Emirates ID Deadline Draws near

Emirates ID had announced a Dh20 per day fine, going up to a maximum of Dh1,000 for Emiratis and expatriates who failed to apply for or renew their ID cards within the new deadlines set by the authority.

While October 31 is the new deadline for Emiratis, the deadline for expatriates in various emirates will be in four phases, starting from November 30 in four emirates — Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman.

The week after the announcements of fines and the new deadline, there was a 53 per cent increase in the number of Emiratis registering for ID cards, the spokesman said.

Numbers increase

The number of expatriates registering for the card has also increased, he said, but figures were not readily available.

Expatriates in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman, and all expatriates working in government sector across the country have to pay fines from December 1. But the fines will be applicable for expatriates in the emirates of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai from February 1, April 1 and June 1, 2012, respectively.

All children under 15 years of age, Emiratis and expatriates, are exempted from the fines until October 1, 2012.

October 31, 2011, will be the deadline for renewing all identity cards expiring up to that date. Any cardholder across the UAE, with the exception of children under 15 years, has 30 days to renew the card from the date of expiry.

The Dh20 a day fine will also be applicable on delay in registration and renewal of ID cards and on delays in reporting changes in data. Any change in the personal data of cardholders, except children under 15 years of age, should be reported to Emirates ID within 30 days from the date of such change or incident.

The nature of such data — name, marital status etc. — and incidents — birth, death, divorce etc. — can be specified later.

The UAE cabinet has exempted those covered by social security schemes, people with special needs and those with autism from the registration fees.

However, the spokesman reminded that the exemption is applicable only for the charges and not the deadlines — and that registration for ID cards was compulsory for all.