UAE to make ID cards mandatory for expatriates by the end of 2010

UAE authorities are in the process of setting a date to make it compulsory for expatriates to carry national identity cards. Darwish Al Zarouni, Director General of the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), said recently that all expatriates in the country will be required to have the national identity card for governmental, semi-governmental and private transactions by the end of 2010.

Without the cards, expats won't be able to register cars, transfer ownership of vehicles or do banking transactions. Emiratis without identity cards will not be able to receive any service from government, semi-government and even private organisations from the beginning of next year.

He added that starting next month, EIDA will discuss the system of implementation with all governmental and private organisations.  EIDA had been entrusted a project worth $55 million (Dh202 million) to issue about 5 million ID cards to both citizens and expatriates by 2010.