Big rush is on as final UAE ID card deadline looms

Abu Dhabi Due to a huge rush of national ID card applicants at typing centres in Dubai to meet Thursday's deadline, the Emirates Identity Authority( Emirates ID) witnessed a record number of applications and registrations on Tuesday.

"53,847 people across the country filled out the applications at typing centres across the country on Tuesday which is the highest number of applications submitted a day since the inception of national ID cards," an official authority spokesman told Gulf News Wednesday.

He said the number includes both new registrations and renewals. "Although emirate-wise numbers were not available, it is sure that most of these applications were filed in Dubai ahead of Thursday's deadline," he said.

He said about 35,000 to 40,000 people registered across the country last week.

Meanwhile registrations at the authority's centres went beyond its daily capacity of 23,000 registrations across the country on Tuesday, he said. About 26,000 people registered, most of them believed to be in Dubai, the spokesman said.

"We deployed more staff who worked overtime to meet the extra workload," he said.

People made a beeline for typing centres in a last-minute attempt to avoid the fine to be imposed from tomorrow (Dh20 a day up to a maximum of Dh1,000.)

The ID card registration has two phases, beginning with filling out an electronic application form and then completing the registration at an Emirates ID's registration centre. Applicants are given an appointment to visit the registration centre while filling out the form at a typing centre.

Due to the huge rush applicants are getting delayed appointments. But the spokesman said they need not need worry. "They can get any official work done with the receipt of the filled out application form, if they are asked for their ID card."

Those Dubai residents who fail to fill out the application form for ID card at a typing centre by today (Thursday) , have to a pay fine from tomorrow (Friday, June 1). The Dh 20 fine per day, which may go up to a maximum of Dh 1000 (thousand), has to be paid along with the required fee at the typing centre.

The expatriates have to pay Dh 100 per annum for the card, depending on the remaining validity of their residence visa. A few months will be calculated as a year. Dh 70 extra fee is charged for application form and typing. For example, an expatriate's residence visa is valid for one year and six months, he has to pay Dh 270 for the card. If he fails to fill out application by today (Thursday), Dh 20 fine will be added each day.

Top tip: 100,000 beat crowds

More than 100,000 residents in Dubai were able to avoid the last-minute rush at typing centres thanks to a Gulf News report last week about a special service offered by the Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID), a top official said.

More than 40 companies, with more than 2,500 employees each, came forward to use the special service to facilitate filling out application forms without depending on typing centres, Dr Ali Al Khoury, Director-General of Emirates ID, said Wednesday.

As Gulf News reported on May 22, companies with at least 500 employees can use the service. They can submit their employees' applications from their own offices through ‘emaratech', an outsourced company responsible for electronic application process. Companies wishing to use the special service can contact: corporates@emaratech.ae