UAE's Emirates ID card gets new name

The name of the the UAE's Emirates ID card will be changed to Resident Identity card for all non-UAE citizens from February, the Gulf state's Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) said.

The cards, currently called Identity Cards for expat and Emiratis, will be changed in line with recommendations from the Federal National Council, which requested authorities distinguish between foreigners and UAE citizens.

Expats already in possession of Emirates ID cards will not need to replace them until they have expired, said EIDA.

EIDA faced an uphill struggle in convincing UAE residents to sign up for mandatory identification cards, despite announcing a series of deadlines for applications.

The scheme, which began in 2005, was designed to integrate information from labour cards, visas and other ID documents, and to make government transactions easier.

Each card contains the holder’s address, photo, date of birth and fingerprints, and can be used as an official source of identification in the Gulf state.