The Emirates ID is the mandatory national identity card issued to every UAE citizen and resident, used to verify identity for everything from opening a bank account to accessing government services, signing a tenancy contract, and boarding domestic flights.
When You Get One
Emirates ID issuance is a required step in the UAE residence visa process — typically processed alongside your medical fitness test, after which the physical card is issued and mailed or made available for collection.
What It's Used For
Beyond basic identification, an Emirates ID is required for opening a bank account, signing an Ejari tenancy contract, registering a SIM card, accessing many government e-services, and is checked at various points in daily life far more often than a passport once you're a resident.
Renewal
An Emirates ID must be renewed alongside your residence visa renewal, with its own separate fee on top of the visa renewal cost — a line item that's easy to miss when estimating total renewal cost.
Check Your Own Numbers
See the full renewal cost breakdown, Emirates ID included, with the Visa Renewal Cost Calculator, free and in under a minute, with no sign-up required.