Officials review unified GCC ID card procedures

Heads of GCC immigration departments yesterday began talks to finalise the technical specifications of a unified GCC Identity Card approved by an expert committee here.

The meeting at the Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers was attended by immigration chiefs, senior officials and technical experts of the six member countries.

The opening meeting discussed in detail the technical aspects of the unified smart card, and electronically linking all entry points, including border posts, airports and seaports. The meeting was chaired by Major Nassir bin Abdullah Al Thani, head of the Qatari delegation.

In his opening remarks, Brigadier Hadhir Khalaf Al Muhairi, Director General of the UAE Directorate of Naturalisation and Residency, welcomed guests and hoped the discussion would conclude with positive results. He also thanked the members of the Technical Committee for drawing technical specifications and other aspects of the card.

"Hopefully the meeting will end with positive results, and help the immigration authorities in member countries to put the electronic network in place. Once implemented, GCC citizens will be able to move freely within the region using the card instead of a passport," Brigadier Al Muhairi said.

Other delegates also addressed the meeting, expressing their confidence and satisfaction over the meeting's proceedings and agenda. The participants also discussed the security systems linked to immigration procedures at entry points. They thanked the government of the UAE and the Interior Ministry for making special arrangements for the meeting.

According to an official, although the meeting was originally planned for three days, it is likely to end today. The meeting will conclude with the release of recommendations for the higher authorities to implement in each country.

The issue of relaxing immigration policies for citizens to move freely within the GCC has been under debate for the past several years. The move, according to officials, will also allow citizens to seek jobs anywhere within the GCC, thus helping the exchange of manpower between member states and reducing dependence on expatriates.

The unified ID card will contain details such as name of the holder (from first to fourth names), type of document, serial number, date of birth, nationality, occupation (optional), issuance and expiry dates.

They will be produced in the form of a smart card readable through electronic machines.

The technical committee decided to assign the task of compiling an encyclopaedia of the data structure of the GCC countries to the UAE which is already working on its smart card to be issued to both citizens and expatriates living in the country for more than six months.

Once completed, the entry points of all the GCC countries will be linked electronically. According to officials, the unified GCC ID card will only be issued after completing the network link-up at all the entry points in the region.