EIDA starts distribution of new ID cards

The first batch of card recipients includes the national staff of the Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Police and other government and quasi-government employees.

Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director General of EIDA, said the Authority will facilitate registration of different segments of the UAE population in phases. "As it would be difficult to register and issue the new cards to the entire population at once, we decided to register and issue cards in phases, and under the first phase, registration is open to all UAE government and quasi-government employees," he explained.

Expatriates from these ministries and departments who have already registered will be issued their new ID cards later, for which the timelines will be announced separately, he added.

Al Dhaheri said the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to register under the program has hastened the pace of progress. The President's initiative was followed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, last week, underlining the support of the country's top leadership for the program.

"EIDA has facilitated the registration process for all the citizens working in the Ministry of Defense, Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, Police and governmental and semi-governmental ministries' employees. Their ID cards will be handed over to them according to the timeline that has been advertised in the media recently and on EIDA website," said Al Dhaheri.

Al Dhaheri urged all government institutions to adhere to the timeline advertised by EIDA to encourage their employees to obtain the new ID cards.

Al Dhaheri said individuals who have already registered must produce either the registration receipt or passport, along with existing ID card at the registration center to obtain the new ID Card. The head of family is authorized to collect the ID cards of all his family members on their behalf, he added.

He noted that the recently issued law stipulates that the new ID card and the identity number allotted under it should be recognized in all governmental and official transactions.