No Fines on Expats After Deadline

Darwish Ahmed Al Zarouni, Director General of Emirates Identity Authority told Khaleej Times: “All the news published about fines are not true because it is not the ‘Stick Policy’’ we use,” he noted.

“We use the ‘Cooperation Policy’’ with the public to reach success,” said Al Zarouni. About 28 centres of EIDA country-wide are ready to receive the applications from nationals [until 2008] and expatriates until 2010.

Many applicants claimed against the slowness in the applying process.

Al Zarouni added: “We have a big rush at the centres nation-wide because the nationals waited till the last minute. The time of receiving the information and filling up the applications takes about 10-15 minutes.”

“For nline applications, we provide the technical support,” he said.

About establishing mobile registration units for students, Al Zarouni said this idea was not practical as the full data need to be filled by the parents. The public also have another way to register — the Empost way for Dh40, according to Al Zarouni.