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DUBAI: Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) has set October 31, 2011 as the final deadline for UAE nationals to enroll their names for securing an ID card before incurring a fine of Dhs20 per day, Emirates ID said in a statement on Wednesday.  

The decision was announced following a meeting of the Emirates ID Board of Trustees.

While the authorities have decided to implement a late fee for expatriates in four phases, children under the age of 15 will be exempted from any penalties until October 1, 2012.

UAE residents will be charged Dhs20 per day for failing to register for a card, delaying the renewal of a card, or failure report changes in personal data.   

According to Emirates ID, expatriates in the Northern Emirates (Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman), employees in the federal and local public sector and semi-government organisations and their families will be issued late fines from December 1, 2011 in the first phase to be rolled out.

Expatriates living in Sharjah will have until February 1, 2012 to apply for a card before being fined.

Expatriates in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have until April 1, 2012 and June 1, 2012, respectively before facing fines for failing to hold a valid ID card.

Anyone applying for a residence visa renewal across the UAE, without starting the procedures of an ID card registration, will be charged with a late fee effective January 1, 2012, Emirates ID said.

Each card contains the holder's address, photo, date of birth and fingerprints. The cost for a five-year card is Dhs100 for Emiratis, while expatriates pay Dhs100 for each year the card is valid.