| Kippreport.com

Stop whining and re-register your SIM card already

January 7, 2013 8:26 by Eva Fernandes

As the deadline for the first round of re-registration draws nearer, Kipp is already hearing the rushed hushed worried whispers which tend to precede any impending nation-wide final final deadline. You know the type, the voices around the water coolers which get everyone anxious: “Have you re-registered yet? I spent all afternoon trying to re-registered/ I am so worried I have not re-registered…”

 

Yes, we are talking about the wonderfully existential campaign titled “My number, my identification.” The very term “re-registration” should be the first give away that the program is going to be an odd one. In July 2012, the TRA launched the campaign which required all mobile phone users of Du and Etisalat in UAE to re- register their numbers with their identification documents—to prove that they really do own the number they own. The point? To reduce fraud and identity-related crimes.

 

After much confusion, the telecoms revealed customers were going to be divided six three-month batches. A customer will receive a text message to re-register his number by a particular deadline. Failure to do so can result in your number being cancelled. The next deadline is within the next 10 days, January 17^th to be precise. If you have received the message (sounding a little religious here) then the onus is upon you to re-register your number.

 

Then again, with the UAE’s penchant for final final final deadlines, one should not be too surprised if a deadline is extended. After all that is what happened three months ago when thousands woke up and decided to plague centers to meet the mid-October deadline which was inevitably pushed to January 17^th, 2013. Will it happen again? Well wouldn’t that be funny.

 

Regardless, if you haven’t re-registered your number, why not take five minutes out of your life and be done with it! Take our word for it, it is really simple. Even if you have not received ‘the message’ you can get your number re-registered.

 

All you have to do is go down to an outlet of your service provider, along with a copy of your Emirates ID and fill in a form. Most Centers have a desk dedicated for re-registration, so it will be a quick process. We promise. Oh, and remember you need to be there in person-so you can’t push off this not-so-desirable errand on to your loved ones. And for goodness sake, please stop spreading anxious-rumors about the process.