With the start of the summer holidays, many residents of the UAE have set off for travel; however, a simple mistake can disrupt the entire return plan: forgetting the physical Emirates ID card.

According to reports from tourism industry activists, some international airports, including those in Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Calicut, and even Toronto, require UAE residents to present the original Emirates ID card before issuing a boarding pass. In many cases, a photo of the card or its digital version in the UAE Pass app is not accepted.

In one such case, a resident of Sharjah who did not have his Emirates ID card with him while traveling to India was not allowed to board the plane upon his return. He had to cancel his trip, wait five days for the card to be sent from the UAE, and in addition to losing workdays, he faced a salary deduction.

According to travel agencies, the reason for this is that since 2022, the residence visa sticker has been removed from passports, and the Emirates ID has become the primary document proving residency in the UAE. For this reason, many airlines and immigration officials at international airports check the original card to verify residency status.

Travel experts emphasize that this issue is not limited to Indian travelers and may apply to all residents of the UAE, regardless of nationality or travel origin, when returning to the UAE.

If you plan to travel, make sure to have your physical Emirates ID card with you before your flight, and if in doubt, check your airline's requirements before traveling.
Source: Gulf News