Expatriates to be issued with identity cards

Expatriates in Dubai will be issued with multi-purpose identity cards from January 2008. The cards, compulsory for anybody older than 15, will include the holder’s blood group, fingerprints, photograph, nationality, sex, and date of birth.

They will eventually replace driving licences, labour, health and residency cards. They will also function as an ATM card and passport for entering GCC countries.