From next year, it will be made mandatory for UAE Nationals and expatriates to hold an Identity Card. The Emirates Identity Authority has been working on the implementation of this system since 2005. They have been testing this new registration system and are so far succeeding in completing its needed testing phases.

Registering for the identity card will cost AED100 for UAE Nationals and up to AED300 for expatriates with a breakdown of AED100 per year of residence. The cost has been reportedly reduced from the initial fixed amount of AED500. Replacing lost or damaged cards will cost AED300 for both UAE Nationals and expatriates. Although this mandate is applicable for nationals and expatriates above 15 years of age, should they wish their children to have one, it will cost them AED50.

The purpose of this card is to serve as a “substitute” for labor card, health card and driving license. It is also planned that in the future, the Identity Card can be used as passports for UAE residents traveling within the GCC. The card has an electronic chip, in which the data contained can be updated. This feature eliminates the need for card re-issuance in case of changes in a bearer’s record.

One of the paybacks featured in this new system is the creation of one comprehensive database for the government. This would mean that all records shall be maintained and updated in one government body, especially in cases of amendments of details. This can save a person a lot of time in the future. This can also give the card bearer a sense of security and affiliation. This system is hoped to become a useful tool in crime fighting. Cases of forgery, falsification, and change of identity will also hopefully be reduced, if not yet eliminated.

While it is not yet clear how majority of the people mandated to register for an identity card will undergo this procedure, announcements and continuous broadcast of information will be made by the Emirates Identity Authority to ensure that the procedure of the implementation will be a successful one.