Good news as ID card saga continues

Good news as ID card saga continues

According to reports, all expatriates in the UAE have until the end of 2010 to get their ID cards.

February 16, 2009 1:54 by Aarti Nagraj

In November 2008, the Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) said that the Emirates ID card deadline of December 31, 2008 for expatriates in the country will not be extended. Thamer Rashid Al Qasimi, the planning director of the body told Gulf News at that time that although Eida does not have the authority to take measures like freezing bank accounts of non-registered residents, government or central bank could take any such measures. The authority also warned that expatriates could face problems with government services such as obtaining a driver’s license if they did not apply for the cards before the deadline.

A month later, they extended the deadline till the end of 2010, but made the registration batch-wise, with the first deadline for UAE expatriate professionals ending on February 28 2009.

Now, The National reports that all expatriates, including professionals, have until the end of 2010 to get hold of their national ID card.

“Calm down, don’t panic. Your deadline isn’t until the end of 2010,” the paper quoted Darwish al Zarouni, the director general of the Eida as saying. He said that the decision had been taken to “make life easier” for those who had not registered, and that it was up to the individual when they applied, as long as they had obtained a card by the end of 2010.

While we are not sure how many people were panicking (According to Gulf News, about 430,000 expatriate professionals have yet to register for ID cards), the news comes as a relief to many.

But constant changes to the process will undoubtedly confuse and annoy people. Even if the changes are for the better.

Shouldn’t Eida have structured the whole process more clearly and practically before bringing it to the public domain?

Ed’s note: It’s February 2009, and not February 2008, as mentioned earlier in the story.

Tags: 2010, deadline, Eida, Emirates ID card, expatriates, extended, government services, license, professionals, UAE

Previous Article Cover Story Next Article

FYI
February 16, 2009 | Cover Story

Dubai Press Club
February 16, 2009

More on Cover Story

All Cover Story

12 Comments

Sonam on February 17, 2009 7:15 am

Does this mean that we have until 2010 to register or is registration manadatroy by end Feb??
Charles on February 17, 2009 8:03 am

So when will EIDA be sending me my refund of Dhs.200 that I have to pay penalised for registering 2 years too early, and compensating me for the 5 hours spent at their offices carrying out the registration process with 1,000 of my closest friends plus the several hours spent completing electronic forms that disappeared into cyber space because EIDA could not cope with the vastly under-estimated volumes of applications?

Anyway I tried to use my new ID card at a government office yesterday to be informed that the card was insufficient and I needed to show my original passport and not my new ID card. So, please, what was the point?
Vimal on February 17, 2009 8:08 am

The authorities should create adequate infrastructure to implement such program. May be they should create some mobile units which go to specific places like Healthcare city, DIC, DMC etc. etc. so that it is easier for people to get their id’s done. This way initiative can be implemented faster. It is difficult to many expatriate to go to centers and stand in que for long hoyrs
Roy A on February 17, 2009 8:09 am

Like Rera, the Eida have to issue a law, and then spend two months explaining. Are these people serious??? They cannot write and agree on a law clearly before making it public??? Or they cannot think enough and always require the public to ask questions in order to elaborate on every point. Please put your thoughts together for once and think properly..
Lianne on February 17, 2009 8:19 am

*** bangs head on the table ***
I give up! These guys are just playing with us.
SR on February 17, 2009 8:22 am

As usual, this is keeping up the trend of acting first and then thinking like many other cases here.. Be assured that this is certainly not the final decision and let us brace ourselves for more changes.
Vijay on February 17, 2009 8:31 am

Remember Dec1, the day the ’20 year old car off the road’ should have come into effect, the decree came saying tht the rule will be enforced, and poor guys who actually did get rid off their cars to comply…fools haan!!…now we who tried to comply…fools again…and money gone!!!—is a refund on the way…..or like salik…there was some waving off fees after some glitches ….those who paid up…looked liked fools again…..
Vijay on February 17, 2009 8:33 am

that should have read….the rule will not be enforced – the 20 year old car off the road
Fulan on February 17, 2009 11:07 am

The confusion over this matter is deliberate to simply spawn FEAR!
Meera on February 17, 2009 12:03 pm

I happy since i’ve not registered for ID. From the very begining i know they will extend it further and further and utlimately go for different type of card then ask every one to register as new. One of colleagues spend 6-7 hours to register last month. You will find no one turn up for any registeration nowadays.
Meera
Fawzy on February 18, 2009 7:25 am

A simple suggestion.

Why donâ€™t they issue ID cards for expatriates at the time of renewal of their residence visas. The process would use the same Passport information, and would be completed over 3 years for everyone and would be painlessâ€¦

All what they have to do is have EIDA join forces and coordinate with the Immigration Department

Did anyone think about this or am I missing something here?!â€¦
Ash on February 21, 2009 2:20 pm

fawzy alraedy it was thought by so many people and i am one of them, but who listens, by the way this is one way to creat some jobs for nationals.my request to any one who has used this ID any where and it was useful for them in any case.

1.ash-not yet applied