Dubai: Queuing up at etisalat and du counters for SIM card to renew your registration could become a thing of the past as online options open up for subscribers.
Registration of SIM card using a valid Emirates ID is mandatory for all mobile phone users in the UAE as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) policy. Renewing the registration protects subscribers from misuse, or confidentiality infringement.
An etisalat spokesperson told Gulf News that since the launch of the service in the end of 2016, 35 per cent of registration renewal is being done online.
“The online registration renewal was launched to enhance our valued customer experience where they can easily renew their expired registration with their renewed Emirates ID online via etisalat website www.etisalat.ae/renewal,” said the spokesperson. “Etisalat has also introduced an online renewal option for our registered online services customer who can easily renew all their mobile accounts.”
SMS reminders from etisalat usually encourage customers to complete the process through a link provided in the SMS. All one needs to do is to take a picture of one’s Emirates ID and upload it using the link.
Du first launched the online renewal feature in August 2015. It has since become a popular option among customers.
“Our efforts are to improve customer experience levels at all available touchpoints, and facilitating ID renewals online and through the app is one of them,” said a spokesperson. “We have found that ID renewals done through www.du.ae/myaccount and the du app have increased 10 times since the launch of this feature.”
“We have seen renewals via the du app alone more than double and continue to rise and we endeavour to create more awareness about it among our customers,” he added.
The feature is easy and fast compared to other options available. However, etisalat said many customers continue visiting service centres to renew their registration. “We recommend that customers renew their registration online,” the spokesperson said.
When do you have to renew your registration?
The validity of your SIM card depends on the validity of the document (generally Emirates ID) that the SIM card was registered with. Customers receive an SMS before the expiry date of their registered documents reminding them to submit their renewed documents.
Failure to do so may result in suspension of access to mobile services after a two-month grace period.
Advantages of updating documents online
Quick and simple process.
Can be done from the convenience of your home or workplace.
Status of the uploaded document can be tracked online.
Precautions
Make sure that the image of the uploaded document is coloured, clear and complete.
If you are an etisalat subscriber, sign up to its online service to renew all of your linked mobile accounts.
Don’t try to upload invalid, or documents that belong to other customers.
Don’t try to renew a number which is under a different customer name.
