KT Photo: Shihab

If you live in the UAE and have a residence visa, you are likely aware of the importance of an Emirates ID.

This simple card – which has an electronic chip – contains all the important information about the cardholder. Emirates ID has encrypted data related to the holder, which can be accessed by authorized authorities.

Emirates ID is used across the country as the most common form of identification – from attending a concert to accessing healthcare. Besides just being a form of identification, this versatile card also has many other benefits.

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Here are five ways Emirates ID will make your life more convenient:

1. Enter/exit the country with ease

Although immigration and emigration processes are streamlined and even those without an Emirates ID can go through immigration control relatively quickly, this ID gives residents an advantage.

UAE residents can enter and exit the country with their facial scan and boarding pass through e-gates.

2. Get access to visa-free travel

UAE residents are allowed to travel visa freeor with a visa on arrival, to many popular destinations worldwide.

From beachy destinations closer to home to mountainous locations further afield – having a UAE residency and an Emirates ID can significantly change the way they travel and give them access to easier travel.

3. Pay for fuel with your Emirates ID

Did you know that at selected petrol stations in the UAE you can even use your Emirates ID to pay for fuel!

The next time you refuel at an Adnoc station, be sure to sign up for an Adnoc wallet. You can then link your Emirates ID to your wallet and load money onto it. So in the future, instead of swiping your credit card, you can simply swipe your Emirates ID to pay for your fuel.

4. No health insurance card? No problem!

Long-term residents of the UAE will be able to remember when they used to carry a separate health insurance card to be able to access healthcare services.

Now that is no longer the case. Your Emirates ID contains everything you may need to provide to receive healthcare.

5. Check visa status

Meher Dhanjal

Meher Dhanjal is a digital journalist who breaks news first and breathes later. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings.