UAE residents, both national and expatriate, have shown a keen interest in finding out about the benefits and uses of the new ID cards.
The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) started the registration process in May this year for national and expatriate employees of selected government and semigovernment agencies.To date, more than 50,000 nationals and 10,000 expatriates have been registered.
The delivery of ID cards for registered persons will begin this month, according to Dr Saeed Al Dhaheri, director general of the EIDA.
Starting next year, registration will be opened to everyone from the public and private sectors. More than four million people will have to queue at 14 registration centres the EIDA will open across the country.
All registration work is expected to be completed within three years, after which people without ID cards will find it hard to do business as well as face penalties.
The basic objective of introducing ID cards is to link and integrate the population register with the systems of government organisations to create a smooth switch over to e-government and e-commerce, said Al Dhaheri.
In addition, it will help to plan for health, education, labour, housing and energy sectors. There are further plans to replace other existing cards, such as labour, health, driving licence and egate cards with the new cards.
The EIDA has held talks and studied various options of direct links with the selected ministries to load the card with value-added services, reducing the risk of carrying several cards.
All UAE nationals, GCC citizens and expatriates working and living in the UAE have to apply for the new cards. They are mandatory for anyone over the age of 15. Those under the age of 15 must have their names in the population register. But parents and guardians can choose if they want their children to have ID cards.
The cards will be valid for five years at a cost of Dh100 for nationals and Dh500 for expatriates. Registration for children will cost Dh50 and it will cost Dh300 to replace damaged or lost cards.
According to Dhaheri, the EIDA is looking into ways to reduce the fee for expatriates.
Many expatriates and nationals, while expressing enthusiasm and interest in holding such a card, have complained about the cost.
Ali Hamoodi, a Yemeni national, said the cards are welcome and will create a sense of security and save people the trouble of carrying several cards. But he echoed many people's sentiments by saying he was worried about the risk of personal data getting into the wrong hands.
UAE national Rashid Al Shamsi, a government employee, said: "I will be more than happy to get the ID card, but I am afraid how my personal data will be secure." Responding to concerns, an EIDA official said: "The authority has assured that data provided will be protected at all costs. This is a very hightech procedure.
We are aware of the sensitive nature and there is no risk of any personal [detail] getting leaked out."
Nationals who wants the ID cards must get the following documents: a printed pre-registration form, which that can be downloaded from the EIDA website; passport; original family tree; and a photocopy of the family tree of the spouses' father.
Expatriates need to have a printed pre-registration form, passport and their residency permit.
All family members over 15 have to be present in person to have their photographs, fingerprints and signatures taken and recorded. Each family member has to have a preregistration form, personally or on their behalf by their parent or guardian.
By Emirates Today Staff
© Emirates Today 2006
