Emirates ID services at doorstep for the old, ailing

Special needs, the elderly and sick applicants for Emirates ID card may avail the mobile registration service for free.

The ID card, gift and bouquet of flowers presented to Umm Khalid. — Supplied photo

Whether you are not well or growing old, you do not have to worry about the issuance or renewal of your national ID card with the Emirates Identity Authority’s (Eida) mobile registration service that offers to send its vehicle at your doorstep, against no extra charges.

Special needs, the elderly and sick applicants for Emirates ID card may avail the mobile registration service for free. Other regular applicants, as per the cabinet resolution 25/2011, can request the same service against Dh1,000 for every transaction, in addition to the card fees.

The service helped a 61-year-old bed-ridden Emirati woman Umm Khalid get her much needed Emirates ID card that was required for her medical treatment.

An Eida staffer paid her a visit at her home and completed the procedures required to issue her an identity card.

Umm Khalid was so sick that she could not appear in person at one of the Eida centres to get a national card so her son-in-law, S.A., visited an ID centre and told them about his mother-in-law’s illness. The Eida office staff assured him they would send a mobile registration vehicle to the old woman’s house and issue her the ID card she needed to start treatment procedures for no extra charge.

But when the van did not come on the promised day, S.A. who was extremely worried about his mother-in-law’s health as her medical treatment depended on the issuance of her Emirates ID, complained to a local radio station about his dissatisfaction with the authority’s procedures, and non-compliance with what was promised to him.

Alerted about the issue, Eida immediately contacted S.A. to get further details. The Customer Service Centre was instructed to instantly send a mobile vehicle to the old woman, and issue her the ID card required without any delay and against no extra charges, along with a bouquet of flowers, and a gift.

The old woman’s case is not the only case that has been dealth with such swiftness. Many similar cases are being handled on a daily basis to win customers’ satisfaction in view of the Eida 2014/16 strategy that is based on quality, efficiency, development, and customers’ satisfaction.

Emiratis and gulf citizens pay only Dh100 for a five-year valid ID card that can be extended to ten years for extra Dh100 – total Dh200 while other residents need to pay Dh100 against every year of the residency validity. All applicants are charged Dh30 for the form to be filled at any accredited typing centre. However, the ID card online registration is totally free. The number to call for the service is 600523432 or through any of the 15 communication channels.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE