The ‘Basma 15’ initiative: ICP brings Emirates ID services directly to schools for students

Dubai: The UAE has rolled out a new government initiative aimed at making essential Emirates ID services faster and more accessible for teenagers.

The ‘Basma 15’ initiative, launched by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) earlier this month, brings fingerprint registration services directly to schools for students aged 15 and above, eliminating the need for visits to service centres.

The programme is a proactive government service designed to streamline procedures for students who have reached the age of 15 — the stage at which fingerprinting and signature registration become mandatory for their Emirates ID registration.

In the UAE, individuals who turn 15 must complete fingerprint and signature registration as part of their Emirates ID process. Traditionally, this required appointments at ICP service centres. The new initiative removes that step by taking the service directly to students, saving time and effort for both families and schools.

Under the initiative, ICP teams visit schools to collect biometric data on-site.

The collected data is then electronically updated in the UAE’s population register, ensuring records remain accurate and up to date.

The initiative aligns with the UAE’s wider push to digitise government services and deliver them in more efficient, user-friendly ways.