UAE | Government

Stark choice for UAE expats: Get an identity card or get out

Expatriates in the UAE face stark choice under tough new rules planned for identity cards.

  • By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
  • Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Expats in the UAE will require the identity cards for governmental, semi-governmental and banking transactions by the 2010 deadline.
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Abu Dhabi: All expats living in the UAE have a stark choice: obtain an identity card or face deportation.

Gulf News has learned residents living in the UAE who don't have the new cards by the end of 2010 will be considered illegal. And their employers will be penalised.

"Without the cards, expats will face difficulties dealing with all sorts of transactions with government and private entities, as their status will be illegal," said Darwish Ahmad Al Zarouni, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA).

"Schools will not accept admission of their children and their employers will be taken to task for recruiting them."

Registration

The identity cards will be required for governmental, semi-governmental and banking transactions by the 2010 deadline.

Already the clock is beginning to tick. Starting November 1, foreign businessmen, investors and company managers will be required to register for the identity card, Al Zarouni said.

He added that EIDA plans to complete registration of professionals including doctors, engineers, accountants and teachers by the end of October.

Since July 1, EIDA has started registering professionals. "By professionals, we mean any university degree holder other than labourers," Al Zarouni said.

EIDA started registration of expatriate employees of federal and local government organisations on June 1. Expats in government sector have to complete the registration by the end October, Al Zarouni said.

Ministry of Labour officials said they would encourage employers to facilitate registration of their employees for identity cards.

Employers must bear the cost of the identity card for their workers, according to labour officials.

"Under the labour law, employers must bear all charges for governmental transactions for their workers," an official explained. "The ID card will eventually replace the labour card whose cost is borne by the employer."

Residents can get rewards for giving suggestions to improve the identity cards and services related to it, the EIDA announced yesterday.

Residents and EIDA staff can earn reward points by offering suggestions to improve the services; the points will be appliedto rewards which could be prize money or appreciation letters, Al Zarouni said.

EIDA will have access to the Ministry of Labour's database to integrate labour cards with identity cards, as per an agreement signed by both parties.

Payment: Fees and validity

Dh100 for UAE nationals for five years. It is free for UAE nationals under social security.

Expatriates have to pay Dh100 per annum in accordance with the validity of the residence visa. Extra months will be calculated as a year.

For example, if your visa is valid for two years and two months, it will be calculated as three years, you have to pay Dh300 to get an identity card.

Are you aware of the need for an identity card? Do you know of the requirements and procedures involved for registeration? Have you faced any problems while registering? What were they?


Your comments


The labour card is enough for identification. Why do we need another ID card?
Nazim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 10:04

The national ID is a necessity. It makes you feel that you belong to that country. It will also help the government in population count, GDP etc.
Shobhana
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 10:04

I believe that the government is implementing the new national ID card for security purposes and to provide easy access to all kinds of transactions.
Raphael
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 09:44

The ultimate objective behind the introduction of the national ID card is not clear. Expatriates do hold an identity card called "Work Permit" or labour card.
Panickar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 09:21

I appreciate the move taken by the government. This will allow the UAE to have maximum control over its citizens and expats. The data from this ID can be efficiently used for better planning.
Shaji
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 09:17

Having an all-purpose ID card it is a good idea, but if it is being implemented to tax people, then it becomes bad.
Farhan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 09:16

This system is very good if authorities provide the ID card free of cost.
Ramesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 09:11

There are three identity proofs already there: Passport with a valid residence visa, labour card and driving licence. When such documents are already there, why is this new card being imposed? If the they want to standardize identification proofs, they should issue cards free of cost and not charge too much.
Rangan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 08:39

The EIDA should send notifications to government and private companies so that their HR department can take care of their employees' ID card applications.
Nazia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 08:38

A labour card is issued after the fulfilment of all the legal requirements, so why does an ID card need to be issued? It is only a way to collect Dh100 from each and every residence visa holder, like tax. It should not be implemented. In my country, ID cards are issued after the age of 18 and free of cost, because it is the responsibility of the government.
Tariq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 08:29

We are aware, not of the need, but of the greed for this! For an expat, the labour card is a clear identity, or else what is it for? If the motive behind this is monetary gain, they can add the required amount into the visa renewal fee. That would be more justifiable.
Bay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 07:49

I think it is a good step forward, especially as it will help the government to find and trace culprits who are involved in unlawful activities.
Saif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 07:24

I recently registered for the ID card after hearing about all the benefits. Unfortunately, I have been hearing lately that the authorities are still negotiating with governmental departments to integrate their services. This card is no more than just an identity card at the moment.
Mustak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: August 26, 2008, 00:36

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