Resident Identity Card for non-citizens

The “Resident Identity Card” will be issued to the non-UAE citizens from next month, the Emirates Identity Authority announced on Wednesday. However, the residents who have already obtained ID cards do not need to replace their valid cards until it expiries, and in conjunction with the residency renewal procedures. “The change is only to the name of the ID card for non-UAE citizens to “Resident Identity Card”, starting from February 2013,” the authority stated. Emirates ID mentioned that there will be no changes to the UAE citizens’ ID cards, noting that they are currently considering changing the design of the UAE citizens’ ID cards to distinguish it from the ID cards of the residents, as well as considering distinguishing the ID cards issued to people with disabilities from the ones issued to the other categories. Emirates ID clarified that changing the name of the ID cards issued to non-UAE citizens was in line with the recommendations of the Federal National Council to reconsider the name and design of the non-citizens’ ID card, and identify it under any other name to distinguish it from the UAE citizen’s ID card. Emirates ID said that issuing the ID card for expats residing in the country aims to identify and confirm the identity of each one of them in a legal way within the population register system for the UAE, and through a unique personal number connected to the biological attributes of the individual. Emirates ID pointed that the ID card project falls under the country’s quest to develop and facilitate the governmental services and provide necessary information about the demographics of the country, and to support the decision making and strategic planning in resources allocation fields, and in different vital fields and areas, noting that the technical and security specifications and features of the ID card issued to all residents of the UAE will be same. (Wam) / 30 January 2013