Identity card to be mandatory for range of services in UAE

Abu Dhabi: Residents who have not obtained an ID card will not receive services from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) (apart from visa issuing and renewal) or licensing services of police departments in all emirates, a senior official told Gulf News on Thursday.

All residents in the UAE should produce the ID card with immediate effect, said Dr Ali Al Khoori, acting director general of Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA).

Except for issuance and renewal of residence visas, the ID card has been made mandatory for other services such as driving licence applications and vehicle registrations.

This also applies to the renewal of vehicle registration, applications of certificates of good conduct from the police, licensing of private security companies, issuance of arms licenses and certificates from civil defence authorities to certify that safety and security conditions are met at office facilities, the official explained.

The official explained that the ID card should be produced for driving licence applications, vehicle registration and renewal in all emirates including Dubai, where the Roads and Transport Authority is responsible for these services.

"We have communicated this decision to RTA which will take it into account," Al Khoori said.

Al Khoori aaid the move is an extension of a Ministry of Interior decision in November 2009 for four northern emirates — Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.

The ministry had made it mandatory for all residents in the four northern emirates to have an ID card from November 22, 2009, before receiving services apart from issuance and renewal of residence visas.

At the time, residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah were temporarily exempted.

Al Khoori said EIDA expects more applicants to visit its registration centres following the announcement.

"Our registration centres have the capacity to handle 7,000 registrations a day, but only 3,500 people turn up these days", he said. "So we can handle 3,500 more people a day very easily." He added that capacity could exceed 7,000 when the new strategy is implemented.

ID compulsory for this services

• Driving license application
• vehicle registration
• vehicle registration renewal
• certificate of good conduct from the police
• licensing of private security companies
• issuance of arms licenses
• certificate from civil defense