Emirates ID considers giving delay fees back to employees of free zone companies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

The Emirates Identity Authority is considering returning the delay fees that were collected from the employees of the free zone companies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai between January 1, 2011 and last Wednesday, according to Abdul Aziz Al Maamari, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Emirates Identity Authority.

In a reply to an inquiry by Al Ittihad, Al Maamari said: “This step follows the Emirates Identity Authority’s announcement several days ago that it has linked registration in ID card and renewal of expired cards for the employees of private companies operating within the free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai with the decision related to the registration deadlines announced for each emirate, which expire on April 1, 2012 for Abu Dhabi residents and June 1, 2012 for Dubai residents.”

This linkage came in response to the demands of a broad section of free zone employees and a large number of private sector companies operating in these free zones, he added. “While it is aimed at easing the procedures for employees, the decision takes into account the conditions of the large companies which employ thousands of workers. Earlier, it was decided to impose the delay fees on this section from December 1, 2011 due to the fact that free zones are classified as semi-government entities,” he said.

As far as the employees of free zone departments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are concerned, the Emirates Identity Authority clarified that the deadline given to this section expired in the beginning of last December due to the fact that they are semi-government employees, he said, adding that delay fees started to be imposed on those who had not actually registered, effective from January 1, 2012.

It is noteworthy that the Emirates Identity Authority excluded those with residences that would expire by December 31, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah from the decision related to the ID card registration deadlines as announced for each emirate, provided that this category should be registered by the time of renewal of their residences.

The Emirates Identity Authority called on the residents in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to register in the ID card and renew their expired cards as soon as possible and not to wait until the last minute of the set deadlines, noting that filling out the registration form at the typing centers or through its website would help the person concerned avoid the resolved delay fees, provided that they abide by the date specified for completing the registration, fingerprinting and photographingprocedures at an Emirates Identity Authority-affiliated service point.

The Emirates Identity Authority also called on the UAE nationals and residents to register their children below 15 years all over the UAE before October 1, 2012.