Your quick guide to uses of the Emirates ID
When you are working or living in the UAE, the Emirates ID is your legal identity in the country. Besides being a legal document that confirms your status as a UAE resident, there are multiple other uses of the Emirates ID. Here is a look at the most common Emirates ID uses.
WHAT IS AN EMIRATES ID?
The Emirates ID or the UAE ID Card is issued by the Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). It consists of a 15-digit number, an electronic chip, your photograph and personal data. When living in the country, you are obligated to carry this card with you at all times. Generally, the Emirates ID facilitates transactions and applications, both government and private, along with online processing and smart services.
USES OF THE EMIRATES ID
The Emirates ID has many uses, such as getting a new home internet Dubai or a new SIM card. Benefits of the Emirates ID also apply to other tasks such as open online bank account in Dubai, paying your utility bills or applying for a driver’s licence.
The electronic chip on the card can store up to 32 thousand letters of information. Some data is encrypted and can only be accessed by authorised personnel and entities. This makes the card your personal database. New cards are made of polycarbonate, which means they can last up to 10 years. Your card also has additional fields and code definitions.
Next, we shall explore the benefits of Emirates ID.
YOUR PROOF OF IDENTITY
The Emirates ID can be used as proof of identity to request government services. The card also protects your identity and helps against fraud and identity theft.
Also, official entities such as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Municipality and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) require you to present the Emirates ID for most of their services and processes.
For example, RTA has kiosks across the emirate where you can easily renew your driver’s licence and vehicle registration in Dubai. You can also make traffic fine payments at these kiosks, among other services. All these require your Emirates ID details.
Digital Emirates ID
Residents can now access their Emirates ID digitally through the UAE Pass app, the UAEICP app, Apple Wallet for iPhone users and a temporary QR code for expired or in-process cards.
To access your digital Emirates ID, download the UAE Pass app, log in with your credentials, go to ‘Add Documents,’ find the Emirates ID option under the ‘Personal’ section and tap ‘Request.’ Within minutes, your digital ID will appear in the ‘Documents’ section.
If your Emirates ID has expired or is being processed, open the UAEICP app and tap ‘Emirates ID QR Code’ to generate a QR code you can scan. This can be used temporarily for government and service transactions.
The digital Emirates ID is authenticated via the UAE Verify platform, making it secure and legally accepted for KYC, banking, mobile SIM registration, and e-government services even before your physical card is delivered.
ACCESS TO SERVICES UNDER THE UAE PASS
UAE Pass allows residents to log in to thousands of government and private sector services across the UAE with a single username and password. It is compatible with both Apple and Android devices.
With UAE Pass, you can:
- Access over 5,000 government and private services with a single sign-on
- Digitally sign documents with full legal validity
- Request digital copies of official documents, including your Emirates ID, driving licence and residency permits
- Verify the authenticity of digitally signed documents
- Use blockchain-backed, tamper-proof digital transactions
To set up UAE Pass, download the app, scan your Emirates ID, verify your mobile number and email with OTPs, and create a 4-digit PIN. Once registered, the same login works across all connected platforms.
TRAVELLING
Emirates ID benefits aren’t just limited to online services. From April 2022, Emirates ID has a resident’s visa status. The long-held residency visa stamp in the passports of residents has been replaced by new-generation Emirates IDs making travel more convenient.
The Emirates ID also makes airport immigration simple for UAE citizens and residents. Emirates ID holders can add helpful e-gate services to their cards when travelling.
Using the Emirates ID at the smart gates in Dubai International Airport allows for speedy passport control procedures. You can scan your card and provide fingerprint authentication to pass through the e-gates without waiting in long queues. This also saves up a lot of space on your passports.
Emirates airline has invested AED 85 million to install over 200 biometric cameras across Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. Registered passengers can now walk from check-in through immigration to boarding without showing any physical documents just by looking at a camera.
Upon arrival, you can use the Emirates ID at the e-gate at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport. You don’t even need to get the service activated at the Emirates Identity Authority before you travel.
Also, note that expats with Emirates ID can avail of this service. Special employees at the smart gates will complete the travel procedure for children under 15 travelling with Emirates ID holders.
UAE citizens can use their Emirates ID instead of their passports when travelling to other GCC countries.*
*Please note that expats in the UAE need to get proper visa(s) and approvals when travelling to the neighbouring GCC countries.
BANKING AND CREDIT HISTORY
You can also use your ID card to get a quick credit report in Dubai at Al Etihad Credit Bureau customer service centres. Likewise, banks can easily access a customer’s credit history using an ID card. Opening a bank account, registering for digital wallets and completing KYC (Know Your Customer) verification all require a valid Emirates ID.
MEDICAL HISTORY
As of 2016, residents can use Emirates ID instead of health insurance cards. Cardholders can use their ID to process medical insurance. So, instead of carrying a medical card, they can now integrate their ID into the medical insurance system.
Insurance companies have moved their customer details to the database so hospitals and clinics can process them via the Emirates ID. Not long ago, only a few hospitals had systems to link medical reports to their patients’ ID cards. However, this has now changed, saving time and making procedures more accurate for hospitals, insurance companies and patients.
REFUEL
Finally, the oil company ADNOC has expanded ways in which customers can pay for fuel at their smart service stations. You can now refuel with cash, credit cards, ADNOC Plus Cards and your Emirates ID linked to an activated ADNOC Wallet in Abu Dhabi.
FAQS ABOUT THE USES OF EMIRATES ID
HOW TO CHECK FOR A TRAVEL BAN WITH AN EMIRATES ID CARD
You can follow these steps to check your travel ban status.
- Go to the Dubai Police website or download the Dubai Police app on your phone.
- Click on the “Services” link.
- Select “Individuals.”
- Search for “Criminal Status of Financial Cases.”
- Enter the service using your Emirates ID.
HOW TO CHECK VISA STATUS USING EMIRATES ID?
You can use the ID to check your visa validity. Visit the ICP website and enter your Emirates Unified Number (UID) on the Emirates ID to check your UAE visa status. The date of expiry on the Emirates ID is usually the date until your UAE visa is valid.
HOW CAN I GET E-VERSION EMIRATES ID?
You can access your digital Emirates ID through three methods:
- The UAE Pass app (iOS and Android)
- The UAEICP app (view, download as PDF, or add to Apple Wallet)
- Generate a temporary QR Code through the UAEICP app if your card is expired or is being processed.
Can UAE citizens renew their Emirates ID and passport together?
Yes. As of January 2026, UAE citizens can renew both documents simultaneously through the UAEICP app in a single transaction, as part of the Zero Government Bureaucracy initiative.
These were the major benefits and uses of the Emirates ID. The numerous advantages of having a UAE ID card demonstrate the ‘citizen-first’ vision of the government. The integration of the Emirates ID across multiple organisations and service providers saves tons of paperwork and wastage, contributing to green initiatives in the country.
You can read more about Emirates ID, such as renewing your Emirates ID, on MyBayut.
