What's on your Emirates ID chip? 20 hidden pieces of information revealed

Dubai: Did you know the little chip on your Emirates ID contains 20 different pieces of information?

With the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) launching the new generation of Emirates IDs in 2021, the card not only includes information that you can see printed on it – like your personal and professional data, signature and photograph, but it also includes ‘non-visible data’, which is protected through an enhanced protection system and can be read through the ICP’s ‘e-link’ system.

The chip embedded in the Emirates ID, which you can see at the back of the card, also has a higher data capacity, enabling it to contain a lot more information related to the cardholder.

As per the ICP, the electronic chip includes the following data about the ID card holder:

ICP also provides card readers to service providers, which enables them to develop programmes to read personal data from the electronic chip that facilitates and speeds up service delivery and enhances the quality of data.

How the data is secured

The second generation of Emirates IDs have nine security features, which makes forgery or fraudulent use of the card next to impossible.

According to ICP, the current security features excel the standards used in many cards, including bank cards.

This article was publised on July 8, 2024 and has been updated since.