Abu Dhabi - Read to find out more about the concept of family book for Emiratis.
Published: Sat 10 Mar 2018, 1:17 PM
Updated: Sat 10 Mar 2018, 4:21 PM
Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAI) has denied rumors - circulating on social media - about stopping issuance of UAE citizen's 'family book' (UAE citizenship)
Talking to Khaleej Times, FAI denied that it had received any instructions to stop issuing the 'Family Book'.
The FAI added that issuing the family book is directly related to the Ministry of Interior.
What is a family book?
Talking to Khaleej Times a few years back, an official explained what a family book, or otherwise known as 'Kholasat Qaid', was:
"In the early 1980s, a family book used to be issued to each family. The document was just a piece of paper. Its character and look changed many times, and at all times it looked like a passport but of brown colour.
"Then, the ordinary passports were of black colour and was renewed once every two years. Later, the colour changed to blue and the passport had to be renewed every five years."
There were five types of passports then - ordinary, special, diplomatic and temporary. The rules and procedures have changed. All indigenous and well-known UAE citizens are issued passports now and the process of granting the passport at present is different, as there are investigation committees and other procedures required before issuing the document.
For more details on how to apply for a family book, visit here.
hesham@khaleejtimes.com