Government sector in UAE will have 10-day holiday from December 2 to December 11 to mark UAE National Day (December 2) and Eid Al Adha.
Private sector will have 3-day holiday (December 9,10,11) for Eid Al Adha, while they all get one day off on December 2 for National Day Celebrations.
Wishing a very happy National Day to all in UAE. How you are going to celebrate your National Day and Eid holidays?
As mentioned earlier, one of the potiential usage of Emirates ID Card, mentioned by EIDA, is that it can be used as Health Card.
However, those who have yet to get the ID Card can continue using existing Health Card.
Yeah, as confusing as it may sound, that’s how it is.
Darwish Ahmad Al Zarouni, Director-General of the EIDA, says,
“We will announce the time frame for new categories of expatriates on February 1, 2009, but the registration will continue (for the existing category) throughout the month of January.”
This means that EIDA has not extended the deadline but in effect provided a month long grace period for registration.
This also means that expartirate professionals who are not rushing for ID card registration now, standing in long queues and waiting for hours to go through the registration process, may face less rush when they visit registration centers, past December 31 deadline.
However, this can backfire too as everybody starts thinking on the same lines and wait for the deadline to pass. In that case, EIDA is going to have its hands full post December 31.
Confusing, isn’t it?
EIDA Staff processing Emirates ID Card applications have been given anger management training, amongst other trainings, to deal with rush of frustrated expatriates trying to register before the deadline of December 31, 2008.
During a radio interview, Thamer al Qasemi, the planning director at the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), pleaded for people to be patient with staff. The National reports some incidents were people vented out their anger on inefficiency of EIDA staff and registration system.
It would be better if EIDA spend more time and effort to improve their infrastructure and processes. It is really unfair that first they push an unrealistic deadline on public without having a system to cope with the load, and then ask people to be patient.
Also, along with anger management EIDA staff should be provided with basic customer service skills, administration training and English comprehension training (especially to front-office ladies).
Abra is a traditional boat made of wood, used to transport people across Dubai Creek in Dubai. A medium-sized single-engine craft with a capacity of about 20 passengers, it is driven by a single operator from a sort of cockpit stepped in the center of the hull. The short platform around the cockpit, sheltered by a canopy, is where the passengers are seated, all facing outwards 10 on each side. The speed of the engine may be varied, while the steering system is basic: often a wooden rudder connected to the cockpit’s mechanism by means of ropes and pulleys.
Abra was the sole mean of transport between Deira and Bur Dubai, the two sides of Dubai Creek, long before Al Shindagha Tunnel was constructed for vehicular traffic. Although the creek can now be crossed through bus and taxis, Abra still remains the economical, and fastest, mode of transport to cross the creek, usually taking not more than 10 minutes for a journey between Deira and Bur Dubai.
Abra is regulated by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). There are about 149 Abras in service at present, operating from about 5:30am till about midnight. 10 abras run one of the three routes at all hours.
Abra charge 1 dirham per crossing per head, or 100 dirhams per hour for exclusive hire. “Rowing” abras are also available at 1 dirham per head or 30 dirhams per hour.
RTA has also introduced Water Bus which can be termed as a luxurious Abra. It is also working on a Water Taxi project.
Riding the Abra is must for anybody visiting Dubai.
Taxi passengers in Dubai will no longer have to pay the Salik road toll.
The Roads and Transport Authority said the move was part of a series of initiatives aimed at improving taxi services.
Passengers currently have to pay the Dh4 Salik toll every time they pass under a gate.
Emirates ID Card is introduced by the UAE Government, in April 2006, as a single all-purpose identity card.
Emirates ID Card, is compulsory for everyone living legally in the UAE, including nationals, expatriates and GCC citizens.
Emirates ID Card is produced and updated by Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA). EIDA is an independent federal authority established by virtue of the federal decree, having ultimate powers required for the execution of the Population Register and the ID card program. EIDA functions include:
1. The registration of personal data for the whole population in the country and saving the same at the electronic data bases in coordination with the competent authorities.
2. Registration of the vital statistic data and connecting the same to the personal data as referred to herein above.
3. Issuing ID cards consisting of the unified number, readable data and the data saved on the electronic chip as the same shall be transacted with before all authorities.
4. Upgrading all the data included under the provision of the previous paragraphs when the same is required.
5. Provision of individuals’ identity confirmation and identification services before all federal and local government authorities and any other authorities in addition to the determination of the applicable methodologies for the achievement of the same in accordance with the executive panel.
6. The right to request the required data and information which may serve the targets of the authority from the competent authorities in the country.
Previously UAE government announced that deadline for GCC and Emirates Nationals is December 31, 2008 while expatriates can register up till December 2010. However, in October 2008 it was declared that expatriates also have to register by December 31, 2008. This caused much confusion and chaos as expatriates rushed to get registered for their ID Cards, only to overload EIDA web site and infrastructure.
While UAE government is not extending the deadline of December 31, 2008, it has shown flexibility in terms of not imposing any fines on expatriates who fail to get register for ID cards after January 01, 2009. However, locals have to be registered by the deadline else they have to face penalties and certain governmental services will be refused to them.
Current Usage:
– The Identity Card can be used as a unified identification document with all the government, semi-government authorities and private entities. An individual may utilize it to obtain all the administrative services easily and promptly guaranteeing the highest levels of security and privacy
– UAE National may utilize the Identity Card as a traveling document to travel among the GCC neighboring countries
– The ID card can be used to logon to Computers and Access online services
– The ID card can be used for access control, signing electronic forms, and signing documents to protect it from being altered by others
– It is agreed with the Ministry of Finance to include the e-Dirham service to the Identity Card
– It is agreed with the Ministry of Interior to include the e-Gate service to the Identity Card
– The ID Card can be used on Abdu Dhabi e-Gov portal www.Abudhabi.ae to Authenticate your identity and get access to services
Future Usage:
The Emirates ID Card maybe utilized in the future to store other cards information or provide various applications as follows:
– Labor Card.
– Health Card and Health Insurance card.
– Electronic Portfolio.
– Commercial and Banking applications
– Driving License.
– Passport.
– In addition, the ID Card acts as an infrastructure to many applications and services to entities to use such as:
– Public Libraries and rental stores to check out books, movies, games, cars, and others
– Utilized to get access to exhibitions
– Metro, public transportations