Did you know that the small chip on your Emirates ID card contains a wealth of information? The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) recently introduced the new generation of Emirates IDs in 2021. This updated card not only displays basic information such as your personal and professional details, signature, and photograph, but it also holds ‘non-visible data’ that is safeguarded by an advanced protection system and can be accessed through the ICP’s ‘e-link’ system.
The chip located on the back of the Emirates ID card has a larger data capacity, allowing it to store a significant amount of information about the cardholder. According to the ICP, the electronic chip contains 20 different pieces of information about the ID card holder.
- Identity number
- Date of issue
- Date of expiry
- Full name (Arabic and English)
- Passport data
- Sex
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Mother’s first name (Arabic and English)
- Occupation
- Marital status
- Family number
- Town number (for UAE nationals)
- Sponsor type
- Sponsor Number
- Sponsor name
- Nature or type of residence
- Residence number
- Personal photo
- Two fingerprints
ICP offers card readers to service providers, allowing them to develop programs that can read personal data from electronic chips. This technology not only speeds up service delivery but also enhances the quality of data collected.
How the data is secured
The second generation of Emirates IDs boasts nine advanced security features, making forgery or fraudulent use of the card nearly impossible. These security features surpass the standards used in many other cards, including bank cards, according to ICP.
Also Read: Update your Emirates ID with your bank: A step-by-step guide
