Mediaboss Marketing

Expatriates working in Abu Dhabi have just weeks to register for their Emirates ID cards before being subject to fines by the Emirates ID Authority (EIDA).

Workers in the emirate who fail to apply for their compulsory cards will be charged up to AED20 per day from April 1, with a maximum fee of AED1,000.

Foreign residents living and working in Dubai have until June 1 to register for their ID documents, but are currently unable to renew their residency visas without having submitted an application.

The northern emirates became subject to fees for non-registration from December 1, while workers in Sharjah were penalised from February 1.

Since the launch of the Emirates ID scheme in 2005, EIDA has made a series of moves to boost the number of card holders.

Expatriates have been given more time than UAE nationals to register with the authority, but are now all required to have submitted the necessary documents to renew their residency visas.

In a bid to put further pressure on residents to sign up for the scheme, the UAE government is increasingly requiring expatriates and nationals to present ID cards when dealing with federal agencies.

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ID card deadline looms for Abu Dhabi expats