Apropos the Incorporation of Emirates Identity Authority


Decree for Federal Law No. (2) of 2004
Apropos the Incorporation of Emirates Identity Authority
Zayed Bin Sultan AL Nahyan
President of United Arab Emirates
Decree for Federal Law No. (2) of 2004
Apropos the Incorporation of Emirates Identity Authority
We, Zayed Bin Sultan AL Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates,
After the examination of the constitution,
Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 apropos the competencies of ministries, the powers of ministers and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (17) of 1972 in regards to naturalization, passports and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (6) of 1973 apropos entry and residence of expatriates and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (6) of 1975 apropos the organization of births and deaths registry and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 apropos the organization of labor affairs and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (3) of 1982 apropos the General Authority of Information and the amending laws thereof,
Federal Law No. (21) of 2001 apropos civil service at the federal government In view of the presentation made by the Minister of Interior and the approval of the Cabinet,
We have passed the following decree for the Law:
Chapter One
(Definitions)
Article One
For the implementation of the provisions hereof, the following words shall bear the meanings assigned against each one of it unless the text requires otherwise:
The Country:                         United Arab Emirates
The Government:      Government of United Arab Emirates
The Authority:          Emirates Identity authority
Population Registry:             The population registry at the country including nationals and the residents
under the law.

The Population:         The nationals and the residents under the law.
The card:                   The ID card for the nationals and residents
The unified number:             The unchangeable and non reusable registration number for the individual
in the population registry database.
The Board:                The Board of Directors of the Authority
The chairman:           The chairman of The Board of Directors of the Authority
The General Manager: The General Manager of the Authority

Chapter Two (Incorporation of the Authority and its Targets)
Article Two
A federal public authority shall be incorporated under the name of (Emirates Identity Authority) which shall enjoy the titular character in addition to an independent budget, as the authority shall enjoy the absolute powers for taking legal actions in relation with the achievement of its target on servicing basis. Furthermore, the authority is in-charge of the registration of the population data and issuing ID cards for the identification of the individual.
Article Three
The main premises of the authority shall be in Abu Dhabi City as it may establish branches of offices inside the country for the achievement of the targets trusted to it.
Article Four
The authority aims to establish and upgrade a population registry system, issuing ID cards for the nationals and residents as it may for the purpose of achieving its targets carry out the following actions and deeds:
1.      The registration of personal data for the whole population in the country and saving the same at the electronic data bases in coordination with the competent authorities.
2.      Registration of the vital statistic data and connecting the same to the personal data as referred to herein above.
3.      Issuing ID cards consisting of the unified number, readable data and the data saved on the electronic chip as the same shall be transacted with before all authorities. Upgrading all the data included under the provision of the previous paragraphs when the same is required.
4.      Provision of individuals’ identity confirmation and identification services before all federal and local government authorities and any other authorities in addition to the determination of the applicable methodologies for the achievement of the same in accordance with the executive panel.
5.      The right to request the required data and information which may serve the targets of the authority from the competent authorities in the country.
Article Five
The authority may invest or employ any of its funds in the fields that may serve its purposes.
Chapter Three
(The Board of Directors)
Article Six
The management of the authority shall be handled by a board of  directors consisting of nine members including the chairman, the deputy chairman, as their appointment shall be carried out pursuant to a federal decree and representatives from the authorities who are related to the authority’s work shall be included in the board. The term of the board is three years subject to renewal. In the event a member’s
chair at the board has become vacant, the board of directors shall appoint a substitute for the remained term of the membership of his predecessor. The deputy chairman shall assume the place of the chairman in the event the latter was absent. The board shall issue its own bylaws.
Article Seven
Remunerations and allowances for the board’s members shall be determined by the resolution of the Cabinet.
Article Eight
The board of directors is the supreme authority which has denomination over the affairs of the Authority and the discharge of its financial and administrative affairs in accordance with the provisions hereof, in particular the board may carry out the following:
1.      The establishment of the authority’s general policy and the supervision over its execution.
2.      The approval of the plans and programs that shall assure the advancement of the authority and its working staff for the achievement of its targets and development.
3.      Passing, resolutions, bylaws and rules in relation with the financial and technical affairs, human resources and the organizational structure of the authority.
4.      Appointment and termination of employees’ services in accordance with the applicable regulations at the authority.
5.      The examination of the periodic reports to be submitted to the board and resolving the necessary action in its regard.
6.      The approval of the final accounts and the balance sheet of the authority.
7.      Determination of the required readable or electronic data for the registration at the card.
8.      Proposing the collected fees by the authority for the registration or
upgrading the data, issuing the cards for the population and providing the services for the beneficiary party.
9.      The formation of subcommittees to be selected from the members of the board as such committees shall be in charge of studying and examining the issues that falls within the competence of the board. Such committees may resort to any party other than the members of the board whether from inside or outside the board.
10.  Submitting the annual report to the higher authorities regarding work progress at the authority and the achieved accomplishments during the year.
11.  The establishment of other branches of the authority.
Article Nine
The board shall hold a meeting at least once per month upon the invitation of the chairman or his deputy. The chairman may call for the board meeting at the request of the general manager or at least four members when the same is required. The board may invite for the meetings any experts or consultants from outside the board and from the authorities in relation with the business of the Authority as they shall not have a vote upon passing resolutions.
Article Ten
The validity of holding the board meeting requires the presence of the members’ majority. The resolutions of the board shall be passed by the absolute majority of the present members’ votes however when the result is tie the chairman’s side shall prevail.
Chapter Four (The General Manager)
Article Eleven
The authority shall have a general manager at the grade of undersecretary who shall be appointed by a federal decree in accordance with the nomination of the chairman and the recommendation of the board.
Article Twelve
The General Manager shall handle running the business of the authority and representing it with its relations with third parties and before the judiciary authorities as he may in particular carry out the following:
1.      The execution of the resolutions and the general policies to be established or approved by the board.
2.      The management of the authority and the development of work system at the authority.
3.      Proposing the board’s meeting agenda.
4.      Preparation of the estimated budget project for the authority and presenting the same to the board.
5.      Preparation of the final account and the balance sheet project for the
authority and presenting the same to the board.
6.      Preparation of bylaws and regulations related to the financial and technical affairs as well as the human resources and the organizational structure of the authority.
7.      Passing the resolutions related to personnel at the authority in accordance with the stipulations of the human resources panel.
8.      Preparation of periodic reports regarding the work progress at the authority and presenting the same to the board.
9.      Any other duties to be assigned to him by the board.
Chapter Five (Financial Affairs)
Article Thirteen
The authority shall have an independent budget to be affiliated to the budget of the Country.
Article Fourteen
The authority’s funds shall be deemed public funds.
Article Fifteen
The authority’s turnovers shall be generated from the following resources:
1.      The annual credits to be allocated by the Country for the authority from the balance sheet.
2.      The surplus carried from the former financial year.
3.      Endowments, credits and donations to be approved by the board of directors.
4.      Other turnovers to be collected by the authority due to the practice of its activity.

Article Sixteen
The general manager shall prepare the annual budget project for the authority and present it to the board for approval before the first of December of each year as he shall prepare the final accounts project for the
authority.
Article Seventeen
The government shall bear any deficit resulted from the increase of the authority’s expenditures in comparison with its turnovers.
Article Eighteen
The financial year for the authority shall begin at the first day of January and ends by the thirty first of December of each year, provided that the first financial year shall commence as of the date of enforcing this decree for the law and ends at the thirty first of December of the following year.
Article Nineteen
The authority’s work shall not be subject to the previous control provisions as stipulated by the State Audit Institution as the authority shall be exempted from all taxes and fees.
Article Twenty
In accordance with the approval of the board of directors, the chairman shall issue the executive panel for this decree for the law.
Article Twenty One
In regards to the matters not stipulated herein and the applicable human resources panel, the civil service law at the federal government shall be applicable to the authority’s employees.
Article Twenty Two
Each registration process for the population statement to be conducted abroad for one of the nationals shall be deemed valid if it was in conformity with the laws of such country provided that the same shall not contradict with the laws of United Arab Emirates.
Article Twenty Three
The records to be maintained by the authority and its branches including the data and the official extracted copies shall be deemed an evidence for its validness unless otherwise, voidance or forgery was proven by a judicial order.
All government and non government authorities shall take into account the data enrolled in such registers and the official copies extracted from the same.
The chairman of the board of directors or his deputy shall resolve the cancellation of all restrictions which were established in violation of the provisions hereof and the executive panel as well as all its consequences.
Article Twenty Four
All the data and information related to the population including the authority’s records, computers or the attached saving mediums shall be deemed classified, as access to the same or the examination of its contents is impermissible unless in the cases stipulated by the law.
Article Twenty Five
All the collected data, information or statistics including records computers or saving mediums shall be deemed classified, as access to or publishing the same is impermissible unless for a public or scientific interest and by an authorization in writing fro the chairman of the board of directors of the authority or his deputy and in accordance with the situations and conditions determined by the law.
Article Twenty Six
Acting in accordance with enrollment cards and ID cards for nationals before the enforcement of this decree for a law shall continue until the completion of population registry data and issuing ID cards for all
nationals.
Article Twenty Seven
All text in contradiction with the provisions hereof shall be deemed null and void.
Article Twenty Eight
This decree for a law shall be published in an official newspaper and it shall come into force as of the date of publish.

Zayed Bin Sultan AL Nahyan
President of United Arab Emirates
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: 15th Shaban 1425 H.
Corresponding: 29th September 2004