Fines will be imposed within days on Emiratis who fail to register for their government ID cards, according to the Emirates Identity Authority (Eida). Darwish al Zarouni, director general of Eida, said that the penalties would be effective soon and also be final, the state news agency, WAM, reported. "Mr al Zarouni called on all citizens to speed up registration and obtain identity cards before the fines were put into effect," the agency said.
Thamer al Qasemi, planning director for Eida, had said on Tuesday - the official deadline for registration - that the legal mechanism by which people could be fined was not yet in place and that no fines would be imposed until it was. Speaking to The National yesterday, Mr al Qasemi said that the fines should also have been put into effect yesterday. "People should make use of this period to complete their registration," Mr al Qasemi said. He added that it may take a week or so for the fines - which could be up to Dh1,000 (US$272) - are imposed.
Eida centres were packed in the run-up to the deadline as Emirati families continued to register. Officials reported a huge turnout on Tuesday and that they had handled more than 7,500 applications. Many UAE citizens have still to obtain their cards, however. Dozens of Emirati families who turned up yesterday at a registration centre in Al Karama post office said the process was still slow. "It is my fourth visit to the centre and I have managed to get cards for my entire family. However, my registration still remains," said Ali Muhamed, an employee in the public sector.
He said that the staff had told him he had four more days before the fines would be imposed. Women, children and elderly citizens waited for their turn at the centre all day. "This is a very slow process," another applicant said. "Some say it is better to go to the Al Barsha centre, but I do not know where it is." Staff told other nationalities that appointments were being issued to Emiratis only for the next few days.
Mr al Qasemi said: "Clearly, there would be exceptions to the fine if there is a genuine case. However, people who have ignored the deadlines would be penalised." pmenon@thenational.ae
