National ID card has no ‘tracking chip’: Eida chief

Emirates ID card does not have ‘tracking chip’ to follow movements of card holders, said Dr Ali Mohamed Al Khoury, Director-General of Emirates Identity Authority (Eida).

Rumours about the tracking chip are not true, he stressed.

In an exclusive statement to 'Emirates24|7', Dr Khoury said Eida is not a security department and ID card is only a tool to prove the identity of the holder before government and private institutions in the UAE.

Dr Khoury called on unregistered citizens and residents to register themselves for the ID card as soon as possible.  The June deadline fixed for all UAE citizens and residents is final, he said.

ID cards will be required in 140 government departments and private institutions, he added.  Some departments are already demanding the ID card. By 2013, the card will be needed in all departments in UAE.

ID card will be required for medical and banking services, visit visas for relatives of residents, vehicle licensing, water, electricity etc.

The deadline for registration was November 1, 2011 for citizens and December 1 for public sector and quasi-government (federal and local) staff and their families.

The last day for registration for Sharjah residents was February 1. For Abu Dhabi and Dubai residents, it will be April 1 and June 1 respectively.

The fine for delay in registration or reporting changes in the data will be Dh20 per day upto a maximum of Dh1,000.

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