) will soon help residents save the time they spend in visiting post offices to collect their national ID cards.

Considering the 100 per cent increase in the number of ID cards issued last year, Emirates ID plans to introduce more card dispensers and an optional courier service to speed up the card delivery, a top official told Gulf News on Wednesday.

“We are planning to introduce 40 to 60 card dispensers at the registration centres across the country in the coming months, in addition to the four dispensers that are already functioning on a pilot project,” said Dr Ali Al Khoury, director general of Emirates ID.

At present, residents have to visit post offices to collect their ID cards. This move is considering that expatriates working in the private sector, who constitute the majority of the population, have to renew the card every two years and collect it from a post office. The validity of the ID card is the same as the residence visa.

The four card dispensers installed at Musaffah, Al Wahda, Al Barsha and Sharjah have been serving Emiratis exclusively but the new dispensers will serve expatiates as well. Expatriates will be able to collect their cards from the dispensers upon receiving an SMS alert.

“We are thinking of installing the dispensers in public places like shopping malls in future,” Al Khoury said without giving any timeframe.

About the optional courier service, he said it will be part of an integrated delivery system under which the applicant will be able to choose the mode of delivery such as postal service, personal post box, card dispenser or courier service. The first three services will be provided free of cost whereas applicants opting for courier delivery will have to pay the required charges.

The authority this week revealed that it delivered more than 5.89 million cards across the UAE in 2012 compared to 2.929 million in 2011, an increase of over 101 per cent.

The year 2012 witnessed the delivery of the largest number of ID cards in the history of the authority. The largest number of cards delivered in one month last year were 669,000 in January, followed by 626,782 in May.

About 75 per cent of residents currently collect their ID cards from the post offices within seven days of receiving an SMS alert while 52 per cent of them collect it within four days, the authority said.

The ID card is mandatory to obtain most government services with the deadline for all sections of the population to apply for the documents expiring last year. This has prompted applicants to collect their cards within a short time and most of them do so within two weeks.

The authority destroys ID cards that are not collected within 90 days.

Fact Box

Figures

5.89 million cards delivered in 2012

2.929 million cards delivered in 2011

101 % increase in card delivery in 2012

669,000 cards delivered in January 2012

626,782 in May 2012

75 % cards are collected within 7 days

52 % cards are collected within 4 days

Comments (8)

Added 18:04 January 21, 2013

In my point of view instead of installing a dispensary, for renewal they have to print out same time like car registration

abdul rafeek, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:46 January 21, 2013

While a Labour Card is applicable for all employed persons, a separate health card can be eliminated integraing the same with the National id. to serve the purpose of the health card as well, and if possible only a single fee collected for this issue. Thanks

Edwin Joseph, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

Added 15:02 January 21, 2013

Improving the delivery service is appreciated. However EIDA also needs to focus on providing some useful services on the EID Cards as promised earlier. There is a strong need to turn it into a useful tool that everyone would appreciate and feel proud to own one!

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:19 January 21, 2013

when we have emirates ID, they ask for passport. when we have passport, they ask for emirates ID.

Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 11:29 January 21, 2013

it's been 6 months now since i applied for renewal, but till this time i have not received yet my new ID. i received sms telling me to wait for the courier since they will hand over my ID, but to no avail. It's 6 months now. I am worried because maybe it wil take years to get my new ID. To whom to go to get my emirates id.

anselmo brozo jr, dubai, Philippines

Added 10:08 January 21, 2013

Hi, when I went to etisalat I was asked to show passport copy. I said I had my Emirates ID, but they were looking for passport copy. I said then what is the use of Emirates ID, at least for this purpose, as I have had this ID for the past three years and I never been used it. They denied. I do not understand the concept of Emirates ID. If they make it as a single user ID for all purposes I would appreciate it.

Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 10:02 January 21, 2013

It is a good initiative to streamline the data of residence. However, it would be more beneficial for residents, especially expatriates, if the authorities elimiiate other cards and fees as well. Currently I have five cards in my pocket, which are mandatory to keep; ATM card, drivers license, ID card, labour card and health card. Weight of card is more than money, which I carry in my pocket. It would be highly appreciated if a single card could be carried and reduce the burden of fees as well.

Anonymous, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Added 09:36 January 21, 2013

If Emirates id is compulsory then what is the use of Labour card? Instead of labour card company should pay us money for Emirates ID that will help us a lot. Instant changes are required for replacement of labour card with emirates id that will help a lot and frequent renewal should be stopped and a long term period validity should be given for emirates id.

LODHI AZMATULLAH, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates