UAE residents risk losing passports in ID rush

Dubai: Residents are risking loss of passports and identity theft at busy typing centres in the rush to meet the May 31 deadline for Emirates ID registration.

"In all events, don't leave your passport at the typing centre to avoid possible loss," warns Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) on its website. However, many private centres authorised by the UAE government to fill in ID applications, refuse service unless residents hand in their passports, which have to be digitally scanned.

Receiving passports in advance of processing applications allows typing centres to add more clients to their list and work at their own pace later on - besides making more money as they charge Dh30 per application.

However, holding on to passports - for several days in many cases - means longer waiting lines for applicants already pressed for time under the looming deadline. The practice is also against the rules of Eida, which issues the ID card.

Residents complained virtually all typing centres in crowded neighbourhoods of Dubai and Sharjah demand they part with their passports.

During a random sweep this week, XPRESS found dozens of passports lying around haphazardly at typing centres in Safa, Satwa and Karama.

A worker at a typist near Mazaya Centre said on Sunday: "We've run out of space to keep passports so we're not taking any more for now. There's no place left to hide them if [Eida] inspectors drop in."

He suggested applicants make a ‘booking' the following day by submitting their passports before noon, which they would not see again for three days - the time it would take for the application to be completed. "Of course I cannot give you a receipt for the passport, that's illegal."

Another typist in Karama who had no applicants present in person at his office, scoffed when asked to process an application on the spot. "Get in line - you want to see the line?" he laughed as he pulled out a drawer crammed with passports.

"I'm getting non-stop calls from applicants asking ‘Is it done yet? Is it done yet?' The best I can do for you is take your passport now and call you tonight to let you know how long it'll take."

In Sharjah, a Russian applicant who ran out of patience while waiting for his application to go through was seen quarrelling with a typist who refused to return his passport in Al Taawun area.

"I cannot give back your passport now, Just wait, I'm busy," the typist said. One applicant said on condition of anonymity: "I had to give my passport to the typing centre, what else can I do? They say, ‘if you don't like it, you can find another place.' I give up, there's no time left."

Dubai expatriates whose visas expire after 2012 will be fined Dh20 per day (up to Dh1,000 maximum) if they fail to register for their Emirates ID card by May 31.

Eida adds on its website that "residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, with residencies expiring in 2012, will be required to enrol for the ID card along with renewing their residencies".

Earlier deadlines, which were eventually extended, had seen tempers fray at overrun typing centres. No grace period has been announced for current deadlines in place.

Details of the ID procedures are available online at eida.gov.a

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Al Ain Zoo aviary gets two new exotic residents

Al Ain: Al Ain Zoo had added two Kori Bustards, a bird from eastern and southern Africa, to enhance its collection more than 300 birds from 25 different species.

The Kori Bustard is a large bird with mottled greyish-buff colouration, dark brown vermiculation, and a distinct white stripe over each eye. This terrestrial bird hails from Eastern and Southern Africa where it roams across open grasslands and wooded savannahs.

Majid Al Qassimi, Assistant Associate Veterinarian at Al Ain Zoo, said the addition of the Kori Bustard to the Spoonbill Aviary is an exciting opportunity for bird enthusiasts. "This beautiful unusual species further increases the diversity of the birds on exhibit at Al Ain Zoo, with our aviary also housing Spoonbill, Hadada Ibis and Macaw," he said.

Although omnivorous, Kori Bustards tend to be more carnivorous than other species of bustards and feed on small mammals, lizards, snakes, seeds, plant berries, as well as insects and chicks.

The bird is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning that it is not currently threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade of the species is strictly regulated.

Al Ain Zoo, founded in 1968, is home to an internationally important conservation programme focusing on the wildlife of the world's arid regions. The zoo is involved in conservation research, captive breeding and propagation and the reintroduction of threatened species to their wild habitats.

It is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria. Strategic partner of leading zoos, conservation agencies and associations from across the world, including the World Conservation Union and Species Survival Commission, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, San Diego Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya and the Sahara Conservation Fund.

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Blaze residents return to count costs

Blaze residents return to count costs - The Nationalvar currentURL=location.href;var blogTitleKey = "blog_title";var blogTitle="Blog Article Page";var blogTitleIndex=currentURL.indexOf(blogTitleKey);//alert("index = "+blogTitleIndex);if(blogTitleIndex > 0){ blogTitleKey = blogTitleKey.replace(/[\[]/,"\\\[").replace(/[\]]/,"\\\]"); var regexS = "[\\?&]"+blogTitleKey+"=([^&]*)"; var regex = new RegExp( regexS ); var results = regex.exec( unescape(window.location.href )); if(results[1] != null){ blogTitle = results[1]; var titleSplit = blogTitle.split(' '); var first,rest; var word = new Array(); for (i = 0 ; i 0){ blogTagKey = blogTagKey.replace(/[\[]/,"\\\[").replace(/[\]]/,"\\\]"); var regexS = "[\\?&]"+blogTagKey+"=([^&]*)"; var regex = new RegExp( regexS ); var results = regex.exec( unescape(window.location.href )); if(results[1] != null){ blogTagTitle = results[1]; var titleSplit = blogTagTitle.split(' '); var first,rest; var word = new Array(); for (i = 0 ; i Text size: Search: NewsSections UAE news Courts Education Environment Health Politics Science Technology Tourism Transport Worldwide Middle East South Asia Americas Europe Asia Pacific Africa Latest News HeadlinesPalestinians' UN blow reveals extent Israel's influenceMan City's owner scores a hat trickEmpty desks as parents extend Eid for childrenFew options for world to rein in Iran's nuclear goalsSarkozy 'liar' jibe unlikely to reduce his popularityHCT helps fill workforce gapBlaze residents return to count costsWorkers keep good times goingGrand Prix gates opening at noonUAE pledges Dh26.4 million to UN development programmes Popular Stories Eid viewers deem MBC film with partial nudity 'inappropriate'Diver goes missing on shipwreck expedition BusinessSections Industry Insights Aviation Banking Economy Energy

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