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28 March 2024

Typing centres continue to hold passports

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

Some certified Emirates ID typing centres in Dubai are continuing to ask card applicants to leave their passport with them despite Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) issuing a warning against it, 'Emirates24|7' can reveal.

When contacted, two certified typing centres on Sheikh Zayed Road and Karama told this reporter that applicants are being asked to leave their passports with the centres as they had a huge backlog to clear.

“We have more than 80 applications and we need to upload the scanned copy of the passport while filing the form… so you will have to keep your passport with us for at least two days,” a receptionist at one of the tying centres said.

Yet another typist at a certified centre in Karama said passports had to be left with them for at least three days.

Madhu P, a housewife, staying in Karama, said she had kept her passport with the typing centre, adding: “I have no other option… I have a one-year old child and have to look after her. This is the closest typing centre to my house and so I left my passport with them.”

She has been asked return after three days to collect her passport. Eida PR company did not respond to questions sent by this website until the time of publishing this article.

However, an Eida call centre employee, said no one should keep their passport with any typing centres and the authority will not be liable if the passports are lost.

“You can go to a different typing centre or the Eida registration centre, but kindly don’t leave your passport behind,” Eida call centre employee advised.

Eida had clarified last year that ID card applicants should not leave their passports with the certified typing centres.

In December, a spokesperson from the Indian Consulate in Abu Dhabi had told this website: “Utmost care must be taken by Indian citizens before leaving behind their passports in typing centres. There are chances that it could get lost or some pages go missing.”