Expats given more time to register for ID cards

ID CARD: Expat professionals have more time to register although officials say the deadline is still December 31.

Expat professionals in the UAE are being given more time to register for the new ID card although officials are warning that people may still face problems if they don't meet the Dec. 31 deadline, it has been announced.

Skilled workers can continue to register for their identity cards even after the deadline of December 31, a senior Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) official said in comments published on Wedneday.

But the same rule will not apply to UAE nationals and officials insisted no services would be provided to any without the new card after Jan. 1 2009.

It issued a reprieve on Tuesday saying that although the deadline will not be changed, registration of applications will continue into 2009, UAE daily Gulf News reported.

"Although we don't extend the deadline for the professionals, we will be ready to continue their registration even after the deadline but at the cost of certain inconveniences," Darwish Ahmad Al Zarouni, director general of EIDA told the paper.

"But for UAE Nationals, no services shall be provided without the ID from January 1, 2009 as per law."

Thamer Rashid Al Qasimi, planning director and project management director at EIDA, added that although no punitive measures like fines or freezing of bank accounts will be imposed, EIDA will not be able to help if any organisation demands identity cards for official transactions after December 31.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Identity Card
Posted by Homa Farley, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. on Friday 21 November 2008 at 10:40 UAE time


I have tried for many days to obtain an appointment for registration of the Identity card, with little luck. I was unable to register as an investor as this category does not exist. I had to register as an employee. I then had to wait for the reference number in order to register my appointment. I received this number this morning and was happy that I would be able to eventually arrange an appointment. When I tried I was unable to do so, as there are no appointments available. I even tried the smaller emirates, with no avail. I am a business woman I need to be able to register my company in January and obtain visas for my staff. According to the news even though I am not guilty of wrongdoing I may not be able to carry out my normal transactions with the government, if I do not have an ID card. This is totally unfair. I have done everything in my power to arrange this and it is because of the mismanagement of the system that I am unable to obtain my ID card. I urge the authorities to please get their act together and give us more time to register and not penalize us for their shortcomings.

Better Way of doing this
Posted by M. Siddique, Chennai, India on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 15:59 UAE time


As somebody said, National ID and the way it has been implemented is one more way of doing things in a chaotic manner.

Let the Powers-that-be sit ( and the advisors who would have been compensated heavily) back and mull over how this could have been done in a better way. The following is one such way in which they could have gone about this National ID thing.

The authorities would have had records of Expats who would have been issued labor cards. From the Immigration Department, it would have been easier to get the (Contact) details of the Company which has sponsored the Expatriate. (After all, we are in the age of IT Revolution).

Then it is just the question of contacting (emailing?) the HR Departments with the Application software and asking them to get it circulated among the "Professional" Staff. The Employees in turn will complete the form for themselves and their families to HR Department who in turn will submit it to Emirates ID authorities. The HR Department will deduct the Fees from the Employee's Salary and remit it to Emirates ID.

Though the above will appear to involve additional work for HR Departments, this would have had the following advantages:
1. There would have been less Confusion and less chaotic.
2. The Companies would not have lost productivity as employees would not be wasting their time (or their mental energy) in National ID Centres.
3. The Collection (which many suspect is the ultimate motive behind this deadline business) would have been more.
4. The Investment by authorities in this "Venture" would have been considerably less.

ID cards
Posted by Philip, Dubai, U.A.E. on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 11:04 UAE time

There are no benefits to this card in reality. Like many of the new initiatives in Dubai they are revenue generators (tax). ofcourse expats have to pay more than nationals for the card and we receive nothing essentially. In most countries this is a form of citizen ID but as we are often reminded we are only temporary workers even if you have invested in business and lived here for fourty years. You would be granted citizenship in any country in the world if you invested heavily and lived there for years giving you rights and benefits. The Gulf countries need you but only on their terms where they can have you here benefit from you and then take your hard earned money off you.

Typical
Posted by Ashley, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 09:39 UAE time

Very typical of how things work almost everywhere around here...chaotic!!

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