UAE: Emirates ID Cards to Replace Labour Cards

Analysis

Senior Labour Ministry officials have announced Emirate ID cards will now be the main evidence of work authorisation as early as the first quarter of next year.

Labour cards, the current document evidencing work authorisation, will no longer be issued.

There are also plans to have Emirate ID cards replace driving licenses and health insurance cards to enable expatriates to use one identity card for all transactions.

Whist the UAE is looking to streamline the work authorisation process, no specific details have been released of the procedural changes which will need to be made.