TheEmirates Identity Authority (EIDA) has admitted many of the 700,000 Emiratis and expatriatesyet to register for their ID cardswillmiss the Dec. 31 deadline.
EIDA said due to the public holidays there would not be enough time to register around half a million expat professionals and a quarter of a million Emiratis still to apply for their cards, UAE daily Gulf News reported on Saturday.
All federal ministries, department and entities have been given Dec. 2 to Dec. 11 off to celebrate UAE National Day, Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha, meaning the public sector will not return to work until Sunday, Dec. 13.
Only 73,000 people were registered for ID cards during the entire of last month, according to UAE daily The National.
The National reported on Saturday EIDA might extend the opening hours of registration centres in a bid to increase the number of applications processed.
Both newspapers reported EIDA would continue registration after the deadline.
Emiratis who do not register before Dec. 31 face a fine of 1,000 dirhams ($270) and will not be able to access any government services.
Expatriate professionals will not face fines until 2010, but will not be able to access some government services after the deadline.
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