The Emirates Identity Authority has released an enrollment plan for expatriates living in the UAE.
UAE residents working in the government and private sectors can apply for the national ID card from December 16, 2008 until February 28, 2009, the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) announced on Monday.
In a bid to quell confusion about the exact dates for the ID card registration, the EIDA released a time frame and assigned batches or groups for all expatriates residing in the country.
According to the schedule, residents working in the federal and local government sector, and professional residents including their family members can register for the new national identification card from this month the end of February.
EIDA has identified professional residents as diploma-degree holders working in the fields of accountancy and auditing, consultancy, education, engineering, investments, IT and computers, journalism, law, marketing, media, medicine, nursing, pharmaceutical, public relations liaising (PRO), and sales. The group also includes trade licence owners and entrepreneurs.
Application for the second batch of residents composed of those working in the administrative and craft sectors will start from March 1 to June 18, 2009. The EIDA clarified that the UAE Ministry of Labour has identified this group to include athletes, receptionists, secretaries, shopkeepers, students and typists, as well as workers in the following industries: banks, hotel and restaurant, industrial, insurance, oil and gas, tourism, and shipping.
Unskilled workers comprising household helpers, farmers, fishermen, drivers, security guards and watchmen can apply for the ID card from June 20 until September 30 next year.
Construction workers in the private sector will have a longer application period starting from October 1, 2009 up to the end of 2010.
The EIDA targets to accomplish the entire population registry and national ID card system procedure by the end of this year for UAE citizens and end of 2010 for all expatriate-residents.
The one-card system scheme is being promoted as a convenient way of doing transactions in the Emirates as it eliminates the need to carry multiple cards such as work permits, driving licence, passports or e-cards.
By Staff Writer
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
