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Egyptians can renew ID cards in the UAE

An official commission from the Civil Service Department in Egypt will be visiting the country from December 7 to 12 for renewing and issuing new ID cards.

Egyptians staying in the UAE can soon obtain or renew their national identity cards here without having to fly home — for a short period only. According to a senior diplomat, the service will be available in the country by next month.

Ehab Hamuda, Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE, said the service can be accessed at the Egyptian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai for six days.

“An official commission from the Civil Service Department in Egypt will be visiting the country from December 7 to 12 for renewing and issuing new ID cards,” Hamuda said.

He said residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates may visit the consulate during the period. “The commission shall work in two shifts — the first from 9am to 1pm and the second from 4pm to 9pm.”

The commission will visit the embassy for two days from December 11, also in two shifts — the first from 9am to 4pm and the second from 6pm to 9pm. “Egyptians here may obtain or renew their ID cards for $50 or around Dh185.” Hamuda said the commission’s visit to the UAE is in line with the government’s keenness to keep in touch with the Egyptian communities abroad and ease their problems.

“The mission is to include representatives from various state departments to meet the Egyptian community here, know their needs and ease any problem that may hinder their access to the services provided by Egyptian bodies.”

Kamal Al Tamalawy, a legal researcher at the Egyptian Consulate in Dubai, told Khaleej Times that the service, first provided in 2009, saw an overwhelming response form the Egyptians here. “The service has much helped save applicants’ time and effort.”

Tamalawy said applicants need to provide certain original certificates to avail the service. “Applicants must submit their original birth certificate, expired ID card, original passport, and two recent photographs.” Tamalawy added that it would take about a month for the new ID cards to be issued.

“All the documents provided are first verified in Egypt by the departments concerned to avoid manipulation, and then the cards are issued here.” Sherif Al Wakeel, an Egyptian property contractor in Ajman, said he was planning to travel home to renew his wife’s ID card. “My wife wants to renew her ID card, and we no longer need to travel home to avail the service.”

Wafa Mohammed, an Egyptian teacher in Umm Al Quwain, said she likes the service, but “is still too costly”. “Why do I need to pay $50, which is equivalent to 350 Egyptian Pounds, when an urgent application for a new one only costs 75 pounds in Egypt.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com