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Multipurpose ID cards for expatriates

Gulfround-up

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will start issuing multipurpose identity cards to expatriates in the country from January 2008, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Thursday.

It will be obligatory for expatriates older than 15 to register with the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) and obtain identity cards from the beginning of next year, EIDA Director General Darwish Ahmad Al Zarouni was quoted as saying.

At present, it is mandatory for UAE citizens to have an identity card, Al Zarouni said.

Iris scans will be taken from both eyes of every UAE citizen and expatriate as part of security enhancements for the identity card by mid-2008, he added.

The card will eventually replace the driving licence, labour, residence and health cards. It will also act as an e-gate, ATM card and e-passport for UAE citizens when crossing into other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

``The validity of the card will be that of the residence period, and once a resident's visa is cancelled, his or her card will be deactivated automatically,'' Al Zarouni said.

- Xinhua

Exit permit system

DUBAI: After drawing flak for its exit permit system for expatriates being compared to slavery, Qatar has planned to reform the programme, its Prime Minister has said.

``It is difficult to retain the exit permit system in its existing form,'' Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani said. ``The system (exit permit) is criticised. It is being linked to slavery,'' he was quoted as saying in a media report. Meanwhile, a debate is raging among the Qatari businessmen whether the sponsorship law be changed and the exit permit system should go.

Nasser Sulaiman Hyder, an influential local businessman and a member of the Advisory Council, feels the sponsorship system is akin to slavery. - PTI

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