Expatriates' ID card deadline extended in three emirates

Residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah whose residence visa expires this year can register and renew ID cards at the time of renewing their visas. They will be exmpt from fines, said Emirates Identity Authority (Eida).

According to an 'Emarat Al Youm' report, more than 683,000 residents in the three emirates will benefit from the new rule.

Eida had earlier set October 31, 2011, as the deadline for all expatriates in the UAE to renew ID cards. Thereafter, they were required to pay Dh20 fine per day, with a maximum Dh1,000.

The Authority said the decision to reshedule registration deadlines was taken because of the demands from a large section of the population in the three emirates to extend the deadline, especially from unskilled class.

Expatriates in Sharjah are required to register and renew their ID cards before February 1; Abu Dhabi residents before April 1; and those in Dubai before June 1.