All UAE inhabitants, including Emiratis, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, and expatriates living there, are required to obtain an Emirates ID card.
The Emirates ID card is what?
Any resident of the UAE, of the GCC, or another country must apply for and maintain a valid ID card from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security.
The authority states that one of the responsibilities of the identity card holder is to ensure that the card is carried at all times and to show it when necessary by the law.
What are the uses of the Emirates ID card?
The identity card has many uses, including:
Proofing the identity of the individual and providing accurate personal data about him
Obtaining government services in the UAE
Participate in voting in the Federal National Council elections
A travel document for Emirati nationals traveling to the GCC countries
Transit through electronic gates (eGates) at the country's airports
Pay at a certain number of banks and/or services.
ID card properties:
The technological composition of the card, which guarantees the highest levels of accuracy and security, consists of three characteristics:
smart card
Electronic signature keys for identity verification.
fingerprints.
ID Number
The identity card is characterized by an identification number known as the identity number, which is associated with its holder for life and enables him to benefit from all governmental services and some non-governmental and commercial services that require proof of identity. The identity number is unique in that it does not repeat and includes 15 digits.
electronic chip
It is an electronic chip inside the card that includes the personal data of its owner to be read automatically in uses that require proof and confirmation of identity. Some of this data is encrypted so that only the relevant parties are allowed to read it to protect the data's confidentiality and privacy. This chip can store information of up to 144,000 characters.
Other techniques
The identity card includes the latest smart card technologies, including fine characters, ultraviolet ink, and calligraphy, and has nine security features that make it very difficult to counterfeit, as these features exceed the standards currently used in many cards such as bank credit cards.
The security features of the identity card
Data validation using the passive verification feature, which is a mechanism that enables the validation of the contents of the chip and the encrypted data set, allowing confirmation of the authenticity and integrity of the data. A digital signature is used for this purpose.
Verify the accuracy of the data through the positive verification feature, which is a feature that prevents the exact reproduction of the contents of the chip or the replacement of the original chip with another counterfeit one.
Monitoring the communication channel is used to protect the contactless feature of the smart chip and prevent misappropriation or theft of data from it, or eavesdropping on the communication channel that reads the data electronically.
This feature enforces encryption on the communication channel between the reader and the card, providing confidentiality and protecting data from being stolen without the owner's knowledge using simple access control.
Mechanism to protect biological properties such as personal fingerprints stored in the chip from theft using Extended Access Control which is used to control expanded access to sensitive data to prevent unauthorized access to biometric data (fingerprints and photos).
Protect confidential storage (keys, PINs).
Securing a mechanism to encrypt messages between the card and the e-reader to ensure the matching process on the card securely. The chip is also protected against reverse engineering.
Mutual authentication between the card and the reader device to prevent it from being read by a non-real reader.
Obtaining the Emirates ID card for the first time:
The Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Ports Security, the electronic service on the Authority's website, or authorized printing facilities across the nation all accept ID card applications.
Inquiry about the ID card application:
Customers can follow up on the status of the ID card request electronically on the Authority's website, whether it is a transaction for renewal, replacement, or issuance of a new card for the first time.
How to get an identity card within 24 hours:
In exchange for receiving the required service charge in addition to the immediate service price, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security offers an urgent service to issue an identity card and deliver it within a maximum of 24 hours.
This service is available to citizens and residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council of all age groups, as follows:
when registering for the first time
Renew expired cards
Issuing a replacement for a lost or damaged one.
For residents of the UAE - except for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - the urgent service "Fawry" is limited to the case of issuing a replacement for a lost or damaged identity card only, and obtaining it requires bringing the original valid passport, and the residence permit is also valid, as Its procedures include re-capturing fingerprints and personal photos.
The procedures for issuing an identity card require citizens to present an original family book, a valid original passport, and an old identity card in case of renewal.
As for the citizens of the GCC countries, they are required to:
The original valid passport
The original valid Gulf identity card for the customer issued by his country of origin (19 years and over), or for one of the parents, with valid validity (18 years and under)
A recent personal photo (4.5 x 3.5 cm) with a white background (for those under 15 years old).
Proof of residency within the country, which is:
The original family book for the head of the family (all pages) for the children of male and female citizens
The original identification documents prove the relationship of kinship with a citizen of the first degree, such as the mother, father, children, husband, and wife (birth certificate - marriage contract - family book, etc.)
Original valid trade license
An original certificate of continuity of study from one of the schools, colleges, or universities in the country
The original work contract certified by the Ministry of Labor for workers in the private sector
An original work certificate issued by one of the government institutions in the country for workers in the government sector
Proof of residency of the customer 18 years and under or one of the parents in the country according to one of the documents described above.
To obtain this immediate service, the customer must visit one of the Authority's Customer Happiness Centers and submit the required documents.
Fawry service is available by visiting one of the Authority's Customer Happiness Centers, which are:
Al Jazeera and Khalifa City centers in Abu Dhabi
Al Barsha, Al Rashidiya, and Al Karama in Dubai
Madinat Zayed in the western region
eye center
Sharjah Centre
Ajman Centre
Fujairah Centre
Ras Al Khaimah Centre
Umm Al Quwain Centre
When should the identity card issued by the UAE be renewed?
The identity card issued by the UAE must be renewed within thirty days of its expiry date. If it is not renewed, a delay fine will be imposed. After the expiration date of the identity card, its holder must submit a request for renewal. The Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Ports Security sends a notification via text message before the card expires. Service delivery channels You can submit a renewal application through the electronic service on the authority’s website, or through its smart application available on the Google Play Store, Apple Store, or Huawei App Store, as well as through approved printing centers in the country.
Is it possible to renew the identity card before its expiry date?
The citizen customer has the right to apply for renewal of the identity card six months before its expiry date. For expatriates residing in the UAE, they can only renew the identity card when the existing residence visa is renewed, or when it is reissued.
How to obtain a replacement for a lost or damaged Emirates ID card:
If your Emirates ID card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must refer directly to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, and request the issuance of a replacement for the lost/damaged one. Here are the steps you must follow:
1. Review the authority and report the incident
Visit the nearest Customer Happiness Center affiliated with the Authority to report the incident and request a new card bearing the same fixed ID number. The Authority will deactivate the old lost card and issue you a stamped certificate bearing the ID number. Everyone must also bring the original identity card to be replaced for damaged replacement transactions.
When reporting the incident, be sure to bring the necessary identification papers to prove your identity.
Citizens must present an original passport and family book.
Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries must provide proof of their residence in the UAE.
Resident expatriates must bring their original passport, along with the original valid residence visa.
If the card is lost or damaged for a child under the age of 15, the guardian must bring the child's birth certificate, along with a colored personal photo with a white background.
2. Application channels
After reporting the incident, you can apply for a replacement for the lost/damaged item through the Customer Happiness Centers and authorized typing offices, or through the Authority's smart application available on the iTunes and Google Play platforms.
3. Pay the fees
The customer must pay 300 dirhams if the card is lost or damaged, in addition to the application fee of 70 dirhams if it is submitted through typing offices, or 40 dirhams if it is submitted online through the electronic form on the authority's website.
If immediate service is requested, an amount of 150 dirhams will be added, and the card will be obtained from the main customer happiness centers of the authority.
4. Receipt of the identity card
The card shall be replaced for the same remaining validity period of the replaced card.
The authority informs the customer first-hand about the developments of the application through short text messages and the expected date of receipt. Usually, a lost or damaged replacement is issued within 48 hours of applying, and within 24 hours for customers applying for immediate service. After receiving a text message from the authority stating that the card is ready, the customer must contact Emirates Post to collect the card from the post office.
For more inquiries about the service, contact the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security at 6005 30003.
Update and modify ID card information:
According to the Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Ports Security, the identity card holder must notify the competent department of the authority of any change in the data included in the identity card within one month from the date of the change.
Identity card cancellation:
Residents wishing to cancel their residence visa in the UAE to leave the country, or change their work sponsorship, must submit their identity cards to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in the concerned emirate. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs delivers the identity card to the Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality, Customs and Ports Security, which originally issued it. For more information about the identity card issued by the UAE, you can contact the authority through the instant chat service "Ask Hamad", or call: 600522222
