The UAE has unveiled a "new generation" Emirates ID to be used by the public.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) revealed some of the upgraded features of the advanced card when announcing its launch on social media on Saturday.
The advanced identity card will have enhanced protection of non-visible data and an increased service life of more than 10 years.
It will include a 3D picture using laser-printing technology to show the date of birth of the cardholder.
The authority did not say when the physical version of the card would be introduced.
The updated card is being launched as part of an ongoing project to revamp identification cards and Emirati passports.
Maj Gen Suhail Al Khaili, acting director general of the ICA, said the first recipients of the printed cards will be those whose current Emirates ID has expired as well as those requesting replacements for lost or damaged cards.
He advised residents to use their valid card until its expiry date in order to benefit from the updated ID on renewal.
The senior official said there would be no changes in fees during the application process and the issuance of identification cards.
Maj Gen Khaili said the new-look card was being rolled out as part of a nationwide strategy to harness the latest technologies to record population data.
In June, officials said residents applying for their Emirates ID or renewing the card could use a digital copy until they received the physical version.
The digital copy is available on the ICA UAE Smart app, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple and Android stores.
"The electronic version can be used via QR code scanning technology, to enable immediate reading of the card. It is automatically generated when entering the customer’s document wallet in the smart application," the ICA said in a statement released by state news agency Wam.
"This process helps service authorities to verify the effectiveness of the issued card in case the printed card is not available."
Services and businesses that require Emirates ID cards have been made aware of the move and instructed to accept the digital version, the ICA said.
People can also download a digital copy of their Emirates ID by signing into the UAE Pass app.
It is a legal requirement for all citizens and residents to possess an Emirates ID.
The card, which contains a ID number unique to each cardholder, is used to access government services and to access smart gate services to speed up travel at airports. It also must be displayed by citizens voting in Federal National Council elections.
UAE's golden visa recipients:
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Residents receive special visas at a special ceremony in Abu Dhabi in 2019 attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed. Prof Afaf Kamal Eldin (second left), Prof Ghaleb Husseini (fourth from left) and Prof Hassan Arafat (second right) received golden visas. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Prof Ghaleb Husseini, a professor of chemical engineering at the American University of Sharjah. He is among the first group of 20 academics granted the golden or long-term visa for the UAE. Prof Husseini’s work includes creating nanocarriers or capsules to transport chemotherapy directly to the site of a cancerous tumour so the patient does not suffer side effects. Courtesy: Prof Ghaleb Husseini -
Prof Ghaleb Husseini teaches chemical engineering at the American University of Sharjah. He is among the first group of 20 academics granted the golden or long-term visa for the UAE. Prof Husseini’s work includes creating nanocarriers or capsules that will transport chemotherapy directly to the site of a cancerous tumour so the patient does not suffer side effects. Courtesy: Prof Ghaleb Husseini -
Prof Afaf Kamal Eldin teaches food science at the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain. She was granted long-term residency and feels closely connected to the UAE and its culture. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
Prof Afaf Kamal Eldin teaches food science at the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain. She was granted long-term residency and feels closely connected to the UAE and its culture. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
Prof Hassan Arafat teaches chemical engineering at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi since 2010. Courtesy: Prof Hassan Arafat -
Prof Hassan Arafat, a director at the Centre for Membrane and Advanced Water Technology at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, has received UAE citizenship. Here, Prof Arafat is in the laboratory where his research work involves using nanomaterials in the desalination process with the goal of making it cheaper and environmentally friendly. Courtesy: Prof Hassan Arafat
