Abu Dhabi: Many residents found it very expensive to obtain an ID card, calling the fee "a tax".
Erma Zalman Abdul Rahman, a Malaysian senior analyst, told Gulf News the ID card should be more reasonably priced. "I get an ID card free of charge in my country. The fees for obtaining the ID card here should not be so expensive," he said.
Mazhar Mohammad, a Dubai resident, said: "It's just another tax. He said the Dh100 per card per year is quite hefty.
Another Dubai resident, Sajan, agreed and said: "Why should I pay Dh100 for another card in my wallet? This national ID card should be free of charge." Other residents urged the Government to first integrate services into the card and then make it compulsory.
Others, however, found the ID card more useful than the labour card.
"I applied once I got my residence visa. I find the card more useful than the labour card because it shows my age and all the details and also my signature," said a Dubai resident.
Hassan from Ajman asked whether Bedouins also have to obtain ID cards.
"I did not register because I am a Bedouin and it is not clear whether this also applies to Bedouins."
